Lauren McGee is a 31 year old photographer from Portrush. Lauren bought her first DSLR 4 years ago when she was suffering from Postnatal Depression. Lauren has always loved taking photos and she put all of her energy into getting out and taking photographs of her kids and local landscapes. Lauren honed her craft before starting her business and now she specialises in wedding photography.
What genre / style do you create in?
I’m primarily a wedding photographer, but I prefer to say I capture love. It isn’t necessarily just weddings, it can be the love between two people, the love of nature or someone’s love for themselves.
What would you be best known for?
I think capturing love honestly. My photos are very real. I like to show pure unfiltered emotion and I think that’s come through in my work.
What would you consider your biggest achievement?
Going full time with photography which has enabled me to create a life that is fulfilling and works around my kids.
What would you consider to be the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your industry?
To create your best work you have to unapologetically be yourself. People are paying for your view of the world so to have the best view, it needs to be unfiltered and true. That starts by working on yourself.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
Not getting caught up in the trap of comparison. We are bombarded with imagery and it’s very easy to compare yourself or imitate others’ work rather than creating something that is true to you.
Tell us a little about your personal life, are you married, kids, hobbies etc?
I’m a mum to 2 children, Tyler and Isla. My kids are my reason for creating. Tyler has Autism and his pure, honest view of the world has shaped mine. Isla is a force of nature and loves to create, she inspires me daily. I’m also engaged myself. I was due to get married in April, but Covid has meant our wedding has been pushed back to 2021. I live on The North Coast of Northern Ireland so I love exploring our landscapes and enjoying the sea.
Tell us about your most recent work?
Being locked down and unable to capture people really made me so excited to get shooting again when I got back to it. I’ve been working on some styled shoots which have been about pushing the boundaries a bit more. One of the most exciting was a shoot I did with a couple in Portrush harbour. The 3 of us got right into the harbour fully clothed and created something pretty magical. The sky performed and the photos turned out so good.
Photograph taken by Lauren McGee.
What would you like us to tell people about?
So I have a number of things. Mostly my newsletter. It goes out weekly and it’s full of information to help other photographers/businesses. I am also hosting a workshop/retreat on the Causeway Coast this Autumn. It’s fully booked, but we’ll be launching new dates soon so the newsletter is the best place to keep up to date.
If you had to describe your work to someone who has never heard of you what would you say?
I strive for every image I create to be honest, emotive and relatable.
What’s the funniest experience you’ve had in your business?
I had a priest once on a wedding who forgot to pronounce the couple husband and wife. He just kind of walked off when they finished the vows…after calling the bride the wrong name the whole way through the ceremony. So I had to go find him and ask him to do that. He said ‘sure just you do it.’
What would your advice be to young people hoping to pursue the same industry?
Learn your craft. Don’t forget to learn the basics of photography and know your camera inside and out. But once you’ve done that, know that photographing people is more about the people than the photography. You can be the most wonderful magician with light and technically accurate, but if you can’t get your subjects to trust you enough to relax in front of your camera, you’ll never be able to create what you want. So learn about yourself and be comfortable in your own skin.
Anything else you want to tell people about yourself or your work?
I’m an open book so if you ever need any help or have a question, don’t hesitate to drop me a DM.
You can follow Lauren on Instagram here >>Â instagram.com/litphotographyni
Who do you look up to and why?
Nadia Meli. She is the most open and honest photographer. Her photography is so emotive and the way she connects with her subjects is so clear in her work.
You must be logged in to post a comment.