Utah photographer LaLa's Lens Photography is our 3rd Stop!

I am so excited about today's Female Entrepreneur for 2 reason! First she's from UTAH (my home state where I grew up)! And Second because she is a Photographer. Anybody who knows me at all knows I think photography is the bomb dot com!

Lauren Ford Adams from Utah is the girl behind the amazing LaLa's Lens Photography.

Isn't she so cute! You can tell she has one of those contagious smiles. : )

Let's dive right in so we can all fall in love with Lauren and her beautiful photographs!

Lauren, tell us about your business?

I have a wedding and portrait photography business based in Davis County, Utah. I have a love affair with warm light and it shows in my pictures. I am often heard raving about how much I love weddings for the tans, white teeth and ear to ear grins. My favorite sessions are engagement sessions because the love is so new, fresh and exciting.  

What inspired you to start a photography business?

My cousin was a photography major in college and asked me to come along to a wedding. When I started reviewing the photos I took I realized it was something I could do. I have always been interested in photography but it is a really intimidating hobby to take up. I shot my first solo wedding for free and have been snapping ever since.

What is your dream, where do you see yourself , and what motivates you to do this every day?

My dream is to do photography because I love it, not out of necessity. I actually think this is more an attitude than anything else. 90% of the time I love what I do, the other 10% can seem a bit daunting. It may sound funny  but I know that the key to enjoying that 10% is my organization.

What motivates me to do this everyday?

My love for color, composition and faces.

What was your biggest challenge throughout the process of starting and growing your business?

 Oh gosh, comparing myself to everyone. I remember being 1 year in and getting so frustrated that I wasn’t on the level of photographers that had been at it for 10 years with a formal education. Once I stopped looking at their stuff and started focusing on mine my work improved exponentially.

If you could go back to your former self in the first year(s) when you were starting what would you tell yourself or what advice would you give yourself?

Shadow, ask questions, shoot, shoot, shoot. The only way to get better at anything is trial and error and to do it. AND the biggest motivator I would give myself is “You WILL get there… just keep at it”.

What’s the biggest piece of advice you could give someone who is thinking about starting a business?

Talk to those who are successful, most are willing to lend free advice.

Become a master of one thing. Know where your talents are.

Have fun!

Where can we Find and follow you at?

http://www.lalaslens.com

https://www.facebook.com/LalasLens

instagram: @lalas_lens

lalaslens@gmail.com

Phone: 801-360-0789

 Oh my goodness I can't stop staring at her photos! She is so talented. I need to set up a photo shoot with her next time I'm in Utah! I really liked how she shared that in the beginning she compared herself to everyone. She expected herself to be at the level of those that had 10 more years of experience. This can apply to any new business owner or really anything we try in life. Even motherhood! We can be so hard on ourselves and have such high standards for where we should be right at this moment. Rather than growing our skills/talents at a slow and steady pace.

Lauren, thank you so much for sharing a little about you and what you do with us, and for the great advice! It's a pleasure sharing your gorgeous photos on my blog. I will continue stalking your Instagram to admire all your pictures! ; )  

Boys and Balance?!

How do you all BALANCE your lives?

I have found that finding BALANCE it a constant struggle for me every single day. How do you fit it ALL in? I mean we as Moms are supposed to clean, cook, grocery shopping, do the laundry, take care of the kids, pay the bills, some of us work on top of all that. Then you have all the spiritual responsibilities

 (prayer, reading scriptures, & church duties.)

And then what about all the fun stuff like shopping, crafting, sewing, hobbies, hanging out with friends, watching a movie or going on a date once in a while.

I just feel like I can never balance it all. I always feel like I'm falling short in one area or another. I hate feeling guilty because I'm not doing one of these things often enough or well enough. How do you know when you're doing too much. What's normal and what's not? It is physically impossible to do all of these things well EVERY SINGLE DAY!

I just wish I could figure it all out!

That being said my most favorite things to do is TAKE PICTURES! I wish I could fit THAT in every day. I am so envious but happy for full time photographers. What an absolute joy to be able to take pictures ALL day every day. In different locations of different, beautiful, or interesting people! Play with lenses, lighting, and settings! It's one ot those things I just love so much that I would be scared to do it as a JOB because I would be afraid that my LOVE for it would fall away because it was now my Job instead of my fun hobby. I see photographers producing images I could only dream of producing because I don't have all the skills and know how yet to create pictures like they do. But I am so inspired by them! 

My most FAVORITE Photographer is Ashlee Raubach! I do not know her personally. I came across her blog when she posted about take her first photography class. I watched week after week as she posted her photos. And I was immediately in love with all of her work! And every time I have have a few minutes to check out her blog or website I am just sucked into her photos. I love her because I love her style and I love her becasue she's a mom of a hanful of kids, I love her becasue I watched her from the beginning and have loved seeing her improve when she already seemed so incredibly talented and who knew she could improve anymore! But she always does! When I first started following her she was in Utah. And I had my heart set on getting a session with her when I went out for my yearly visit. But she was already booked up when I contactd her! So i just figured I'd get one next time I was in town. But then she MOVED to SAN DIEGO! So I'll probably never get the chance to see our family or my boys through her lens. But atleast there is still internet and I can see all her beautiful pictures! How could I tell you that LONG drawn out story with out sharing some of my favorite pictures from her BLOG! GO check her out! Follow her blog, book with her if you are close by her! I know I wish I could.

So here are some of ASHLEE RAUBACH's photos. It was really hard for me to narrow it down.

Her website: http://ashleeraubach.com/

Her Blog: http://ashleeraubachphotography.blogspot.com/

This first one was one of her early photos. It was one of my most favorite photo shoots from her earlier stuff!

And isn't this the cutest thing! Every preschool class should get a cute photo shoot like this!

                                               Isn't this location and the colors so dreamy?!

And I love this photograph! This whole shoot was so cute! Her and her Groom make such a beautiful couple!

                            And seriously!!! Who get's a photoshoot in a CANOE! How fun!

                                                      I love this beach family photo!

And the lighting and Gold Grass setting is so so beautiful!

Now you all Know why I love her so much righ?

 She is one of the MANY photographers that inspire me to squeeze in taking a few photos here and there. I can honestly say I feel so happy, and so complete when I'm CREATING something. A photograph, a new pillow, a new idea...anything. I was BORN TO CREATE! But my most favorite thing to create is Photography! Here are a few I've snapped lately.... 

So glad I get time to CREATE, just wish I had more of it!

Thanks for checking out my Amateur photographs! : )

Playing with Photography

I have a huge interest in Photography! I have been having so much fun reading, playing around and trying to learn everything I can about it. There is so much to learn and to know. But I love it and am having a blast. These were a few I took recently. I can't wait to have a newborn to practice on. Who will sit still and lay there while I shoot away! : )

p.s.-to learn more about and get some good practice I started a 365 blog you can check it out at http://lacey365.blogspot.com/