Today we’d like to introduce you to GraceLyn Lee.
Hi GraceLyn, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started out taking photos as a young teen. My parents gifted me my first DSLR camera for my fourteenth birthday because I had shown an interest in photography. My dad was a photographer, and his father (my grandpa) was also a photographer. I suppose the photography gene runs in my family!
Starting out with my first camera, my dad taught me the essentials of photography–the mechanisms of the camera, the composition of a good image, and the precise details that go into editing a photograph. After some time, I moved from taking pictures of nature and animals to taking pictures of my friends and family, all the while developing my skills and eye for photography. I quickly realized that my passion is in capturing the beauty of humans, their relationships, and how we are created to be. There is truly nothing as complex and lovely as people!
When I began college, I started pursuing photography more seriously. I took several classes on photography, and I loved them. I knew that it was not only a hobby for me, but a passion and a potential career. That is when I officially started
Images by GraceLyn LLC.
As much as I love taking portraits and other types of photoshoots, I quickly realized that what I wanted to do most was capture weddings. The joy, emotion, and love that is evoked on wedding days is like no other. To pursue this goal, I started second shooting for a local wedding photographer. I did this for a couple of years, and when I felt confident in my skill, I started doing it on my own.
Now, several years into my career, my business has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. It is such a joy that doing something I love so much also helps support my growing family.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was not an easy road at first. To be fully honest, it is so hard to book your first wedding as a photographer. Wedding days are some of the most precious moments of people’s lives, and it is difficult for anyone to trust someone that has never captured a wedding on their own before. However, after I booked my first wedding (thanks to a relative of mine), it became easier to book more.
Another challenge of running a business is all of the behind-the-scenes work. There is so much legal, design, customer service, and technical elements of running a photography business that much of my day-to-day work doesn’t even include taking or developing images. Thankfully, I love the business side of things, but there are still challenging days where things just don’t seem to go right.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a wedding photographer specializing in capturing authentic moments and telling stories through images that stand the test of time.
I am most proud of the experience I give my clients. Yes, it is incredibly important to deliver a great gallery of high-quality images, but one of the things clients remember most is how they feel on their wedding day. As their photographer, I am one of the people that spends the most time with the couple on their day. That’s why I always strive to have a positive attitude, be a problem-solver, and uplift the couple during stressful times.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory is seeing the Northern Lights for the first time. My parents instilled my love for travel at an early age by taking my brothers and me along on their adventures. One year, we rented a houseboat on Lake of the Woods in Canada, and we were lucky enough to see the aurora borealis one of the nights. The colors were so vibrant, and the whole experience of laying on the top of the houseboat, surrounded by my family, was one of the best experiences of my life. I believe this experience helped build a love for the outdoors and a deep admiration of the beauty of Creation in me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.imagesbygracelyn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/images.by.gracelyn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imagesbygracelyn/
