Meet Lilli Caroom of South Bay

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lilli Caroom.

Lilli, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my journey into photography back in 2017 going into 2018 when some crazy intense life events happened. I lost one of my best friends to suicide and in the same week the guy I was seeing broke up with me so I was obviously devastated and one of my friends finally got me out of the funk and was like let’s take some pics. I started as a BTS shooter with another photographer at the start of 2018, but as time went on, by July I started The Potparazzi.
I was on a mission to change how a “stoner” is seen. I myself have been arrested for cannabis 3x all were felony arrests and 2 of those times i had to go thru rehab to get the charges dropped. While going thru all that I was seen as a junky, a lowlife and someone who wasn’t going to end up doing anything great. This made me sad to be seen as bad as any other criminal.. so from the moment I picked up my camera to now I spend my time time creating magical art showing people of all walks of life who consume cannabis. People who are successful moms, partners, lawyers… and just successful people.
My motto has always been “taking cannabis off the couch and out of the closet, with art”

And I hope to continue to make magic for the rest of my life

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Photography has been a delightful path. Iv enjoyed almost every second of it. I’m very blessed to have found my passion and to be able to make a living with that passion.
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But if I had to chose some tough times I’d say when I dropped my Leica camera in compacted sand and it broke the lens 🙃

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I mostly do photography but I’m also just a huge creative. I paint fun murals and just do anything artsy. I’m known for just making magical art.
I also have owned a 420bnb over in Arkansas during Covid, I don’t own it anymore but it was one of my fav projects I hope to create something similar again one day.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Ask for advice.
Learn your camera.
Get insurance for your camera or at the very least a very good strap/carrying system.
Don’t be afraid to get the shot.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @the_real_potparazzi. or @therealpotpotparazzii ( if I get it back from meta)
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilli-cay-caroom-37b99a6b?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app