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Meet Lauren Neely of Lauren Neely Photography in San Gabriel Valley

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Neely.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Lauren. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My photography journey began when I was six years old, while my sister was in a film photography class at her high school. Even at six years old I was captivated by the beauty of the images that she developed. Fast forward to Jr. High, which was when I began to create my own “photoshoots” with all of my friends. This involved hanging up a white bed sheet on a wall in my friend’s basement, and taking horrendously awkward photos that highlighted our braces, acne, and wild eyebrows (if they wouldn’t kill me, I totally would have included one of these photos in this article).

Throughout high school and college, my love for photography grew, and thankfully my skills grew as well. I bought my first DSLR, and from that point forward was always the “photographer friend”, known for taking way too many photos at any event, and loving every minute of it. In college my major was Psychology, and I decided to pursue my Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. At this point, I believed photography would always just be a hobby.

One evening during this time, I was asked to take photos at an event being held at my church. All of my camera gear ended up getting stolen at this event, and it was devastating. There was no way I could afford to buy all of that equipment again anytime soon. It was at this moment, with photography suddenly being taken away from me, that I realized I wanted to pursue photography as more than just a hobby. Photography is a way for me to tell stories, to capture beauty, and it replenishes my soul in a way that nothing else can. A few months later, my husband and our families surprised me on my birthday with all the camera gear I had gotten stolen, and more. It was then that I decided to take a crazy risk, a risk that caused me to have to battle against a ton of fear, self-doubt, and comparison. It’s been 10 months since I’ve taken that risk, and launched Lauren Neely Photography. There are days I still have to battle against comparing myself to every photographer on Instagram, and I still have a flood of fear every time I post a picture, the voice of doubt can be overwhelming.

Instead of letting the doubts win, I pray before every shoot that God would work in me, that I would be able to tell a story, and to create beauty. I have been floored again and again by the people I have gotten to meet, the stories I’ve gotten to capture, and how meaningful it is to be a part of people’s lives, even if only for one hour.

Lauren Neely Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
When I first created Lauren Neely Photography, I wasn’t sure which area of photography I would want to specialize in, so I just kind of went full-force into everything. Engagements, newborn, families, head shots, even real estate photography. I was just giddy to be able to take pictures for anyone, so I took on every opportunity possible. 10 months in, I’ve realized that I am most passionate about photography when there is passion on the other side. When couples adore each other, when families can’t stop laughing, when a couple is bursting with excitement anticipating the arrival of their newborn, these are the stories I love to tell.

With my other career being in Marriage and Family Therapy, I have a heart for people. Beyond the photography skills, this aspect is what I am most proud of. To me, it’s more than just taking good pictures that people can frame on their mantel. It’s about connection; at the end of the shoot, I want my clients to feel cared for and to feel like I’m on their team.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
As a photographer, of course part of success means taking beautiful photos that my clients are over-the-moon with. Yet even more importantly, the connection piece is a huge marker of success for me. At the end of the shoot, I love to hear that my clients had fun, or that they felt more connected to each other because of this shoot. One couple I took engagement photos for told me, “We were SO nervous for this, we didn’t realize how much fun this would be.” Feedback like that is what keeps me going, and is so important to me. I remind myself that people are more important than photos, and in order to create the feel of relaxed, joyful, and connected in the photos, this has to be the real experience as well.

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