We talk to like-minded visual-oriented businesses and downright inspiring people. We chat all things from humble beginnings to future aspirations. We get to the nuts and bolts of how they got to where they are today, the ins-and-outs of their craft, and thought you might like to come along for the ride. Welcome to the first volume of The Visual Diaries.
For our first volume, we thought it would only be fitting to sit down with our long-time friend and visionary, Lucy Douglas. Lucy is highly sought after photographer, capturing soulful moments with her unique photography style. We chat with her about her creative journey, her tools of the trade and her day-to-day rules to live by.
Before we chat about Lucie weddings, can you share a little bit about yourself?
According to my Aquarius horoscope artwork by Sunday Lane; ‘She is strong willed, with a free spirit & uncompromised devotion to life. Her bright Aqua energies mean she is both intelligent and imaginative, a passionate advocate for her own ideas.’ - I like to think that's a nice, little summary, haha.
I was born in Sydney, however along with my parents & two younger brothers we moved around a lot! I've lived in South Aus, Victoria and Sydney, however I have always called the Northern Beaches; home, sweet home.
I knew I was always going to be a creative of sorts as numbers & I didn't get along! I also spent my childhood surrounded by creative people - my dad is still the most creative person I know.
I was fascinated by photography throughout school, although I went on to study Visual Design & Communication at Billy Blue. My creative career kicked off when I landed my first, real industry job as a Junior Designer at Cleo & Dolly Magazine (the best job I ever had), and it was there that I was given the freedom to pick up a camera again. And here we are!
Tell us a bit about the Lucie Weddings journey and how it came to be.
I fell in love with the art of photography in high school. We were taught everything from creating and using our own pinhole camera, to learning the darkroom process; it was one of the very few subjects that I actually scored HD’s in.
I’m obsessed with 35mm film, so I began pursuing that within the fashion space. It wasn’t until I started second shooting weddings for my partner Eddie that I realised maybe I could blend the two industries. I really broke into the space when I was asked to shoot a girlfriend from high school's wedding. It was then that I fell in love with the art of blending love & photography to form a visual & poetic narrative.
I now juggle weddings as well as editorial/fashion work and I’m really glad that I do because I know that if I did one without the other I wouldn’t love it nearly as much.
What would a typical workday look like for you?
I’m usually up around 6.30am. I start with a lemon and ginger tea, I write three pages of complete nonsense into a notebook to clear the overnight fuzz. Then I’ll either go for a swim or a walk, make a plunger coffee, knock out emails & admin, or go through my to-do’s that I wrote out the evening before. I usually spend most of the day editing a wedding or two & I’ll always take 30 minutes at lunch away from my desk to read, sit outside or listen to a podcast to recharge. I’ll then spend the arvo doing an hour of something I really enjoy i.e. working on my website, planning my IG, or Pinterest & then proceed to editing again. I usually clock off around 6-6.30pm to head to the gym.
What are your tools of the trade?
My physical tools include two Sony A7 111 camera bodies, my 85mm & 35mm prime lenses + a few film cameras. Other tools include organisation, time management, people skills & creativity.
How do you find social media impacts your job?
It’s up there with being the most important platform, closely followed by my website. I have a love, hate relationship with social media, I find it can be really hard sometimes & I neglect it, as a result it then doesn't service me, as soon as I give it the TLC it wants, it’s business as usual - it’s like a needy boyfriend haha.
You have a distinct style that is highly sought after, can you describe your creative style and the process behind it.
There’s an artistry to photography that lies in intuition. Photography is a feeling. I create based on ‘the’ feeling. When I shoot, I aim to capture a moment as it moves into the next. Through the use of light, composition, emotion and intuition.
My favourite photography quote is:
“People in motion are wonderful to photograph. It means catching the right moment when one thing changes into something else.” - Andre kertesz
Incredible photography has the ability to take someone back to that very moment and feel exactly what they felt then. I believe the less static photography appears the better, it has so many layers of expression, it’s a waste to utilise just the surface.
A couples wedding can be the biggest day of their lives, how does It feel to capture so many magical memories for so many people?
Warm. It feels warm. There’s no better feeling knowing that I’m freezing frames, moments; for them to relive it all over again, but also from a perspective of someone who gets to relay how happy that day made them.
Where do you look to for inspiration?
Poetry, travel, old photography books & fashion magazines are a big one too, I love RUSSH! I also believe vision boards & manifestation are the keys to bringing dreams to life.
Where is the most exciting place your job has taken you?
Joshua Tree National Park, Palm Springs - no photo will ever do that place justice, it’s mind blowing & I was lucky enough to shoot my first ever engagement shoot there for a couple from NYC...who found me on SOCIAL MEDIA!
Do you ever find yourself in a creative rut and if so, how do you get out of it?
Absolutely! With our current global pandemic, I have found myself feeling lethargic & very uninspired. I find taking myself out of my day-to-day helps. I’ll look at different mediums such as painting & reading. I’ll also make a conscious effort to connect to nature everyday & I always come back to morning pages, a technique taught by author Julia Cameron in the book ‘The Artist Way’ - I highly recommend this to everyone!
Advice for people wanting to make a living out of their craft?
If you believe in it, then that’s all that matters. Lead with your heart & not your head and be patient! Nothing good happens overnight.
What does success look like to you?
Happiness. That is someone who is living their truth. Happiness is success.
What does the future look like for Lucie Weddings?
There’s a few exciting plans on the horizon, which I hope to roll out soon. I love the idea of teaching, sharing & inspiring a little more, we’ll see!
Copyright 2020 Visual Valley. All images supplied by Lucie Weddings / Studio Lucie.