Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Laveria and Nick Matarazzo.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
When I first picked up my camera, I had no intentions of making it an actual business. I had just quit modeling and attempted doing self-portraits to build up my confidence and found that people were reaching out to me to take their photos. The day I created a Facebook page for my art, I received a wedding inquiry, and knowing absolutely nothing about the craft, I accepted the job. And after photographing my first wedding, I decided right then that it was what I was meant to do. I started dabbling in conceptual self-portraiture and constantly challenged myself to see what photoshop skills I’m capable of.
My love for creative writing, storytelling, and emotion has fueled my personal work, as well as the passion that goes into my love for weddings and celebrating two people meant for each other. After several years of doing photography on my own, I realized I needed a second photographer for a wedding I was working and I asked Nick if he could team up with me that day. We had just started dating and I never wanted to shoot with anyone else again after that. We developed a brand that was 100% entirely us; bold, colorful, lively, and magical in every aspect. We joke that we’re the “fairy godparents of photography because we like to add an extra touch of magic to the art that we create. I wanted to create something that was truly unique and special to those who see it and speak to those who want something different and untraditional for their wedding.
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?
Being a business owner has been a challenge in itself. I’m an artist through and through, and Nick comes from a musician background. Running a business and being the mastermind behind every logistical thing that needs to be run is challenging, but keeping each other accountable has been a great factor for us. Once we started taking on more weddings and things became a little overwhelming for mentally, Nick and I began to share the workload, and he edits the reception while I edit the rest of the day. Bringing attention to our work has been easy because the art that we create is one that stands out. I’m extremely proud and in love, with the style, we’ve developed.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We’re known for our bold, colorful work that emulates the feeling of being in your own magical fairytale. We’re huge color enthusiasts and have a way of making sure there’s an extra special element added to the images. We aim to have an approach to our work that helps our clients to feel comfortable and truly like themselves, allowing their personalities to shine through. We specialize in creative work that helps the unique vision of our clients have come to life, whether it be a Star Wars-themed wedding filled with lightsabers, a Disney-inspired wedding with whimsical elements, or a nontraditional wedding that just want fun, different, and non cookie-cutter photos. I come from a writer’s background and create conceptual self-portraits in my spare time, which has helped me develop photoshop skills that I never thought I would be able to do. I can cause myself to float, make new worlds, and have a monster as a pet if I want to. I’m now able come up with ideas almost instantaneously and make them be exactly as how I envisioned in my mind. This translates into my wedding work and my ability to make sure that the images we aim to create are the best photos you’ve ever seen.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Lauren- I have a huge and deep love for horror. It’s one of my favorite genres to use in my self-portraits.
Nick- I swore I would never dye my hair. Three years later, it was purple. I never want to go back.
Contact Info:
- Email: nickandlaurenphoto@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/nickandlaurenphotos
- Facebook: Facebook.com/nickandlaurenphotography
- Other: Tiktok – @laurenritaa
Image Credits
Nick and Lauren Photography
