I had the pleasure of sitting down with my dear friend Laura Rockett, photographer and world traveler, and hearing her story. When Laura talks about travel, she lights up and recalls the details of any specific place so that you become immersed in it too. I always come out of those conversations feeling I must visit that city or that tapas place or wherever and usually look up airfare to Portugal or Spain or Belize immediately following. She doesn't just paint a picture with her words- she's a photographer too. And by blending her two passions, she's creating her dream job. Jump into our conversation with us!
How did you get your start in photography?
I went to school for advertising. I thought I could use my creativity to make ads. But I realized what I was doing in school would take so long and ultimately wasn't going to get me the job I wanted. I decided to minor in photography so that the formal training would give me some credibility to an employer.
I always loved photography though. My uncle started me at a young age with a camera in my hands. He was a portrait photographer in Texas. He passed away after battling cancer. And last spring, I was handed his old camera. That was so special to me.
In school, I dropped several classes just to spend more time in the dark room.
After I graduated, around the time of the economic downturn, I lost three jobs in four years. I lost my first job before I even started it. I worked at a mom and pop shop after that, and got laid off.
I took unemployment for 11 months. I wrote a food blog everyday. Applied for jobs and interned. I was feeling low, and knew I needed something to feed my soul. I started wondering, "What am I capable of? What am I built for?"
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| Through the doorway, Rome |
For five years I worked with a cinematic wedding videographer. I loved being a part of different people's families or a part of a different culture for their important day and get paid for it.
I'm a cultural anthropologist. I love to experience things through the eyes of different people.
But I had no creative control. I realized that I don't like working under someone else's vision in a creative capacity. I would work hard, get more confident, push some boundaries, only to get shot down by the boss.
This was the catalyst for me. That job and still living under the poverty line after working that hard. I thought "What am I worth?" Where I used to take what I could get, I finally decided I wanted to do this on my own. My boss was angry and said he would block my efforts to get clients and do my own thing. I found the confidence to say, "I'm doing this anyway." I want to work for myself, choose my own hours, carry out my own creative vision.
So you had to leave New Orleans?
Yes. The wedding industry in New Orleans is a small circle. I'd always had wanderlust and felt slightly rebellious. I never planned to stay. I just knew it's time. I felt the need to go.
I looked at moving to Paris, Portland, Philly and Nashville. When I spoke with other photographers in Nashville, their support shocked me. The perspective of "What's good for one of us is good for all of us" was so different from my experience at my last job. Nashville seemed like a good business move.
I said, "Yes, I'm going to move to Nashville." And God's like, "Good! I can use that." God doesn't waste anything.
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| Light in Montepulcciano, Tuscany, Italy |
When did you discover your love of traveling?
I didn't start really traveling until I started making money. And started taking vacations.
But I minored in Spanish and lived in Spain at the end of college. I wanted to be somewhere and experience it. Spain is my food Mecca. They get it. Dinner is at 9pm (the sun doesn't even set until 10:30). The tapas! You order wine and they bring you food. The more wine you order, the better the food gets. You just get to be with people and eat good food. I visited Portugal and Mediterranean beaches, just these lovely towns with history. Being in a place like that sparks my creativity and sparks my wonder. I'm a badass when navigating a place I've never been or where I don't speak the language. I still have the best time.
And I love seeing the way other people live, in poverty and wealth, and how happy they are in their lives. I love taking a lot of photos and being absorbed in being somewhere else. Photos are a way to remember your experience and spark the stories. They're framable pieces of your story.
I realized I wanted to work so that I can travel.
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| Streets of Rome |
So, how do you combine the two great loves?
Think of everything you do as business. When you travel, let people know on social media that you'll be there, and find the people who are interested in taking photos while you're in town. The business side of me had to grow into this.
Decide where you want to go, what you want to experience, bring your camera, and make it happen. When you connect with people through an experience, they can become your biggest allies. The photo that hangs in their house tells the story of that one moment at the Grand Canyon. But it also tells your story.
That connection is what makes the experience so memorable. It's important to find the people who get what you do. I'm not for everybody. I want to find the people who get what I do and really love it. So, I continue to talk to people, tell my story and tell them about experiences that matter to me.
Do you have any photo tips for us?
It's ok if you just have your voice and not everyone else's voice. Being good at what you do is great, but having your own voice is more important.
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| Foothills in Bogotá, Colombia |
1. The best camera is the one you have with you. Want to take photos of travel you love? Use whatever camera makes you want to take the most photos. The more you take the better you'll get.
2. If something inspires you and draws you in, first, pinpoint the feeling. That's what you want to capture. You may have to move your feet. Stand up on a wall, pull back or get closer. Changing your perspective may help you get a photo you really like and will enjoy for longer.
3. Whenever I'm traveling I try to see as many sunrises and sunsets as possible. Even the most mundane places look magical at those hours. *Bonus* Your photos will look better at sunrise because very few people will be out and about hogging the good spots.
4. Vsco Cam and Color Story are apps for editing photos on your phone. Don't just use the same filter on every photo. Make each one your own.
To continue the story, you can find Laura here: Laura Rockett Photography | @lrockphotog | @ellerockphoto
