We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Learning to follow my intuition has been essential to the success of my business. I am continually taking classes and workshops to improve my business and my art, which leads to a barrage of new-found information and ideas. Before I consider implementing changes into my business, I ask myself a few simple questions:

-Is it honest? No change is worth sacrificing my integrity.
-Does it make me cringe? Years ago, I made a change to business after a very persuasive workshop. It wasn’t dishonest, but it made me so uncomfortable that I reverted back within weeks. I want to be able to sleep at night with a clear conscience.
-Will it improve my client experience and/or my photos? This is simple: I will forever work to make things better, so I dismiss any changes to the contrary.
-Is it good for my family? My husband and children are “why,” so everything I do is with their best interests in mind.

Ultimately, what works for someone else may not work for me, so I will continue to learn and grow, and when I’m considering new information I will trust my intuition.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I transformed my lifelong love of photography into a business after the birth of my oldest daughter in 2010. I was in awe of her, and obsessed over everything: each milestone, every facial expression, and the tiniest details. Each passing day brought change, and time became my enemy; I desperately wanted to pause time and remember everything. Photography evolved into my way of doing that, and now I do the same for others because I genuinely believe in the significance of photos. I know first-hand that every single stage matters. And they disappear way too fast.

I primarily photograph families, but I also work with high school seniors, newborns, and couples. Artistically, I love photos that are bold, vibrant, warm, and backlit, but even more importantly, I want them to include real smiles, laughter, connection, and emotion. Photos shouldn’t be cheesy or awkward, and they don’t need to be uncomfortable. I have set myself apart by making my client experience as easy, fun, and stress-free as possible. Taking the time to make my clients feel confident and relaxed has made a world of difference, and I love nothing more than documenting the beauty of each family and client through photos.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am not a city person, so I escape to the mountains as often as possible. I love the town of Westcliffe in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The mountain views are breathtaking, and the town is full of quaint restaurants and shops. The area is full of endless trails and parks to hike and explore by day, and Westcliffe is a dark sky community which means that the stargazing is as good as it gets. There is nothing better than relaxing around a campfire and watching the stars.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband Jason is the unsung hero behind Laura Smith Photography. He has supported me in every way possible over the past 10+ years, and I truly wouldn’t still be doing this without him. He cheers me on, he troubleshoots my technology, he listens to my never-ending photography talk, and he has shown me endless patience and support.

Website: https://www.laurasmithphotos.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurasmithphotography/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurasmithphotography

Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/laurasmithphotography/_created/

Image Credits
All photos ©Laura Smith Photography, LLC

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