Lara Meisner's Photography Journey and Insights

Presenter: Lara Meisner
Age: 26, turning 27 in June
Educational Background: Graduated from Penn State in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in Design and Photography.
Started at Penn State in 2017, coinciding with the introduction of the major.

Began photographing at age 12.
- Persuaded parents to buy a camera using a PowerPoint presentation.
Took film photography in high school, lucky to have this opportunity.
- Learned camera basics, black and white photography, and dark room techniques.
- Expressed interest in returning to film photography in the future.
At Penn State, focused on digital photography and its applications.

Encouraged audience participants to introduce themselves and their interests in photography.
- Participants included various photographers interested in product, event, portrait, fashion, and editorial photography.

Shared personal photographs from her Penn State journey, notably using an older film camera.
- Highlighted learning experiences with digital and lighting techniques.
Developed a unique photography style over the years, emphasizing:
- Observational skills – being able to notice and capture mundane moments creatively.
- Importance of continuous rediscovery of personal style.

Internships at various companies served as crucial learning experiences:
- Nylon Magazine: Focused on social media, minimal photography involvement but learned a lot.
- Rumored: Current employer, internship before full-time job.
Gained substantial experience through classes/projects, enhancing portfolio and distinguishing from other applicants.
Discussed the impact of social media on breaking into the fashion industry and its growth during her college years.

COVID-19 affected her ability to work with others, leading her to experiment with self-portraits.
- Developed personal style during this period and found creative ways to present personal work.
Described the importance of experimenting with lighting and posing.

First Job: Express as a social media coordinator.
- Described her experience as boring; little creative freedom and mundane tasks.
- Undertook side projects to maintain creativity.
- Requested to shadow a photoshoot, which was a turning point that affirmed her career choice.
Transitioned to Something Navy whose environment was more creative, allowed participation in events like Fashion Week.
- Originally hired for social media coordination.
- Captured behind-the-scenes content for fashion campaigns.

Reintroduced to film during her tenure at Something Navy when they hired a dedicated film photographer.
Used her father’s old Olympus film camera on shoots, leading to a passion for film photography alongside digital captures.

Worked with Retrofit and Soroya, doing product photography and social media coordination.
- Increased involvement in shoots, evolving from iPhone content to film and digital captures on set.
Currently a creative associate and lead photographer at Rumored, dealing with:
- Planning and coordinating shoots (model bookings, styling, etc.).
- First shooter for campaign shoots, utilizing both digital and film mediums.

Experiences shooting across various locations including California, New York, and international destinations like Hawaii and Greece.
Acknowledged the stress and mundane tasks intertwined with glamorous experiences.

Wished for a deeper exposure to professional shoots and hands-on internships while in school.
Advised on the importance of being intentional with opportunities and building genuine relationships in the industry.
- Highlighted kindness as a valuable trait in networking.
Suggested creating a balanced portfolio that stands out in job applications, and reaching out on platforms like LinkedIn to connect with industry professionals.
Emphasized the importance of creating for yourself to avoid creative burnout, akin to her self-portrait journey during COVID.

Discussed job application tips:
- Importance of a diverse portfolio, concise resumes, and personal networking.
Shared insights into managing multiple roles within a small team and how creativity might be subjected to functional tasks in larger firms.
Addressed the use of both film and digital photography in commercial projects, emphasizing reliability over experimental spontaneity in work settings.

Expressed desire for continuous growth in photographing across various formats.
Spoke on the role of location in career development, indicating areas like New York and LA as key hubs in fashion photography.