Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynsie Conn.
Hi Lynsie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been an observer of life. I studied people- their faces, their mannerisms, how they interact with each other. I studied nature-the blur of trees racing past the car window, the intense greens of midday fading into a soft warmth near sunset. These observations are what I’ve examined in my work through varying mediums over the years. First through my artwork in pencil drawings and acrylic paint, and more recently through the lens of a camera.
My early artwork focused heavily on landscapes and portraits of my family, specifically focusing on portraits of babies and children. I was always drawn to how honest a young child’s presentation was. There’s no pretense or social mask to hide behind, just their true emotions in the moment shining through, and that’s what I aimed to capture in my work.
After leaving school, I took a break from art for a while to focus on my career and eventually on trying to start a family. The path to parenthood was a difficult one for me and my husband. After three long years of infertility, most of which occurred in the isolating pandemic era, we found out we were expecting our daughter. Through a difficult pregnancy with preeclampsia and a later attempt at adding a sibling ending in a miscarriage, the last few years have been challenging and have made me want to cherish every milestone with my daughter even more.
It was during this time that photography became a bigger presence in my life. I had always enjoyed using a point-and-shoot camera in my travels, but the thought of really diving in to learning how to shoot in manual overwhelmed me. Once my daughter was born, I wanted to freeze those precious, fleeting moments of her early life, but I was never fully happy with the quality of phone photos, and at the time, that was all I had the mental bandwidth for. As she became a toddler, I felt the push to really learn how to use a camera and haven’t looked back since.
Working with families, I see the same quality of genuine emotions that I saw in young children in my early artwork. From silly faces to tender hugs, there is an honesty in the interactions between family members that is so compelling. Each photo session has been unique, and I love seeing the subtle differences in family dynamics. It has truly been a joy, and I’m looking forward to seeing what new experiences and connections the future will bring.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m naturally a very shy and reserved person. In high school, I received a note addressed to the “quiet chick in the corner”, and not much has changed on that front since then. I’ve always found it difficult to open up to new people I’ve just met, so starting a new business, especially one as people centered as portrait and family photography, has been the main challenge.
What has helped is focusing more on the connection between the subjects I’m photographing rather than worrying about their connection with me. I want my families and couples locked in on each other, whether engaging in play and fun or being fully present for those softer tender moments. My goal is for them to relax and forget for just a few moments that I’m there.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My photography work focuses on families and all of the big life moments they experience from newborn to baby milestone, high school graduation, couples, maternity, and everything in between. Capturing candid moments and genuine emotion is important to me. I want my photos to feel nostalgic like a warm memory that you want to keep replaying in your head- soft, dreamy while still feeling natural, maybe not fully in focus in your mind, but you can feel the emotion and it transports you back to that moment in time.
Having your photo taken is an inherently vulnerable position to be in, and the thought of being in front of a camera can be stressful. My clients trust me to capture them in the best light possible and many of them come to the photo session worried that their children won’t smile or cooperate. I believe in creating a relaxed and playful atmosphere so that it’s easy for authentic moments to naturally play out in front of the camera. That may mean letting an energetic child run off some energy, or having a family dance party, or letting a shy child snuggle into comfort of their safe space. I like to follow the lead of the family dynamic rather than pushing forced poses. For me, family photography is all about taking the chaos and messiness life brings and finding the beauty in it. It freezes a moment in time and lets you revisit it in all its perfect imperfection.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
In photography as well as in life generally, I’ve found that my inner drive is essential to my success. It pushes me to look for new perspectives, refine my skills, and keep my goals at the forefront. Alongside that, time management plays an important role. Photography is both an art and a discipline, and being organized helps me balance the creative side with the technical side, including planning shoots, editing, and meeting client deadlines. Just as important, is an openness to trying again and a willingness to always be learning and growing. Not every shot comes out perfect, but constantly experimenting and iterating has led to some of my most rewarding work. Together, these qualities keep me moving forward with purpose and resilience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lynsieconnphotography.mypixieset.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lynsieconnphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574274794344
Image Credits
Lynsie Conn Photography
