Meet Lauren Camposano | Food & Product Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Camposano and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
If you had asked me about success four years ago, I would have been at a loss for words. Back then, success wasn’t something I actively pursued. Fresh out of college, my focus was simply on finding a job that paid the bills and brought a semblance of satisfaction. The idea of “success” seemed distant, almost irrelevant—a pursuit reserved for the money-driven, the fame-seeking, and the flashy.
Fast forward to today, and my perspective on success has undergone a profound transformation. My journey into entrepreneurship as a food and product photographer has been a crash course in understanding the multifaceted nature of success. It’s no longer about the superficial trappings of wealth or recognition; instead, success, to me, is synonymous with realizing one’s fullest potential.
For me, success means going to bed each night with a sense of fulfillment, knowing that I’ve given my all to the work I love. It’s about consistently striving to do better, to be better, and to make a meaningful impact with every endeavor.
But achieving this kind of success isn’t just about luck or waiting for opportunities to fall into your lap. It’s about taking proactive steps, consistently putting yourself out there, and refusing to be held back by fear or self-doubt.
I’ve learned this lesson the hard way—waiting for that dream client to come knocking or hesitating to share my work until it was “perfect.” Success, I’ve come to realize, is not a passive pursuit. It’s about boldly proclaiming your presence to the world and being unapologetically yourself.
It’s about sharing your art, even if it feels like no one is paying attention. It’s about reaching out to that dream client, even if you’re not sure your portfolio is up to par. It’s about embracing the journey, knowing that consistency and resilience will eventually pay dividends.
So, if there’s one thing I’ve learned about success, it’s this: it’s not something you wait for—it’s something you actively pursue. And while the path may be challenging and riddled with setbacks, the rewards of living authentically and passionately far outweigh the risks.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What makes me excited about what I do is the sheer creativity of it all. You’re always trying to come up with something nobody has ever seen before, to make something that screams “this is mine!” Each project, each client, is a whole new adventure. I get to build entire worlds from scratch, literally making things in my imagination tangible. It’s so cool!

One of my favorite parts is curating the perfect scene. It’s like a puzzle – I’m always asking myself, “How can I make this product feel like it’s in its ‘natural habitat’?” It’s a labor of love that often goes unseen. Picture this: meticulously crafting a mossy forest, piece by piece, and adding twinkling lights in just the right spots to create a cozy vibe for a bedtime tea. Or hauling a massive bag of sand into the studio to bring the beach to life for a summer cocktail shoot. All for one photo! But it’s all worth it when you see everything come together – light, texture, color, shape- all melding into this perfect harmony that captures the essence of what I’m shooting. Magical.

I pretty much stumbled into this food photography career – I didn’t even know this could be a “real” job when I first started taking pictures of my meals on my iPhone for Instagram back in 2017. That hobby inevitably led me to another hobby in 2020- running my own recipe blog, and that one in turn evolved into the wonderful career I am in today: commercial food and product photography. Along that ever-evolving path, I picked up skills through trial and error, and a healthy dose of YouTube tutorials thrown in. I am completely self-taught, from food styling to product photography, to editing, and all the aspects that come with running a business, too. And it hasn’t stopped there. As the industry keeps evolving, I’ve had to continue learning new skills like videography and even AI to stay ahead of the curve.

Navigating the world of entrepreneurship has been a journey marked by both triumphs and setbacks, as is often the case for any solopreneur. I’ve encountered my fair share of challenges, particularly in learning the intricacies of the business side of things. For many creatives, including myself, striking a balance between creativity and business acumen can kind of ruin the fun of an artistic career. However, I’ve come to understand that neglecting the business aspect is not an option—it’s just as important as the creative process.

Early in my career, I relied on a single client for consistent work, until one day- poof! – ghosted. I made the mistake of waiting passively for them—or anyone else, for that matter—to reach out, wasting valuable time in the process. It was a wake-up call that taught me a valuable lesson: creativity alone is not enough to sustain a successful business. I realized that waiting for opportunities to come knocking is futile; success demands active engagement and a willingness to put yourself out there, even in the face of uncertainty.

What I’d love for people to understand about me and this career is that behind every advertisement, recipe, and product photo is a regular person just trying to turn their passion into a paycheck! Freelancing is a wild ride – it can be liberating, or sometimes paralyzing, depending on the day. But every day I’m taking what this career throws at me and learning as I go; there is absolutely no playbook. I’ve had my moments of doubt, wondering if what I’m doing is the right thing, if I should just settle for a “real” job. But when I get that limitless flash of inspiration, or a client comes back to me and says, “wow, you nailed it! You captured our vision perfectly,” it reignites that spark in me. It’s those moments that make me want to dive back in and create all over again.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
It’s all about doing things that you can only do in Florida – having a unique experience and embracing the city to its absolute fullest! Naples, FL is known for basically being the retirement capital of the world – AKA, there isn’t much to do, by conventional cities’ standards. But growing up in this area, you get to know all the places worth visiting.
Exploring Downtown and Beaches: We’ll stroll 5th avenue to do some window shopping, then grab an iced coffee from The Brick on our walk toward the Naples Pier. It’s the best spot for fishing, sightseeing, and you might even see some dolphins. Next, we’ll check out Tin City, a quirky waterfront shopping area with unique boutiques and souvenir shops as well as waterfront dining and awesome restaurants like Mino’s – who serves the absolute best homemade pasta. The Naples Botanical gardens are also a must-see, with endless tropical plants and gorgeous themed gardens. Afterward, we’ll grab lunch at one of the food trucks at nearby Celebration Park.

Adventure & The Everglades: No Florida trip is complete without visiting the gorgeous Everglades. We’ll take a drive into Everglades National Park, check out one of the boardwalks, and maybe even take an airboat tour. Whoever spots the most alligators of the day wins! If we’re still craving more adventure, we can go to Rookery Bay, a national estuarine research reserve, and rent some kayaks to check out the mangrove tunnels and spot more wildlife like manatees, dolphins, and all kinds of beautiful birds.

Marco Island: The most near and dear to my heart, since this is where I grew up! My favorite activity: grabbing a Pub Sub (Publix sub sandwich, IYKYK) and hanging out on the beach all. day. We’ll hang out with our toes in the sand – soft as powdered sugar – strolling along the shore, swimming, and relaxing. Parasailing, jet skiing, and paddle boarding are also all options, if you’re up for it. Marco is also the best place to take a boat ride. Winding through the scenic 10,000 islands and then docking at the famous waterfront Snook Inn restaurant for some fish tacos or a fried grouper sandwich is another incredible way to spend the day. A trip to the Marco Island Historical Museum is a sight to see too, since the history of Marco is incredibly interesting, from the stories of the natives who lived there, to its modern-day development.

At the end of the day, as long as we see enough alligators, eat enough seafood, and see as many sunsets as we can, I’ll consider it a successful trip to the Naples area!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my mom and dad. It is my mom’s creativity that inspired my journey. From a young age, she instilled in me the belief that nurturing one’s creative spirit is not only valuable but essential for personal growth and fulfillment. Her encouragement and example she has set has been the cornerstone of my endeavors, reminding me that pursuing passions that ignite the soul is the true essence of success. As for my dad – watching him run his own successful business throughout my life gave me the courage to be an entrepreneur, too. I like to think I took the best aspects of both of my parents and channeled them into an amazing career!

Website: https://laurencamposano.com

Instagram: @laurencamposano

Image Credits
Lauren Camposano