Today is my 100th post so Let’s do a little reintroduction for those that are new here. I’m Lucy, portrait photographer, fencer and the face behind Lucy and the Lens. This space is where I share my portrait, personal branding photography and travel adventures through photography. Whether that’s images I’ve taken or behind the scenes content and photography and business related posts. I believe that a picture tells a million stories and I love to capture those memories. Been around a while? Drop your favourite shoot I’ve posted. #junepostingchallenge #mibmarathonday1
Ten years ago today, I graduated with a BA in Media from Leeds Trinity University. Now, I’d like to reflect on what I’ve accomplished in the past decade. Here are some of my achievements and highlights.
During my studies, I developed a keen interest in photography, particularly fashion photography, which became the focus of my final project. This passion led me to enroll in a ten-week introductory photography course in 2015, after acquiring my first DSLR. I transitioned to mirrorless photography in 2021.
In June 2015, I joined the Preston Photographic Society, which significantly advanced my portrait photography skills and introduced me to various photography styles.
In 2016, I launched my photography website, www.lucyandthelens.com, and my Instagram account, @lucyandthelens, to showcase my work. While I only started creating Instagram reels in 2022, I strive to post new content weekly.
Joining the Preston Photographic Society encouraged me to participate in competitions and exhibitions. One notable exhibition was at the Harris Museum, where some of my photos were displayed digitally. I also have been part of the ongoing exhibits at Winckley Street Ale House, the lockdown exhibit and an exhibit we were asked to do by the council about a Victorian fair.
Here are a few of my photos that have been exhibited or placed in the top three in competitions:
In 2018, I returned to academia to pursue a master’s degree in photography at the University of Central Lancashire, which I completed in 2019. During my master’s program, we held exhibitions, including one focused on the Anthropocene and another final exhibition where I displayed three pieces of Sophie and a photo book on identity and performativity.
Over the past decade, I have been published in two magazines. My photo of Anna, titled “Ice Queen,” appeared in the Christmas issue of Through the Lens Magazine and remains one of my favorite shoots. I also had a set of photos of Katie published in Beautica Magazine, taken at a Lensor Creative event.
During the two years of lockdown, I found myself at my most creative. I revisited familiar places, capturing them in different seasons, and engaged in numerous Photoshop projects and FaceTime photo shoots. This period also saw my highest social media engagement.
One of my proudest moments came in 2019 when I was invited to photograph Cheshire Fashion Week through Instagram. I enjoy returning each year to work with both new and familiar models.
Another significant achievement was being invited to photograph the Mayor’s Ball in Preston in 2023, an opportunity extended to me by the then-mayor. For those who may not know, the mayoral office changes hands every 12 months.
A highlight of my career has been undertaking creative shoots for clients, such as EP covers for Sophie. These projects allow me to explore and push creative boundaries.
Believing that having the latest gear will improve skills. You don’t need an expensive camera to take great images. I’ve taken some of my best images on an Iphone.
Ignoring the importance of basic lighting and composition techniques and starting to do advanced techniques without learning the basics.
Not asking others for feedback. Without feedback its difficult to know where you can improve so ask other photographers or mentors whar they think.
Underestimating the importance of practicing and honing down your skills as you won’t learn how to take the best photos overnight. Perseverance is the key to improving.
Refusing to take the camera off automatic mode. This limits your creative control and understanding of camera settings.
Not paying attention to the lighting conditions and ruining your images as a result.
Not Editing your work. Results in dull or unfinished images. This is only acceptable for an event where you need a quick turnaround.
Let me know in the comments if you’ve made any of these mistakes or what you would add to this list.
If your a creative. You need to find yourself a group of people to connect and create content with just like I did with Content Creation Girlies back in January.
Excited to share a behind-the-scenes glimpse into my recent work. I’ve been working with Sophie Adamson music on creating striking single covers for her first EP.
Each image tells a unique story, reflecting the music’s mood and energy. It’s a wonderful journey translating sound into visuals. Grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the visual identity of this musical endeavor.
Here is some of the images from one of the singles Fairytales. You can listen to her first 3 singles on Apple Music and Spotify and the next single will be released in Summer 2024.
How have you developed your skills as a photographer?
I have developed my skills as a photographer through experimentation, my photography society, masters, workshops, YouTube videos and books.
Firstly I started off by teaching myself photography through experimentation and trial and error by planning my own shoots before I’d even picked up a book or learnt any techniques and learning how to use all the tools on photoshop.
Then in 2015 I joined Preston Photographic society where my learning was enhanced through lectures and learning new lighting techniques at portrait evenings.
My masters taught me how to find my own style as a photographer and it gave me an insight into some shoots in a variety of settings. I’ve attended workshops on how to use different lighting techniques, and I’ve watched YouTube videos on everything from camera gear to post-processing workflow. I’ve also read a number of books on photography, both technical manuals and works by great artists.
All of this has helped me to develop as a photographer. For example, I learned how to improve my portrait photography after taking workshops with photography session days testing out different types of light and improving my confidence in interacting with models. I was also able to refine my editing skills by following along with tutorials on Photoshop.
As a result of all of this, I’ve been able to develop my own style as a photographer. I’m now able to take great photos in a variety of settings, and I have a strong understanding of the technical side of photography.
Ripple effect: Mastering the basic skills of photography makes you a better photographer overall.
Thanks for following my journey! If you’ve enjoyed seeing my photos and watching my progress, please give this post a like or leave me a comment. I’d love to hear from you!
Today I’m going to talk about the concept of capturing emotion in photography.
Emotion is a difficult concept to capture in any art form, but particularly in photography. Images are two-dimensional and can often seem flat and lifeless. Yet, a good photographer knows how to use light, composition and timing to create images that evoke feelings in the viewer.
One way to capture emotion in photography is through the use of light. Bright, natural light can create a feeling of happiness and vitality, while shadow and darkness can convey a sense of mystery or foreboding. The way light falls on a subject can also create a sense of drama or enhance the feeling of a particular moment.
Composition is another important tool for evoke emotion in photography. A well-composed image can create a sense of balance and calm, while a more chaotic image can convey a feeling of energy and excitement. Framing a subject in a particular way can also help to emphasize certain emotions – for example, isolating a subject can create a feeling of loneliness or desperation, while including a lot of negative space can convey a sense of peace and solitude.
Timing is also crucial when trying to capture emotion in photography. Capturing a moment just before or just after a key event can help to convey the feeling of that event, for example, a photograph of a child just before they blow out their birthday candles can convey anticipation and excitement, while a photograph of a couple just after they kiss can convey love and tenderness.
Help us capture emotion in photography! Like and comment if you think light, composition and timing are key!
Most of us can relate to the feeling of staring at a photo for too long, second-guessing our every move.
For me, this happened just last night.
I was trying to pick a photo for a competition, and two hours and 30 images later, I finally made a decision.
Even then, I found myself acting as my own worst critic.
In the moment, it can be tough to silence that little voice in your head that’s constantly critiquing your every move. But it’s important to remember that you’re the only one who knows what’s best for you.
Also with social media, it’s become so easy to compare ourselves to others and to constantly strive for unattainable goals. It’s no wonder that so many of us are our own worst critics.
But what if we could learn to love ourselves, flaws and all? What if we could be our own biggest fans? It turns out that there are plenty of benefits to being your own worst critic.
Being your own worst critic can be healthy as it helps you to focus on areas which you need to improve. If you’re constantly putting yourself down, it’s likely that you’ll start to believe it. But if you’re constantly striving to be better, you’re more likely to achieve your goals.
It can also help to keep you humble. It’s easy to get a big head when you’re constantly being praised by others. But if you’re your own toughest critic, you’re less likely to get caught up in your own ego.
So trust your gut, and go with your gut instinct. Chances are, it won’t steer you wrong.
If you’ve ever been in a similar situation, like or comment below!
The most important thing when starting your first job as a photographer is to just be yourself. People buy from personality so show them what they will get when they choose you and the right people will keep coming back.
Secondly be professional. This means being punctual, providing the client with what they asked for, being easy to work with, and respecting their wishes. Then make sure you deliver the images in the agreed time frame.
Thirdly don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you’re unsure about something, ask the client. It’s better to ask and get it right than to try to wing it and risk making a mistake.
Next, find a mentor or go to workshops and learn from more experienced photographers. A good mentor/ workshop leader will be able to teach you the ropes, answer your questions, and point you in the right direction when it comes to both the technical and creative aspects of photography. My favourite workshops are photography session days.
Never be afraid to experiment. Photography is all about trial and error. The more you experiment, the more you’ll learn about what works for you and what doesn’t. So go out there and start shooting!
Take some time to do your research before the day of the job. Look up tips and tricks online, talk to other photographers, and get as much information as you can do you can do the shoot to the best of your ability.
Finally, be patient. Learning photography takes time, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t see results right away. Stick with it, and eventually you’ll start to see your skills improve.
And that’s it! These are just a few tips to get you started on your photography journey. The most important thing is to have fun and keep on snapping.
Like or comment if you’re excited to start your photography journey!
