Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Desberg.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My parent’s pre-destined music for me. I was in piano lessons at age 4, cello at 7, the choir at 8. I ended up at LACHSA (LA County High School for the Arts) as a singing major where I studied jazz voice. I thought it was so cool, I fell in love with the music, the people in the community and their appreciation for the music. I did some conglomerate jazz programs in high school and met a ton of young people who were really serious about the music. Naturally music college was the obvious choice, and Berklee College of Music in Boston was the winner.
When I graduated high school I got a DSLR- I loved the quality of the nicer cameras that my little point and shoot couldn’t give me. I never considered photography, I just loved dressing up w my friends and taking photos around the house. In 2009, my first year in college, I’d walk around with this DSLR around my neck. At a music only college, everyone needs photos all the time. From time to time people would ask me, do you take photos? And I’d say, no no, just for fun. At the end of my first year I realized, wow like 30 people came up to me this year asking if I could do a shoot for them, I should probably learn how to do it.
So I came back home to LA for the summer and took a beginning photography course, went back to Boston in 2010 and started shooting as many people as I could. That same year I started getting bored with singing. Singing jazz standards didn’t make sense anymore. I was singing songs from the 1920’s-50’s but knew I had more to say. I had been going to New York just about every other weekend studying with singer extraordinary Gretchen Parlato. She ended up producing my first EP and sang on a track with me. Such a gift, it really helped the project spread.
I put out a single a few months later- a cover of The Jungle Book’s “I Wanna Be Like You” which NPR wrote me asking if they could feature it in their New and Noteworthy section, so obviously, I said no- JK! I was over the moon!! A year later I released my first full-length album, “Twenty-First Century Problems” – (a mix of original songs, pop covers in a jazz feel and jazz standards done in a more modern way) which got me to Japan to perform at The Blue Note jazz club with my band!
Now here I am in the present day, wrapping up my 2nd full-length album and 8 years deep into taking peoples money for photographs and having a blast. The snowball effect is a beautiful thing. Last month I got my own photo studio in Brooklyn! I tell everyone- my motto is, “photography makes my money, music takes my money.”
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s funny, music has been a very unpaved road while photography has been nicely paved.
I always say it’s literally and figuratively which side of the camera do you want to be on, and that’s the struggle in itself. I’m not shameless and to make it as a singer you really have to be. You have to push your artistry at every turn and that’s so not my vibe. It’s a lot easier to show someone some photos I’ve taken on my phone than bust out a song I’ve recorded.
Lauren Desberg Media – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I named my company Lauren Desberg Media because the media covers all the arts.
Photography is definitely on the front burner while singing’s on the back, but I’m pursuing both!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I want people to know my name, not as crazy about them knowing my face. Success to me is reaching people. I want to create something that can help make people feel better in their days. I’d love to have a song you want to put on when you’re sad, anxious, or so happy!
With photography, I shoot mostly artists. I work with models too, but definitely not as often. Working with people that aren’t used to being in front of a camera is so rewarding. I get to make them feel like a model. I love showing people the beauty they may miss when they look in the mirror. When my client is happy and feels good about themselves, I’m successful.
Also, success to me means being able to walk into a store, not check the price tag and buy what I like. 🙂
Pricing:
- Individual portrait session- $450 for 6 fully edited shots
- Full-length album- $10
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laurendesberg.com
- Email: laurendesberg@gmail.com
- Instagram: personal- @heylaureeen // portfoliogram- @laurentakespix
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/laurendesbergmedia
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/laurendesberg
- Other: www.soundcloud.com/laurendesberg
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
