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

Hi Lauren, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’ve always had a fascination and also a desire for depth. Depth in relationships, depth in conversations, depth in art, etc. I have always felt things so intensely in every way. This has been a blessing in some ways but a burden in others. I eventually realized the only means of expressing myself and the intensity I felt towards life was through art. When I was in high school and the time came to actually start figuring out what I wanted to do with my life, I never even considered a career that didn’t involve the arts. Imagining going to work every day where I couldn’t express myself and create sounded absolutely awful to me. I wanted a career that could move with me, and move me. This is why I pursued an artistic lifestyle and career.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
When it comes to mixed media/ editorial photography, I love to create a feel that is really different from reality. I’m big on making my work feel like a dream. Most of my time editing is spent taking the reality out of a photo until it feels new, or like something you haven’t seen or felt before. On the flip side, my take on photojournalism is WAY different. When I’m documenting someone’s important life event I like to do as little manipulation as possible. My goal is to capture people’s memories in the way I’d want my own captured: just as it was. When I’ve looked back at photos from my life, the ones that are most valuable are ones taken by family members in the moment, not the ones where everyone was posed. I think the difference in my approach between my two styles is something that sets me apart from others.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d probably take them on a day trip to LA or SD. I live in south OC but I have a lot more fun elsewhere. In LA I’d take them to museums. That was one of my favorite things to do before the pandemic. We’d go to museums, the observatory, and finish the day with crepes. If it’s SD, I’d go straight to get coffee, then Consignment Classics in Encinitas ( my favorite store) and spend too much money. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Amber Bain! I’d like to shout out my favorite musical artist The Japanese House. Before listening to her music, it was hard for me to understand how much of your soul you can convey through your craft. If I was listening to her music and feeling such intense emotions for a story that isn’t my own, it made me really start digging deep into how I could translate my client’s stories into photographs that would touch them in the same way. Let alone what art I could create through my own story. She played a pivotal role in the way I photograph today.

Website: laurenstockton.com

Instagram: instagram.com/laurenstocktonphoto (weddings/family) and instagram.com/laurensocks (editorial/mixedmedia)

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.