My name is Lauren Todd, I'm 26 years old, and I absolutely know that photography is what God called me to do. I am the owner of LB Photography. I've been taking pictures for 8 years professionally now. 2 years as a hobby. As young as the age of 9, I've always asked for a camera for my birthdays, Christmas, etc! I wanted to be my family's personal photographer! My senior year in high school, a very nice teacher of mine let me use her camera time to time, and I was in yearbook. Walking around, capturing candid moments, yelling for people to "smile" was such a joy. I didn't honestly expect to be where I am today, I was always so set on becoming a nurse, and its not totally ruled out, but there's no way I could ever cut photography out of my life now! My mother bought me my first big girl camera, a Nikon D90. I knew NOTHING, and when I say nothing, I mean nothing! I started offering free sessions and harassing my family by having "photoshoots." By word of mouth and such, my freshmen year of college, I became swarmed with inquiries about sessions! Shocked, but so thrilled, I started taking pictures as "Lauren Todd Photography." Mainly as just a hobby, I noticed I couldn't think of school, I couldn't think of work, I wanted to be out taking pictures! Slowly but surely, I was learning, I took classes, was mentored by local photographers, and started realizing my love for people. Even now, I want my sessions to be a positive and fun experience. After a year or so, my mother surprised me again with my Nikon D700. My mother has always wanted me to stick out school and have a career to better my future, but she saw the love I had for photography and has always supported me. Photography has been a lot of attempts and learning!
Sessions, sessions, and more sessions. At this point in my business I was by myself, juggling what I could, stressed but determined. One late night, answering emails, a girl named Natalie messaged me and was interested in a session for a gift for her husband. What I didn't know about this girl, is that she would be mine and my business' saving grace! We finally met the day of her session, and ever since then, I've had one of the best friends a girl could ask for. Also, to find a photographer who trusted another photographer to take their pictures, was rare around here! Natalie took on the position as my assistant, answering emails and scheduling sessions. Little did she know, that she was saving my sanity! Its definitely hard to find someone who loves your clients and wants to better your business for you. She, being a mother of 2, and a wife, took it upon herself to team up with me and join me by co-shooting! She's smart, innovative, and organized. Just what I needed. She's never gotten frustrated with me, she's encouraged me, and given me that boost of confidence I needed to get where I am. She's growing into one strong, and confident photographer herself, and I'm very blessed to know the things she's taught me and I'm happy I have gotten to teach her.
LB Photography is now evolving, it consists of two women, with two cameras who happen to be best friends! We are passionate about our job and we do our best to please our clients! Natalie and myself are excited to share LB and we know that together we are unstoppable! Prayers have gotten us where we are, and we can't thank our clients enough for your business and friendships!
-Lauren
Hello, my name is Natalie. I am 30 years old and happily married with two handsome boys! I have been doing photography for roughly 8 years. I could say longer but it really all started just like anyone else...a little point and shoot Canon my husband bought me our first Christmas together as a married couple in 2008! Initially it was just to capture those special memories of our first born son, Dillon, then a passion started to spark. I wanted more, to learn more and do more with my little camera. As all photographers do I did a lot of trial and error....terrible over edits and under or over exposed lighting. I graduated to a Sony DSLR after having my little point and shoot for about 6 months. Everything I've learned to date is self taught...I knew I wasn't fabulous when I first started but I was determined to get better so I stuck with it and upgraded cameras again to a Canon DSLR. I started to really grow my work and business and then our second son made his way into the world and photography took a back burner for quite a while. Then...as most stories do, something amazing happened!
I was in search of a specific location to take some Father's Day pictures of me and my sons for my husband. I had come across Lauren Todd a couple times here and there on Facebook, and saw she was an amazing and aspiring photographer as well. Needless to say, the business world is a dog-eat-dog world and it's kind of nerve racking for one photographer to up and ask questions to another...not sure why, but just trust me..it's a questionable act! I messaged her one night asking if she knew of an open field location with a lot of the 'wheat-looking' grass that would be good for photography. (LOVE my choice of description to this day! Hah!) She replied and we began talking..and what was thought to only end up being a 10 minute conversation turned into hours of discussion between two people who did photography and it quickly morphed into a friendship! To this day I will say I found my female soul mate!
We started helping each other learn tips and tricks one of us knew but the other didn't. We came up with ideas for sessions and after a short time I became her assistant. I would log into her facebook and answer her client's messages and book sessions. After my youngest son got a little older, I slowly started to tread back into the photography world. We began co-shooting weddings which immediately proved the fact that two heads are better than one! We never wanted to shoot a wedding solo after the first time we double teamed! So here we are, a couple years later, her business is booming and I could not be more proud of her persistence, strength, positive attitude and her passion for this business. She truly has a knack for this. She's the biggest people person I've ever met...hilarious to be around and has brought me out of my shy ways and molded me into a people person as well.
I admire so many things about this woman. I was so privileged to shoot her wedding and to be able to do what I love. She's given me that opportunity! Very giving heart, doesn't know a stranger and is amazing with the kiddos. What more could you ask for from your photographer!? I look forward to the future not only for her and myself but for LB Photography as a whole...and I pray for the Lord's guidance and blessings! Thank you to all of our fans and clients, without you we wouldn't be doing what we do!
-Natalie