Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Barratt.
Hi Laura, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I’ve had a passion for photography for as long as I can remember. I received my first camera at the age of seven – the Nikon Coolpix S3000 – and I began experimenting with the art of photography as a result. To say, I was immediately intrigued would be a vast understatement.
I quickly cycled through several memory cards, and despite being only seven at the time, began reading the photography books in my dad’s study aiming to learn as much as I possibly could about the art. One day, in a naive attempt to find yet another book about photography, I stumbled across my dad’s old Canon camera. I couldn’t believe what I had found, and quickly began bringing it everywhere I went- nature trails, theme parks, travels.
My passion for photography blossomed, as my dedication to photography greatly increased, and my skills began to develop as a result. I spent countless hours looking through photos on my dad’s old computer, experimenting with editing software to optimize the lighting on my pictures, and, with lots and lots of trial and error, began to improve.
After using my dad’s camera for about five years, I was lucky enough to receive my own canon camera when I was 14. I continued to use my dad’s telephoto and wide-angle lenses and took my camera with me everywhere I could manage to bring it. Though I had only truly taken pictures of plants and animals at the time, in an effort to expand my skill set, I began taking pictures at sporting events at my local high school.
While I initially only took photos of my boyfriend at his football and lacrosse games, as the years progressed, I managed to gain publicity among his teammates, and currently take photos of all players at each of their lacrosse games.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the most significant obstacles that I ultimately learned to overcome was my own lack of confidence in a variety of respects. Specifically, being a mere high school student, I found myself doubting my skills, and as a result, was extremely hesitant to step onto the side of the turf of each game to take photos.
Though I knew that the quality of my photos would dramatically improve if I managed to gain the confidence to leave the fan section and stand near the side of the field, I was extremely anxious to do so. With the reassurance from both my parents and my boyfriend, I ultimately stood on the sidelines of the field.
As a result, the quality of my sports photos significantly increased, and, and I managed to gain the respect of his teammates and coach alike.
Though I have so much more to learn about the art of photography and the secret to capturing the best photo possible, gaining the confidence necessary to put myself out there allowed me to greatly improve my skills and interact with other photographers around me.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I currently go to various locations around the St. Louis area to take photos and often walk along hiking trails to capture nature shots. I also attend each and every Lafayette lacrosse game to take action shots of the players.
Additionally, I strongly believe that one of the most idiosyncratic aspects of myself as a photographer is my dedication to capturing the best shots possible, and to the art of photography as a whole. Furthermore, regardless of the weather or circumstance, I strive to attend each game and capture the best photos possible.
While I personally prefer taking action shots at sporting events, I definitely love all different forms of photography- still-life, portrait, and sports photography alike, and for this reason, feel most proud of my ability to take all different types of photography.
I definitely have so much more to learn about the art of photography and am lucky to have the opportunity to do so.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
One of my favorite childhood memories was receiving my first canon camera.
The excitement I felt from that experience remains nearly unmatched to this day. I strongly feel as though receiving my own camera truly inspired me to improve my skills, and further piqued my interest in photography.
Contact Info:
- Email: laura_ab@icloud.com
- Instagram: @lauras.sports.pics and @laura_ab_photography
