We spent a lot of time with Laurie when we did the Tampa workshops. Laurie helped put them together and get everything set up for a smooth couple of days. Even the weather somewhat cooperated.

Laurie spends a lot of time with her business and her photography and it shows in the quality of her images. Long before I met Laurie my 11 year old daughter claimed her as “most favorite photographer.” I can remember going through her website just amazed at the creative ways she has with animals.

LEMagazine recently sent Laurie the current 12 question interview and she has spent some time answering the questions so that we could get a glimpse into the vision of a world class animal photographer.

How long have you been in business? Was it a slow transition or did you just open shop?
According to the IRS, I’ve been in business for four years. In reality it started long before that. I just didn’t realize it was happening.

How did you get started? Any mentors or great stories here?
My official business started when I shot some pet portraits to hang in the lobby of my husband’s animal hospital. I had never photographed anyone’s pets but my own. I had no idea about studio lighting or even using flash properly. I picked up some construction lights from home depot and some fabric to set up a makeshift studio. Thinking back, it was pretty crude but it worked. I never intended it to go anywhere but after hanging the photos, I started getting requests from clients to photograph their pets. A friend and fellow photographer introduced me to some photo editors which has led to regular editorial work. I started selling images through some stock sites as well. Things just took off from there. Well, it wasn’t quite that easy. It was (and still is) a lot of work now that I think about it.

As for mentors, there are too many to list here. I’ve had a lot of help along the way. I’ve been tremendously fortunate to meet and learn from some truly talented artists. I think most experienced photographers are happy to pass on the lessons they’ve learned. I’ve made it a point to listen. My father is a composer and my mother was a dancer before she married. They set a great example for following a dream, even when others are telling you to be sensible. My sister is a designer and my harshest critic. She pushes and encourages me as well

Describe an average week at your studio.
There really isn’t an “average” week. Some weeks are solid shooting, others spent mostly in front of the computer editing photos, preparing print orders and working on editorial submissions. This past week was devoted to getting my office in order and working on tax stuff. I managed to get out and shoot for a few hours, working on a personal project. Next week I’ll be focusing on a book project that has been collecting dust for far too long.

Why Florida? Have you considered anywhere else?
I was born and raised in Florida. I love it here. It’s home. I’ve considered other places but for now, this is where I want to be. I love the wildlife, the beaches, the rivers and swamps. People save up all year to vacation in a place I get to enjoy everyday.

What motivates you, or gets you going? What do you use for inspiration?
Mostly, I just love picking up the camera and shooting. It forces me to see things more acutely, even when my eye isn’t plastered to the viewfinder. I’m pretty easily inspired. I just put myself in the company of things that make me happy or I find exciting. Nature shooting is a no-brainer. I love being outdoors. When it comes to shooting pets, it’s the pet and the human-animal bond that inspires me. Something magical happens to people when they interact with animals, myself included. Humans let their guard down and animals become relaxed and playful. It’s a great way to get to know people, as well as pets. I just work on finding my own bond with the subject(s) as I shoot. When the connection happens, that’s inspiring. That’s when the real shooting begins.

What is it you like the most about being a photographer?
I love the interaction. My background is in painting and drawing but they’re mostly removed from the subject. With photography, whether shooting nature, people, or pets, there’s an interaction and immediacy that’s like a drug for me.

I also get really jazzed when I see the faces of my pet portrait clients as they view their final prints. It sounds corny but even the most challenging shoot is worth the effort when the client smiles from ear to ear and gives me a big hug. It’s a very rewarding experience.

Are there any downsides to being a commercial photographer that you would like to change? How would you change them?
I certainly wish I didn’t have to spend the last week working on taxes, organizing my image files, and entering client demographics into a new database. Commercial photography, by it’s nature is treated as a commodity. The thing is, it doesn’t fit neatly into that category as it’s a service, a craft, and an art, all at the same time. Photo Editors and clients, necessarily have budgets, deadlines, and their own ideas of what they want. Their budgets and their expectations don’t always jive. I’m lucky to be in a position to turn down work if the terms of the project don’t meet my expectations. Still, it can be frustrating. Copyright violations are another thorn in my side. My images get pinched on a regular basis. Sadly, it’s a growing problem in the industry with no clear solution except never showing my work in digital format.

What was your most memorable assignment?
I’ve certainly had more exciting assignments and more lucrative assignments but the one that stands out in my memory more than most was a pet portrait shoot. From time to time, I’ll have a client call requesting a “final” portrait sitting for an aging or sick pet. These shoots are always bitter sweet. One in particular continues to stick in my mind. This client had two dogs, both coincidentally diagnosed with terminal cancer in the same week. Since the client and the dogs loved the beach, we scheduled a beach shoot. We spent several hours shooting and playing. The dogs appeared perfectly healthy, were happy as could be chasing seagulls and fetching balls thrown in the water. The results of the shoot were terrific. Still, it was really hard editing the set knowing neither dog would be around in a few months. As hard as it was, I am so glad I was able to provide the images for the client who obviously loved both dogs dearly. I’m not sure why this one touched me even more than the others. It just did. There are several images from the shoot that are really special to me.

Any ‘war’ stories you would like to share? You know, the ones that always start with “There was this one job where….”
You mean like the one where I shot the entire studio portrait session on ISO 800 the whole time amazed that I was getting all the light I needed from my strobes set at such a low power? Or how about the one where I didn’t realize the puppy licked my lens causing a blurry blob in the middle of most of the frames (I thought my glasses were just fogging up as it was hot and humid)? I guess my worst war story was the dog in the pool shoot. It was an editorial shoot. It was one of the first times I shot outdoors with off camera flash. The day was as still as could be, not even the slightest breeze.

I set up an SB800 bounced into an umbrella on one side of the pool, and an SB600 bounced into an umbrella in the other side for some cross lighting. Without warning (actually, all I needed to do was turn around and look at the storm clouds moving in) a gust of wind knocked the SB800 into the pool and the SB600 crashed to the pool deck. I immediately pulled the SB800 out, dumped the batteries and drained as much water from the unit as I could. The flash tube in the SB600 was toast. Luckily, I had two back ups and quickly set them up (without umbrellas this time) and finished the shoot just before the solid sheet of rain hit. Amazingly, despite the fact that the SB800 was flooded, both top and bottom, after drying out for a few weeks, it still works fine. I don’t rely on it for anything important but three years later, it hasn’t yet failed.

What would be your ideal assignment?
Very large studio and an Elephant. Just kidding. Actually, I’m not kidding. That would be cool. The truth is, I get to shoot my ideal assignment on a regular basis. I really love what I do, appreciate my clients, and always have alot of fun. Good things seem to come my way and I think it’s important to recognize them as they’re happening instead of looking for something bigger or “better”. The joy is in the little things, the nuances, the moments in-between. If we’re always chasing down the next big thing, we miss out on the great things right in front of us.

Future plans for Laurie and her photography?
Keep on keeping on. I’ve been working on two book projects, one on photographing pets and one that’s more of a photo book with images and stories. The whole process is a bit daunting as I’m not really a writer. I’ve recently published a few articles which has been a great segue to the book projects. I’m fortunate to have a family member and several friends who are writers that have offered to give me some guidance. I also have several personal photo projects that I’ll continue to develop.

Tell us a little about your new work…
Lately, I’ve been working on including more people in my pet portraits. As I mentioned earlier, one of the things that motivates me is the human-animal bond. It’s a personal goal to find ways to express that bond in each and every shoot.

For my personal work, I’m in an abstract/impressionist frame of mind these days. I love playing with form and color. Taking advantage of slow shutter speeds and camera movement, I’m using my camera more like a paint brush, shooting and seeing familiar scenes in a new way.

Oh, and what is on the music box right now at your studio?
Sting’s “The Shape of My Heart” just finished. Procol Harum’s “A Salty Dog” is now playing. After that, I think I’ll pop in an album, Nuevo Bugaloo, by the Iguanas, a band based in New Orleans.

Website: www.lmeimages.com
Blog: www.lmeimages.com/blog
Email laurie@lmeimages.com