Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Williamson.
Hi Lauren, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I would say that my love for film and photography originated as a child wanting to bring my favorite stories to life. Since then, I’ve fallen in love with the idea of displaying art through images with influences from creators like Tim Burton, Guillermo Del Toro, Issa Rae, and Barry Jenkins.
However, most people know that to reach such greatness, you must begin with a first step. Photography has been the blueprint of my aspirations. Like a baker supplied with just the main ingredients to a dessert, I know that each photo contributes to a bigger vision.
Although I’ve worked as a Registered Nurse for most of my career, I also see visual media as part of my life’s purpose. The two actually complement each other beautifully since wellness goes far beyond the physical. Capturing stories through film or photography can improve other areas of well-being, including mental health. Essentially, it’s all connected.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wouldn’t say that the road has been smooth, but I would say it was necessary. Growing up, job security was a major influence on my decision to choose a career. So while I took film courses in college, I eventually put those pursuits on the back burner to obtain a nursing degree instead. Nursing school was demanding of not only my time, but my mental capacity, so I had to make a choice.
Nevertheless, I don’t regret my decision to be a nurse because I have been blessed with so many valuable and life-changing experiences; however, delving into photography at such a later stage in life has had its challenges. When you’re young and ambitious, with little responsibilities, failure is just an insignificant part of the journey. However, as an adult, you have to strategically plan and move past your fears in order to catch up. Ava DuVernay didn’t create her first film until age 35, so there’s no excuse. At this stage, I’m even more self-aware and determined to succeed.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Right now, I would consider myself a renaissance woman. Like I mentioned before, I want to be knowledgeable in several areas in order to fully understand what it is that I want to put out into the world. Recently, I’ve worn the title of editor, photographer, creative director, camera operator, etc. I truly enjoy each of those roles, but I would say that my greatest work so far has been in portrait photography.
I feel that my specialty lies in capturing the essence of the Black experience through a unique tone. I’ve learned from my inspirations that the tone of a shot can change everything, and I love playing with tone.
I hope to soon create a short film and a photography series by this time next year. Of course those are short term goals, but seeing as though I’ve come this far already, I’m inspired to do it.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was an introspective kid. I was tall with glasses, and a tad awkward. My family lived in a somewhat small city, so my head was always buried in books that took me to different worlds. I was infatuated with reading about the urban experience, detective mysteries, and magical adventures. This allowed me to see the world differently, and eventually sparked my passion for visual arts. I had a great group of friends, was terrible in sports, and did the normal teenage things, but I always knew that my ambitions would take me far. With God and my support system behind me, I have every intention on making that young girl’s dream a reality and show others that it’s never too late to choose purpose.
Contact Info:
- Email: leuxlensmedia@gmail.com
- Website: www.leuxlensmedia.com
- Instagram: @leuxlensmedia
Image Credits:
All photos: Lauren Williamson- Leux Lens Media
