Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Aycock.
Hi Lauren, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I began photographing in high school for the Yearbook and decided to continue my love of photography at UT in Austin with a Studio Art degree and minor in Art History. After graduating college, I worked for a portrait photographer, Heartstrings by Jennifer Jennings, who opened my eyes to a business I loved and could call my career! She was an incredible mentor, and we remain close to this day. I began Lauren Aycock Portrait Art in 2006 in Austin, growing my business in a few short years to a few hundred families. My husband and I returned to our hometown of San Antonio in 2010, and many of our friends and acquaintances called me for portraits as they had their babies. Word spread quickly, and my business extended to nearly 500 families in just a few years. I feel so lucky to be able to capture these little ones’ spirits, become close with these families, share in watching their children grow.
I quickly developed an interest in photographing High School Seniors in their most exciting year and added that to my list of services! It has been such a blast to make beautiful portraits, while building their confidence and bringing Mom to tears at seeing them soar.
The most recent journey for Lauren Aycock Portrait Art is the addition of Heirloom portraiture. I host two events per year photographing babies and children in traditional clothes with a white background finished on watercolor paper with a soft vignette for a timeless heirloom photograph. I love being able to provide something unique for my clients! They appreciate the mastery it takes to photograph their creamy skin and capture the light in their happy eyes!
Every new addition to my business has resulted from a creative week I spent dreaming up my latest project. My latest addition is a second company, Forever Books (Forever-Books.com), a custom album company where customers send me their favorite photos (via dropbox or as a shared album) from vacations, events or even a yearly album. I create a stunning coffee table album filled with their memories they can display in their home. I want to build Forever Books as a nationwide business.
Although there are different sides to my business, I am so lucky I can use my creative outlet to bring clients joy, and create something people can always truly treasure, and do so on my own schedule.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I would have to say that the most challenging yet best struggle for my business, as with any mother, is navigating the addition of my three children. Motherhood has limited the hours I can commit to evening sessions and weekends. As every mom can relate to, if a child is sick and a client has their entire family dressed at a park waiting for me, I can’t just cancel! Luckily, my husband, who owns his own business, is very helpful and flexible, and I have the support of our families, who live locally.
What has made my career as successful as it is are the hours and hours of seminars, podcasts and education I found time for immediately after opening my business and have continued since. These have given me a new excitement whenever I am having a period of creative burnout, a foundation to succeed. A creative career is challenging for many because it is difficult to put a price on your art; however, I was fortunate to learn how to do this at the beginning of my career. I learned quickly how to solidify my prices and stick to them.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Lauren Aycock Portrait Art?
I specialize in portraiture with a light and airy feel that captures children being themselves. A moment of how you will remember them. I have such a love of the dreamy quality of this type of portraiture and it has carried over to my branding, which is my favorite part of owning a business. Anytime I can create something beautiful to show off my work or deliver my products, I will go that extra mile to make people fall in love with my work. It not only sets me apart from the competition, but allows me to deliver a cohesive experience.
I provide a boutique, hands on business model. I truly value my clients as friends after being a part of so many of their memories, and we build lifelong relationships. It is so important to me that children have fun during their sessions that I always carry a bag of trickst and a treasure chest of rewards for them.
I like walk my clients through every step, from clothing that matches the decor of their home, finalizing portraits for their walls, and even visiting their homes to choose display options – this ensures we are all on the same page and that their choices are a perfect fit. From start to finish I deliver a final product, framed and ready to hang.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best way for photographers to live is to have a community of empowerment, support, and creative mojo! Nothing gets photographers more excited than sharing their art and learning from each other. I thrive off of fellow business women and their encouragement..
Pricing:
- Session Fee: $200
- Minimum Purchase $500
- Wall Portraits Starting at $325
- Tabletop Portraits Starting at $75
- Forever Books Custom Albums Starting at $375
Contact Info:
- Email: laurenportraitart@gmail.com
- Website: laurenportraitart.com / forever-books.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenportraitart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Lauren-Aycock/1766877383/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/laurenportraitart/_saved/
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