Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Gaudio.
Hi Lauren, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story begins 2 years ago when everything started to change in both my personal and professional life. I had been working in visual merchandising in corporate retail for 15 years and was playing the juggling game of a first-time mom while working a demanding full-time job. My job became increasingly stressful and I would come home late from work completely burned out, pour a glass of wine and want to sit quietly instead of playing with my daughter. I had total ‘mom guilt’ because I was trying to juggle both my career and motherhood and it wasn’t working. I started to realize that my priorities were shifting and I wanted to be a more present mother which would allow me to be involved in all aspects of my daughter’s life.
Divine intervention kicked in when I found out the brick-and-mortar retail company, I had worked for the past 12 years was closing and I would be losing my job. I was at a major crossroads in my career and life. My husband and I had many conversations about wanting a better quality of life and I knew I wanted to devote more time to my family. So, we decided to take a huge leap of faith and move from New Jersey to North Carolina without knowing anyone or the city, so that we could start a new chapter of life.
We moved to Charlotte, North Carolina one week before the global pandemic hit. I went from working a full-time corporate retail job to being a stay-at-home mom and kindergarten teacher (fully virtual last year). I struggled a lot. Losing my job and moving to a completely different state was stressful enough; then throw in a global pandemic…talk about a drastic change in life. I did a lot of soul and life searching to figure out this new chapter of my life. I quickly realized that being a stay-at-home mom was not for me. I wanted to work and fulfill my personal ambitions and also be a more present mom. Who doesn’t want the best of both worlds?
My mother always said “Do what you love and success will follow”, so I decided to pursue my passion in photography. In college, I majored in photography and learned the fundamentals of fine art. I would spend hours in the darkroom developing film and printing images on an enlarger. Film really makes you appreciate photography as an art form. Don’t get me wrong, digital photography is amazing and extremely convenient but there is something about the time and effort that goes into film photography that holds a special place in my heart.
I decided to take another leap of faith and started my own business; one where I could put my family first. This is when I established Curated Moments; a destination for fine art photography focusing on family, seniors, and small business branding. I went full force into starting my business. I created a website, Instagram & Facebook pages and made it official with an LLC. Since I had already had the experience of working professionally for over 15 years, I tried to figure out everything on my own. I thought I knew what I was doing, but boy was I wrong! I became overwhelmed and constantly played the comparison game. I thought to myself, “how am I, as a new photographer living in a brand-new state, going to differentiate my business in this saturated market?” Then I had an ‘a-ha’ moment! I realized that my experience was unlike anyone else’s and this set me apart from other photographers. If I could create a unique brand experience for my retail customers for 15+ years, I could absolutely create a memorable experience for my photography clients.
My second ‘a-ha’ moment happened when I went into nesting mode at our Charlotte rental home. I was missing my family, friends, and the life I had before we moved terribly. As if that wasn’t bad enough, I was living in seclusion in a brand-new city during a lockdown. I needed to do something to make the house feel like a home, so I created a huge gallery wall with images from floor to ceiling, as a focal point on our first floor. This installation gave me such a sense of joy and comfort in such a fragile time in my life. The space became a huge conversation piece for our family. We loved talking about the people and experiences we had in each of the photos. My daughter would stand in front of the wall staring at the photos and would sing songs to them, it was our happy place.
This experience made me realize that a photographer can be so much more than someone who takes beautiful photos. I could use my past retail experience creating enticing visuals and displays to provide custom artwork that would enhance my client’s home. People are inundated with so much digital information on a daily basis. I don’t think that photography deserves to get lost in that digital clutter, so I wanted to do something to change that. Did you know the simple act of having your families’ photographs hung in your house increases your children’s self-esteem? Studies have shown that having your photos displayed prominently in your home increases your children’s confidence and sends a message that your family is important to one another. This realization made me rethink my entire business.
As the hot and humid summer hit, we started taking family road trips and quickly realized how much we missed the beach. We visited Charleston on Labor Day weekend and immediately fell in love. From the beauty of the beach to the rich architecture downtown, paired with the amazing restaurants and the warm and welcoming community, soon convinced us that this was the place for us to start our new life. I immediately had a gut feeling that Charleston was the perfect place for me to grow my business.
We found our new home during the pandemic real estate market craze and moved to Mount Pleasant this past spring. Even though another big move in a little over a year brought much excitement, it was also pretty stressful. We had so many questions: Did we find the right neighborhood? Will our daughter like school? Was this really the right decision to move farther away from family and friends? The answer to all those questions was YES! It was time for us to challenge ourselves and see what else this world had in store for us. I have learned that change is extremely hard, but it forces you to evolve and become a better person. Change also forces you to reassess what is important in your life. The long-distance between our family and closest friends, made us appreciate and value quality time more than ever. I love hosting family and friends, which provides an opportunity for us to spend more meaningful and fulfilling time with our loved ones.
Over the past 7 months, I have been able to build up my network and grow my business which allows me to work with many new people. One thing I hear all too often from moms is that they don’t like the way they look in photos. I assure them that their children will look back on their childhood photos and see the mom that they love so much standing next to them. Moms are the least photographed member of families and it is time for that to change.
I am a people-focused photographer and my main concern is to make you look your best. Did you know that lighting, posing, and outfit selection are crucial to good photography? Because lighting is the most important, I always try to find natural reflectors which bounce light from the sun onto the subjects. The light acts as a “retouching tool” and evens out imperfections, reduces under-eye puffiness, and brightens images. Wearing timeless soft neutral colors also helps to soften skin; allowing the focus to be on the subject instead of on your outfit. These are just a few of the tips and tricks that I share with my clients. My focus is always on creating the best experience for them.
I love connecting with people and hearing their stories, which usually starts out a lot like my story; families who wanted a change of pace and moved here for a better quality of life. If I looked into a crystal ball two years ago, I would never have imagined that I would see an entrepreneur living in Charleston, South Carolina. I am so blessed to have an amazing support system, a strong business foundation, creativity that always keeps me on my feet, and being able to do what I love… create meaningful experiences that tell stories. Photography is the most powerful visual storyteller; it uses authenticity and connection between people without using motion or words to create compelling and memorable art.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but I believe that the bumps in the road are what makes someone stronger and more successful. Overcoming huge life changes was definitely the biggest challenge for me. That saying “don’t mistake comfort for happiness” is so true. Change can be scary and hard but it also can be exhilarating and fresh.
Another struggle I had was deciding how I was going to differentiate myself from other photographers in a saturated market. I realized that my fifteen-year experience in corporate retail had been grooming me for starting my own business. As a creative storyteller and strategic planner, I always plan, organize, style, and prep my clients for exactly what to expect to make our session as fun and memorable as possible. My experience is not like anyone else’s and once I realized that everything fell into place.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a full-service photographer that believes in creating unique and memorable experiences to better serve my clients. I create beautiful images that are curated into heirloom artwork for your home or business. I have a range of products that suit everyone’s price point and aesthetic.
At the in-home consultation, I educate my clients on the products I offer. Wall art selections are mocked up using a photograph from the client’s home so they can see exactly what their artwork would look like hanging on their walls. We choose a color story for outfits and a location that compliments the home aesthetic. We discuss what type of images the client wants to be featured in their home so that when we are at the session, we achieve exactly the look they are after.
During our session, my goal is for the family to have fun. I give lots of prompts that allow for authenticity. I strive to capture tons of laughs, candid moments, and natural expressions in a beautiful and timeless way.
Everyone always asks me “what about digital pictures?” Digital files are always part of the collection during the ordering appointment. I do offer digital-only sessions but once most clients have an understanding on the importance of tangible memories they opt for artwork and get the digitals included in their purchase.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I am a firm believer in community not competition. I have built some great relationships with fellow photographers and can’t wait to continue to build up my network. I love collaborating with like-minded people that are empowered and want to share best practices within my photography community.
Contact Info:
- Email: thecuratedmoments@gmail.com
- Website: www.thecuratedmoments.com
- Instagram: @thecuratedmoments
- Facebook: @Thecuratedmoments
Image Credits
Curated Moments
