Today we are thrilled to introduce photographer Lauren Werkheiser of Lauren Werkheiser Photography! Not only is Lauren a proud Fotostrap user, she is also a Fotolanthropy Fotocrew member and reached out to them to partner on a special portrait promotion running this month! During February, Lauren will donate $100 to Fotolanthropy for every lifestyle session booked for the month of April. We love Lauren's generous heart for giving back and hope you enjoy getting to know her and learning what inspires her work!
Hello Lauren! Tell us a little about yourself.
Hi there! My name is Lauren and I'm owner of Lauren Werkheiser Photography. I'm a coastal engagement, wedding and anniversary photographer serving areas in MD, DC, VA, DE and available for travel.
Because I'm no good talking about myself (am I the only one that finds it awkward?) here are seven things you may not know about me (yes, seven - it's my lucky number):
1. I am a hopeless romantic and look for any reason to celebrate love! Marriage matters, and as much as I love weddings, I believe that what comes after the wedding day is most important.
2. I adore all things coastal/nautical and love spending time near the water (it doesn't matter where). My favorite sessions/weddings were those on sailboats and it's my dream to one day own one.
3. Travel makes my heart happy. My husband and I are always exploring new places, and it's these adventures that are my favorite! Destination wedding, anyone?!
4. There's nothing more relaxing to me than cozying up with some blankets and a hot chocolate and getting lost in a good book!
5. Calvin Scout is the mascot of LWP. He's a 1.5 year old, food-obsessed, Maine Coon mix kitten (who thinks he's a dog) and he loves to help me edit by laying on my keyboard.
6. While my kitchen may always end up a mess, I love to bake (always from scratch). The outcome makes the mess worth it!
7. I have such a heart for nonprofit organizations and love supporting businesses that give back!
What can you share about your business/organization/philanthropy?
Whether it's the emotion of a new engaged couple, the excitement of a bride and groom saying their vows, or the passion I have for what I do, my business is immersed in love. One of my biggest goals with LWP is to put more love, joy and happiness into the world than what was there before, and to document it all along the way. As someone who has always had a heart for supporting business that give back, it was an easy decision to start using my passion to support, encourage and inspire those around me. That's why I'm so excited to be donating $100 from every lifestyle session scheduled Feb 1st - Feb 29th, 2016 to Fotolanthropy!
Tell us about this special portrait promotion!
I'm so excited to share about a really special promotion I have going on right now! If you book a lifestyle session (couples, proposals, engagements, bridals, boudoir, anniversary or trash the dress) between February 1st, 2016 and February 29th, 2016, for a date on or before April 30th, 2016, I will donate $100 from your session to Fotolanthropy. There is NO LIMIT to the amount of funds donated. If 5 people reserve a date, $500 will be donated; if 10 people reserve a date, $1,000 will be donated; if 20 people reserve a date, $2,000 will be donated, etc. I'm so excited to see how much we can raise and hope you'll be a part of it! For more information or schedule a lifestyle session of your own, visit www.LaurenWerkheiserPhotography.com!
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration from all around me, whether it's while adventuring with my husband, taking a walk outside, admiring blooming florals, seeing an elderly couple holding hands or giving each other a smooch while on a walk, witnessing vows being exchanged between a new bride and her groom, etc. Inspiration is everywhere, if you just look!
Who do you admire and why?
Whether it's cheesy or not, I admire my husband. His caring heart, his selfless personality, and his innate ability to always see the best in others are just a few of my favorite attributes. He is the person that taught me to have courage, even when you feel like you have none, and he makes me an all around better person. I know that without him, my business wouldn't be where it is today.
What are some of your favorite photography "must haves"?
Of course my Sky Fotostrap! It makes me so happy to know that 10% of proceeds went to support Fotolanthropy. I also couldn't live without my 35mm, 50mm, and 100mm Macro (I'm a prime girl, through and through). My favorite lenses!
What's the best advice you've been given about your business/organization?
The best advice I've been given about business, is actually advice that I read early on (I wish I could remember from where), and now it's something I constantly remind myself of and share with other creatives when asked this very question. It's simply to be yourself! So often, you'll find creatives doing the same thing over and over again. It's an easy trap to fall into when you're surrounded by so much beauty and are constantly being inspired by the same people. By being yourself, you're putting something amazing into the world that wasn't there before! Whether it's your personality, your ideas, your work, your unique voice, etc, you're inspiring others - whether you know it or not!
Describe where you see yourself in 5 to 10 years.
This is a difficult question, as my ideas on the future are always changing! Really, I just hope that in five to ten years I'm still pursuing whatever dream I have. I hope I'm more fearless than I am now, I hope I'm loving harder than I do now, and I hope that I'm putting more good in the world than what was there before!
Connect with Lauren on Instagram - @LaurenWerkheiserPhotography