Ep. 112/ Founding a Photo Agency & How to Get a Great Headshot: Lauren Lieberman
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Lauren Lieberman, founder of Lila Photo, shares her 18 years of experience in the photography business. Lauren discusses her passion for capturing special moments, from photographing celebrities and former presidents to organizing 10,000 headshots for people who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, connection, and collaboration between the photographer and the subject, and offers valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, such as following your instincts, providing excellent service, being resourceful and prioritizing the client experience.
You will learn:
Taking risks in doing something for the betterment of others. - 16:44
The importance of vulnerability, connection, and collaboration during a headshot session. - 12:30
The significance of following your instincts and focusing on providing excellent service to clients. - 23:451. Take a screenshot and share it to your IG stories. Tag me @kimrittberg
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Lauren discusses her journey from working as a fraternity and sorority photographer in college to transitioning into corporate events and eventually starting her own photo agency in Palm Beach, Florida. She shares engaging stories of photographing notable celebrities such as Mel Robbins, Jay Shetty, and Bobby Brown, as well as former President Barack Obama. Lieberman highlights the moments of connection and intimacy during these sessions, emphasizing the importance of creating a comfortable and confident environment for her subjects.
Lauren offers valuable advice for entrepreneurs, stressing the significance of following one's instincts, focusing on providing excellent service to clients, and prioritizing the client experience. She also delves into the psychological aspect of photography, discussing the importance of vulnerability and collaboration between the photographer and subject to achieve the perfect headshot. Laruen also shares the most inspiring stories we’ve ever had about how she and a colleague organized a one-day event across all 50 states, providing 10,000 headshots for people who had lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lauren’s insights, experiences, and dedication to her craft serve as an inspiration for those looking to pursue their passions and succeed in their chosen fields.
In this episode you will learn:
Taking risks in doing something for the betterment of others. - 16:44
The importance of vulnerability, connection, and collaboration during a headshot session. - 12:30
The significance of following one's instincts and focusing on providing excellent service to clients. - 23:45
Quotes from our guest:
“I thought I would become a psychologist, which I do feel that psychology is such a huge component of just knowing and loving people and understanding them. And I used that skill throughout my business.” - 7:22
“There's something nice about just pausing things, right? Because everything moves so quickly. So it's like, you can put your phone down, you can be in the moment, and you can trust." - 16:14
“Even with social media and just seeing the end result again, as an entrepreneur, trust the hard work that goes into things. It's hard. It's meant to be hard when you make the choice to be an entrepreneur and then a founder. There's always a solution, and there really is always a solution.” - 31:58
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Kim (00:02):
Lauren Lieberman, the founder of Lila Photo joins us. She is bringing you lessons from 18 years in business, brings fun stories of photographing celebrities and former presidents, and extra special advice on what you can do to get the perfect headshot. Yes, find the right photographer, but things that you can actually do to get that photo that you're going to use for years and years to come.
Kim (00:24):
Welcome to the Exit interview with Kim Rittberg. Do you work for yourself and want to supercharge your business while still having fun? Well, this is your go-to podcast part MBA Part Cheer Squad. Every week I'll be joined by top business owners who share the secrets to their success. After I found myself working during childbirth true story, I quit my executive media job to bet on myself fighting the fear and imposter syndrome to eventually earn six awards, an in-demand speaking career and features and fast company and business insider. Now I'm here to celebrate all you rock stars betting on yourself, and I want to help you win. Tune in every Wednesday to hear from remarkable founders and don't miss our Solo Friday episodes, a treasure trove of video and podcasting mini masterclasses with me. Exit the Grind, enter success on your own terms. Don't forget to subscribe today and grab my free video tips at my website, kimrittberg.com.
Kim (01:25):
So today's episode is amazing. I've been trying to get this guest on our show for two years. This is true. I want to tell you a little bit of the backstory of Lauren and I meeting. And then I also want to let you know today we're talking about headshots. So if you're looking to get a great headshot, Lauren has incredible advice, how to get a great headshot. She was a photographer and now she runs a really massive photo agency that does events around the world. So she's gives you advice for how you can feel great before your headshot, but actual tangible things you can do to get the most amazing headshot. And speaking of getting on camera and feeling good, I know a lot of you want to get on camera more and are feeling a little, but I have a seven day on camera challenge, really amazing course that you can do online with me.
(02:08):
It has built in lessons and accountability, the important part of actually doing it. So make sure to click on the link in the show notes or just go to kimrittberg.com. It's called the Seven Day on Camera Challenge. And it's just a great way to get out of your comfort zone, really put yourself on camera. We all know that showing up on camera can actually bring you a lot of business, get leads, get clients. I've been coaching people from around the country, consultants, real estate agents, coaches of all sorts about getting on camera with confidence. But what should you say? How should you film yourself? It's all in there. Don't worry, it's all in there. So make sure to click in the show notes for the seven day on-camera challenge. This is brand new, it just went up, so don't miss it. And then a little bit more about Lauren Lieberman is coming up right now.
(02:52):
Alright, I am really excited to have Lauren here. I'm going to explain a little bit about how I met Lauren Lieberman. Our kids introduced us. This is true. They were at camp together and Lauren and I sat down and started chatting and she started telling me about her business. And I was like, oh my God, you have to be on my podcast. This is like two summers ago. So it's taken a long time for me to force her to be a guest. She runs this incredible photo agency that does really incredible events all around the world. I follow their Instagram, so that's how I know when she's in Hawaii or Thailand or wherever. But also I got more of a taste of the work she does both from following her business, from knowing her. But I had an event in Florida and I had to source a photographer for the event.
(03:37):
And everyone who's listening knows I work in marketing. So when you're at an event, you absolutely need to get photos of you being at the event. It's like a huge part of your portfolio of you being a thought leader, of you building your brand. You have to get photos and video of you being there, Pixar. It didn't happen, just kidding. But for real, it's very important. If you're trying to be seen as the go-to expert in your field, you can't just be on a stage and have an event happen and then you don't have any footage of it. It really makes it harder to get additional opportunities. So I texted Lauren and I was like, Hey, I actually, I don't have a photographer for this. I thought they have one there, but I think that the event wasn't confirming it. I said, can you please help me?
(04:16):
How do I get a photographer? And she not just gave me advice to get a photographer, she helped me source a photographer. She told me exactly what sort of aspects about the photographer I needed, what should their portfolio look like, what should they sound like on the phone, how to pitch myself to them so that they would want to work with me. I have been an executive producer in video and TV for 17 years. I still was like, this is amazing advice. So anyway, I wanted to share that story because I thought it's a really important indicator of what Lauren is, not just as a business person, but also as a human. And that generosity of spirit. I was getting on the plane and I had to put my phone in airplane mode and I was like, oh my God, I'm about to take off. Lauren goes, call me in two hours. I will talk to the photographers for you. I just wanted to share that. I think it's really important that as we meet people and founders and business people, there's always real humans behind. And I was very impressed with Lauren, not just as a business person but as a person. So thank you with all of that. Here's Lauren. Hello.
Lauren (05:15):
Hello. Well, thank you for making this happen and for wanting me on.
Kim (05:18):
Yay. So Lauren Lieberman, she's the founder of Lila Photo. I know this, but I want you to share how you got into, now you run a huge photo agency, but obviously you had to start out in photo. How did you start out in photography?
Lauren (05:32):
So I was at the University of Florida and I got my start as a fraternity and sorority photographer getting paid 5 cents per head per picture. So just kind of picture the scene. There's like a frat party with 800 people and I can work that crowd like no other. So as long as you could get up to five people, let's say four to five people, that was 25 cents per photo. And this was just at the of film leading into digital. And I also have a photographic memory, which is somewhat a hazard of the business, but it's also a great thing. So then if you move to another grouping, that was another 2020 5 cents. So I could work a crowd in two hours making great money in college and obviously seeing some of the craziest, funniest things that were ever documented as a photographer in college at the frat parties. I
Kim (06:21):
Love that. Actually, I had a weird college. My job was to be a marketing rep for Red Bull. Oh, they thought I was so amazing. I was like, you're paying me to bring Red Bull to parties. This is the easiest job ever. No, just getting guys, thank you for hiring me. But
Lauren (06:35):
No, it was fun. I got to choose which parties I would get to go to in college and it was nice to be an outside observer, not to be partying in them, but man, it was definitely a great way to experience college.
Kim (06:45):
And I'm just getting Red Bull. I also sourced restaurants and bars that you should be in. And then going from photography, at what point did you say, okay, you went and you got a photographer. I assume you got a job as a photographer. And then how did you start building your career and at what point did you say, I want to build my own agency?
Lauren (07:02):
Well, I studied psychology. I thought I would become a psychologist, which I do feel that psychology is such a huge component of just knowing and loving people and understanding them. And I used that skill throughout my business. I graduated with a degree in psychology. I worked for right out of school, a really high end wedding photographer and she had a satellite studio. I was in Miami then at that time, and I ran her satellite studio and it was at the Biltmore Hotel, which is just an old historic, beautiful hotel. And when I would be selling her services and she's just a brilliantly skilled photographer for weddings, I was also there as the hotel photographer. So I would get a phone call and one day it would be like, okay, well the Dalai Lama is here and you have to be upstairs and two hours in photograph the Dalai Lama arriving.
(07:50):
And then you get another phone call a few weeks later and it's President Clinton is there and hosting another event. And I never knew what I would be walking into. And that was also the fun part of it, of just getting to experience some incredible dignitaries that would walk through the doors with moment's notice working there. And then I was doing weddings for her, selling weddings for her and getting to know the brides and really creating relationships there. And I wanted to do something else during the week. It transitioned into corporate events and that is where, that's my love of corporate clients. It grew and she really embraced it and was like, all right, well let's your baby do their thing. And when it was time for me to leave working with her, she was really graceful in saying, run with it, go with it. It's yours. Because I built it. And that is a blessing. I'll hold on to forever because I moved to Palm Beach. My boyfriend at the time was in Palm Beach, Florida, west Palm, and that was 18 years ago that I started the business. Yeah,
Kim (08:47):
My goodness. Okay, so 18 years. Wow. 18 years. I love it because I mean, it's a lifetime. It's literally the age when a baby becomes what they can vote and not drink it. They
Lauren (09:00):
Can vote. Yeah. So Lila is turning 18, so is our baby. So
Kim (09:04):
What advice would you have for other entrepreneurs?
Lauren (09:07):
What advice? Just go with it if it's in your gut to want to start something that's your own. My husband and I, we were driving up to Orlando, coming up with a name for the business and it was, well, Lila and everyone always asks us, so Lila is Lauren Lieberman backwards and shortened ally for Lieberman LA for Lauren. There is no Lila. Half the time people call me Lila and I answer them. I don't even correct them. Just go with it. Don't let things hold you up like, oh, but I don't have a website yet. I don't have this yet. I still don't have things 18 years in. Just go with it. Go with your gut. Always follow your gut. That has lasted me as a core value since the beginning. And just start it and start with what you like doing and let that lead you. That would definitely be my thing of what brings you joy. So yeah, we started incorporated in 2006. I was really lucky from the beginning. One of my first events was a client referring me for Prince Edward, which is King Charles's brother I remember. And I was event planning for that plus photography for a small reception. I mean it's just the opportunities of referrals have been incredible. Yeah.
Kim (10:09):
I also, because you work in a visual field, which I think it's relatable, related ible to a lot of other businesses, but someone sees an amazing photo that you took, they're like, I want that. Or someone sees the experience from the photo that gets printed in the magazine or the newspaper or online, then they want the Lyle photo experience. And then there's a visual representation, and I'm sure your clients are raving about the service aspect of it, which I know you're super passionate about. I'd love for you to talk to me a little bit about, I know you're very service focused. Talk to me about sometimes people think like, oh, a business does X. How do you see service playing into running the agency
Lauren (10:50):
Service is everything. So I think that I step out of the fact of saying photographer, I am a photographer. I don't even call myself that. It's our job is in service. And that's where success comes from is anticipating your client's needs, thinking about what their needs are and what steps do you need to put in place to help them be successful. So yes, they're reaching out for this particular need, but what are all the steps for them to be successful so that you can fulfill that need? So it's photography. We're in the events world. It's a service-based business, and it's our job to deliver that with excellence from that first step to the last step on deliverables and the full experience. And that's where our success has been because we've been with many of the companies we've worked with. It's exciting for me. I fall in love with brands. I love these companies because I get to know what they stand for, what their culture is, what they're driving for them to be successful. And it's not just a logo that is out there for us, it's the executives, the executive team. We genuinely care about how they look. It's our job to make them photograph well and what can we do strategically through the events, through the whole process to deliver excellence. And that level of service is absolutely everything at the core value of what I've done from day one.
Kim (12:06):
I love this idea of anticipating all the little things that no one else thinks about because my background's in video, but it's video production. But I've never really been the head of operations or the head of logistics, but I realized the value of anticipating. But also people are in these moments and the more you can take out any unknowns so that it's super easy for them and it's a great experience for them. So it's more than you have an amazing deliverable. It's the experience. So much of it is feeling at ease and feeling like this person's got your back and having fun with them. And I think that's something that we have in common. In terms of you, I'm in video, you're in photo, those are obviously siblings, if not cousins. And I think that understanding that it's an experience like in this spring I do every year a fault leader accelerator. It's basically a one day shoot. And I have a few different founders come in. And what I've realized is to your point about service, it's not just about getting a good video. It's about them having the most amazing time feeling like a celebrity. Then we have a dinner with them afterwards and they said that after one of them said, oh, I love the videos. I also loved that. I felt really
Lauren (13:19):
Special. That's everything. That's everything. Because we photographed tons of celebrities and keynotes. I photographed our team. So first I have to pause and say our success is our clients, how we feel about our clients and absolutely our team. I'm really lucky since day one I've had the opportunity to work with Rich and Gonzalo. They are phenomenal photographers. I respect them, I love them. And that's a core part of our team. And then we can always get into how our team has developed and expanded over time after this. But going back to we need to care about our clients. It's our job. Even if photographing celebrities and presidents like I just got to to photograph Obama, that's cool. I had fun. But at the end of the day, my job is to make sure he looks his best and that my clients as opposed to him looking their best.
(14:08):
That's my absolute number one priority. So thinking, where's he walking in and planning every different logistics, the logistics on every side of he's walking in the store, he's going to stop here or meet and greets. I love meet and greets in the craziest way after a keynote speaker, everyone lines up for a meet and greet, let's say 30 VIPs going through that. I love that moment because they get a millisecond with that person, but we want them to a look their best in their photo and make it a memorable experience, whereas it is fun and playful. And then next, I think that's the core is really making you feel good and feel like a celebrity even when you're not. It's our job to make you feel and look great.
Kim (14:47):
And you're talking about that moment where you have a background, a dignitary and someone smiling with them. Absolutely. That's
Lauren (14:52):
That moment. That's the meet and greet. And that's again, whether you're an award winner, we focus now a lot on incentive programs and that's the best of the best performers within a company, within the brand. And they take them on these unbelievable destination mean they're incentive events, so they're destinations. You get to go to incredible places. Then they get recognized on the awards gala, and that's the moment where they pose for their photos and we care about making them shine and feel special in that moment. And that's what we're also documenting those moments. But it
Kim (15:25):
Is, you're right, it is important because it's important for the company and it's important for that person because that's their recognition. Obviously I talk all the time about, I teach my clients, make it a moment if something's happening, make that moment feel like the Super Bowl, like the Oscars. It is the Oscars for you. If you got this really big award from your company and they took you to X location to celebrate you, you want that amazing moment, that piece of memorabilia, that photo of you, it will end up being a part of iconography for your career, for your life. That's something that will come out in an album and you'll show your kid or your grandkid. Yeah, it's
Lauren (15:59):
A piece of your life. It's still something important. So we get to be the historian of these companies that we've been with for 15 years. We get to be the historian for you in that moment when it's all such a blur when you're coming across the stage, there is that moment in time that we still get to freeze. There's something nice about just pausing things, right? Everything moves so quickly. So it's like you can put your phone down, you can be in the moment and you can trust, okay, they care about me looking good, and I can freeze this moment in time and get back to that feeling because jobs are hard. So when people are answering emails at two in the morning, they could still have that picture on their desk or their wall of being like, okay, but my company sees and hears me even when it's the hardest part. And then it's like you just get that little burst of dopamine or something just to lift you back up.
Kim (16:44):
No, it's true. They say that feeling appreciated is such a part of why people work. It's not just about the money, but it's feeling appreciated and it's creating a part of that. You need to talk to me about 10,000 headshots.
Lauren (16:54):
That was our covid. I don't do well with not having something to do. So when the world shut down in 2020, during Covid, a really close friend of mine, Tony tafe reached out and said, I have an idea. And I'm like, all right, I'm game. And he and I have worked together a few events before and he knows my obsessive love of logistics and he is like, what if we did 10,000 headshot for people that lost their job for Covid and the world shut down in what March, 2020. And we are pulling off this event in July, 2020 and it turned into a one week event into a one day event. And then Peter Hurley was involved and he was incredible to get 200 photographers on board and we were committed to Zoom calls. These are really talented photographers that are giving away headshots that are very valuable.
(17:39):
And Brookfield Properties, they were unreal. I called a friend that I was like, you know how you can get the Easter Bunny in the mall? How do you get space? And she's like, corporate's going to into this. Let me find out. And they gave us, I don't know, access to 150 malls throughout the country. So we were able to take in all 50 states. We had photographers at every different mall location, and we basically, if there was an empty Z gallery, let's say that was 4,000 square feet, we did 500 square foot per, it was nuts. It was crazy. Okay,
Kim (18:08):
So just
Lauren (18:09):
We turned 'em into pop-up studios. So
Kim (18:10):
You coordinated. Yes. You and your team coordinated 10,000 headshots across all 50 states. So how many locations? All in the same day. All
Lauren (18:19):
In the same day. I mean even this was cool. The Today Show, I remember getting the email from them, them going, is this really happening? And I'm like, oh my gosh, how do I even respond to this? And we had amazing people from Canon. They gave us pr, they were so supportive. And then yeah, the Today Show came out and hung out with me. This was my first time out of the house and meanwhile, it's a humongous event across the country and it was successful. What was beautiful is just the team of photographers that came together donated their time and talent. 10,000 people got headshots. I've met someone after the fact that has said I was one of the recipients of getting my headshot, and that lifted me up. Again, it's just to lift you up. I think photography and what we get to do is like, yes, it's the tool, but it goes back to my psychology background and all of those things. It's a way to lift people up and see themselves in a different light.
Kim (19:09):
I was just talking about this with someone else. I feel like there are certain industries, if you aren't interested in people and you don't like people, you can't do the job. Your job is so much between your team, your clients, all the people you interact with. You have to people of
Lauren (19:24):
Your job. You have to like people and you have to find beauty in people. Even if I'm not saying that you have to find them beautiful, but there is something I love watching conversations through the lens. I don't shoot as often anymore, but we even would, I'm training someone that's a photographer, a talented photographer, but having them watch a conversation during a networking, it's like watch. She's telling a story. Wait on her, watch her. She's about to laugh. She's about to smile. There's beautiful moments and you can see how their face aligns. It just clicks. And that's what we've created in my mind, a formula on how to cover events properly, where you see the whole formula. We're transforming a ballroom, how you see the ballroom, how you see the experience, how you see the entertainment.
Kim (20:08):
Well, I do think back to the photographer that you helped me coordinate from my event. I looked at the photos and I'm like, I look so powerful. Yeah, I look like I'm loving this. And that's the power of the photo.
Lauren (20:18):
Absolutely. Absolutely. Everything can translate into that image and you can also guide people to that. So going back to how you empower people to do video to get in front of the camera. I think for example, during a portrait session, everyone has their vulnerability when they come in and they say, I need a headshot, which by the way, I don't even have an updated headshot, so just don't beat yourself up over it, just do it. But how do you find the right photographer for that? Yes, there's a vulnerability and you should be vulnerable. You should be able to connect with that photographer, feel comfortable with them, and also be vulnerable. Everyone thinks this is my best side. Yes, it's your best side when you're taking a picture with a selfie, but it's not through the lens that the photographer is at, how they compress the lens and when it's the right photographer that's in their niche of being a great coach. Let them coach you so that you learn your face. You can tell them, I don't like this part of my face, or I love this, or I don't like this. Be part of the process. And it's a beautiful process because then you get out of your head. Everyone has that trauma story of someone saying, oh, maybe don't smile for the photo. Or yeah, your eyes are uneven. Of course your eyes are uneven. Everyone has indifference of eyes. No
Kim (21:27):
One's symmetrical, perfect place that I should ask. No one is
Lauren (21:29):
Symmetrical. So it's like the job of the photographer is to coach you your face to the angle of the lens to create that symmetry. So
Kim (21:37):
Actually I want to ask you, being an expert in photography, what are your top three tips on how someone can find and have the right headshot? What are your tips for someone to get the perfect headshot?
Lauren (21:48):
I think it's a huge part, is the right person. So referrals are everything. So even if you're looking through a magazine of a local, we have great magazines in Palm Beach. Let's just say you're looking through it and you're like, that photo talks to me. I can see not just that they look good, but I can sense their personality because there's just two elements. There's extra elements in just them looking pretty or good looking or whatever it is. It's like, can I know them? Can I trust them when it's a realtor, photo, dig deeper photo credit's probably there somewhere, hopefully if publications are doing it right. And then just talk to them, connect with them, see if they speak your language. If they have the same tone, do you feel calm with them? Do you feel energized? Do you feel, because it's like a therapy session in my opinion. It's intimate. It's vulnerable, and you should leave feeling better than you walked in. And the image will reflect that.
Kim (22:36):
And then the other advice that you have about getting that is being vulnerable. So that means taking them inside our insecurities. Something that I find a lot with my video clients, they'll start with, I'm shy on camera and I have to say, talk to me about why. What happened last time you were on video? Or what happened last time you were on the public speaking? Or what's the voice in your head saying? Because you have to peel back the layers. So what are your recommendations when someone's trying to get that great headshot and they're finding the right photographer and maybe they're sitting down for the photo. How should they, as the actual subject of the photo, how should they drive the process? Do they have to be more open? What does that mean?
Lauren (23:15):
I think just being vulnerable, coming in with your best self, so knowing that you want it. I think if you're so attached to the outcome, you can't even be present. So it's just coming in there, being present, accepting. If it's not your goal weight of where you want it to be or who you used to be, it's like, come in where you are today and be confident in just how you are. And that will translate. It's all about confidence and approachability. So when you can get out of your head and the story in your head, maybe you ask yourself, is that story true anymore? Really? If you can drop that old story about yourself, then you can kind of just quiet that noise, get rid of it, and then you will learn how to position your face, how to come off confident and approachable and use that skill with that process with your photographer. When you're at a networking event and posing for a photo when you're receiving the award on the stage, I think that it's a transferable skill of once that story becomes an old story of I don't like my smile, I don't like how my eyes look, I don't like this part of my face. Well then find the new story and let that be part of the process and bring that with you once you leave there.
Kim (24:28):
That work can happen in the photo session, but should really always be happening, I feel like because you have to, hundred percent. I have this a lot from a lot of my video clients, and I even had that, I mean, I got my first keynote opportunity. I was a hundred percent and still am whatever, 10 pounds heavier than where I would like to be. But if I had let that hold me back, A, I wouldn't have even gotten the keynote opportunity. And B, I have great photos of me on a stage. Do I look exactly as I would like to? No, but am I still really proud of the work I'm doing? Sure. It is a hard process to say this is a snapshot of the moment I'm at now, which I liked what you said of accept, this is the moment today, so don't worry about, I wanted to lose 15 pounds. I don't like this, whatever. So how do you coach people to say, this is where I'm at now. How do you get people's headspace
Lauren (25:18):
There? So I think it's a lot of just quieting the noise in their head for a little bit so you can sense the energy. So it's like, okay, then what can we do? What can we tweak? So it's position you this way. So a lot of the time it's just like they'll come in with a nervous energy and it's balancing that energy to guide them to say, okay, let's just do a handful this way. Let's find your best angle, then we'll review it together when we review it together. Oh, I totally love this angle and you, let's tweak it to this. We're going to position your shoulders this way. Let's tweak your head a little bit this way. And that to me is the process. So now you're going back in front of the camera after reviewing it, going, okay, we like the side. That old story of what you walked in with is no longer replaying in your head of the unknown, so be part of the process. I think that's important of when you're working with a designer of, I love that collaboration.
Kim (26:12):
So also to your point, during the session, you have the person come back and look at the shadow. Totally
Lauren (26:17):
Right
Kim (26:17):
For video too. I'm like, you tell me how that person looks. I'm like, that person looks good right
Lauren (26:22):
There. It's like, okay, I like this and this, again, I'm leading the conversation to say, yeah, we just took 50 shots in a short amount of time, but we get it down to 10. This is your best angle. Do you see why? But we can make it even better. You work through that process and it's just when they leave feeling like a different person than what they walked in. There's nothing. And I think most importantly, like you said, doing the work there, the headshot is reflective of that work, but we're always doing that work. I mean, I always love how do you improve yourself and what you put into the world.
Kim (26:57):
I love that. I want to hear a couple of fun stories about the notable people you have photographed. I know that you have had a really big roster. Tell me about some of the big names that you've photographed.
Lauren (27:08):
Well, I just love keynote speakers. It's like you get to sit in the front row and listen to them, and they're more memorable when it's like you have that little moment of that interaction. I remember, gosh, this was years ago, Mel Robbins, who's a great motivational speaker, and this was before, I don't even know, probably 10 years ago. She showed up on the stage in these great high top sneakers, and I was like, she's amazing. And she just commanded the stage beautifully. Jay Shetty, I mean, it's like you're watching Jay Shetty speak and he's just beautiful, powerful, amazing. Bobby Brown. I took a picture with her. And the fun part is we also get these meet and greets, and usually we shoot them on the stage. They're speaking to sometimes 3000 people, and then you get to have the intimate moments of the meet and greets. I loved Bobby Brown. I just think she's real. She's cool, she's amazing. Every president, so I mean, I spoke about, I just photographed Obama, and that was really special to me. It was special because there were only four people in the room.
(28:05):
The really special moment was actually after we had the planned meet and greet. And then afterwards, his personal aid was there. His family was in town as well, and his nephews were there. So you always can see in my mind, you can anticipate the moment. And he's walking over and the two little boys are there, and he walks around and he was in position with my light against the wall. And then he moves away and he starts walking, and I jump off my little step stool. Side note, I'm four foot 10 and a half. I own that. And I will travel with the step stool. I jump off my little step stool and I get right on the floor, dip to the floor. I'm like knees in, dipping to the floor, camera up, getting President Obama holding the little boy's hand and pointing his finger toward the other little boy.
(28:45):
And the moment was just precious and it was hopeful and it was beautiful. And then there's moments of another time, a year earlier, it was President Clinton and President, president Bush together, and their dynamic together was insanely entertaining. They were just playful and fun, and you could just feel the playful energy. It was light. It was interesting. I loved that. I mean, there's just so many. I wish I could just go through the roster of people. I'm lucky we've got to photograph Michael Jordan. We get a front row seat with some really incredible people. I don't get nervous, which is odd. Again, our team is incredible. We're really strategic in where we place ourselves, and at the end of the day, it's our job to make sure everyone looks good from the celebrity to the attendee, taking that picture with them.
Kim (29:30):
I love that. My very last question, what does balance look like for you?
Lauren (29:35):
I'm okay with things not being in balance. I am, I mean, I think everyone's like, you travel all the time. There are times where I'm gone for three weeks. Well, I'll be in Thailand and there's a job in The Bahamas, and then we're going to Hawaii and then Canada. I mean, it's a juggling act. I'm okay with it. I think I get to show my kids that I love my job, that it's hard. Sometimes the scale weighs heavier on one side of work is all consuming, and then it recalibrates and then it's more family time. I'm really lucky. I have an incredible team. I now also work with my husband for the last three years, and it's a collaboration of accepting that. I don't think balance is being equal. I think balance is just accepting that it ebbs and flows. I think it's nice to strive for, but I don't think that's my ultimate goal. I think my ultimate goal is to just feel fulfilled in different areas. And sometimes there are parts where it's heavier. There's parts where it's lighter. It will keep balancing one way or the other. But I don't think my goal is necessarily to have it equal. It's to make the best out of each part.
Kim (30:42):
If you feel like you're giving and getting what you need from different parts of your life, then that is balance. If you're getting and giving what you need, both at work and at home, whatever that looks like, the shape of form or whatever can be different for different people.
Lauren (30:55):
And it's always striving for it, right? So it's hard. Nothing about being an entrepreneur is easy. I accept it. I would say a big part, and we'll end with this, is just trust your gut along the way. Listen to it. There's always whispers. It will always guide you. I think that has been a huge part of my success, is listening to the whispers where you can always focus more on your niche. That's a big part of keep going in all in on your specialty and keep making micro adjustments to what brings you joy. And if you just keep listening to your heart and your gut, and it's hard. I will never excuse that it's hard, but listen to your heart and your gut and let that guide you. It leads to what's next. And that's what keeps me going, and that's exciting.
Kim (31:45):
Well, I love it. Lauren, this is such a great conversation. Is there anything I didn't ask you that you'd like to share?
Lauren (31:49):
You're great at asking questions. There's so much. No, just that was it. That was really it. There's a lot to it. So even with social media and just seeing the end result, again, as an entrepreneur, trust the hard work that goes into things. It's hard. It's meant to be hard when you make the choice to be an entrepreneur and then a founder. I take so much pride that we've been in this for 18 years. I'm so grateful for the people that have come along on this ride. There's no question it's hard. They are 17 hour days, nothing about traveling with 14 cases of gear and getting it in. Countries that need work permits for, and they take it away from you. But every time the challenges, and that's I think my superpower. It's like my superpower is there's always a solution and there really is always a solution. So just trust your gut. Think it through When you hit that wall or that pause, keep pushing through and go like, why, but why, but why? And trust your gut. And that's what we'll push through to give you the answers. And just once you find your superpower, just keep nurturing it and keep going. I love that. Thank you so much, Lauren. Thank you.
Kim (33:03):
Thank you for joining us. Don't forget to exit the grind and enter success on your own terms. This is the exit interview with Kim Rittberg. Don't forget to grab my free download, how to Grow Your Business with Amazing video at kimrittberg.com and linked out in the show notes. I love to hear your feedback. Make sure to submit to me what you learned from the show and how you are crushing it on your own terms. Connect with me on Instagram or LinkedIn at Kim Rittberg, R-I-T-T-B-E-R-G. And this show is edited by Jillian Grover and produced by Henry Street Media. I'm your host and executive producer, Kim Rittberg.