Meet Lexie Doehner | Photographer & Content Creator

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

Hi Lexie, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Being creative has always made me feel whole. I have had a difficult past, and art was a way for me to escape reality. I knew growing up that I wanted to pursue art, whether it was drawing, sculpture, painting, etc. I didn’t start picking up photography until my college career. I saw the world differently through a lens. Throughout the years, I started to appreciate the fine details and really notice the things we take for granted. I fell in love with the idea that I could keep creating for a living and inspire others to explore the world.

I am just thankful to be making art. I am thankful for the things I have gotten to experience, and it has brought amazing opportunities as well as new friends along the way!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It took a lot of trial and error to get to where I am now. In the beginning, I would send out 10 emails a week to brands offering my services and get a lot of polite “no thank you’s” or dead silence. I changed my editing style constantly and went through so many revised email templates. It was exhausting and I began feeling like I wasn’t getting anywhere.

Shortly after the pandemic hit, I felt that my time was to focus on what I wanted to do with my life. I started renting cars, filling them with camping gear, and driving around the United States in hopes of experiencing the beautiful outdoors while being on the road. I slept in cars and in parking lots just to be able to have the freedom to wake up and shoot somewhere. What a time. Being outdoors is where I really felt myself, so I kept doing it and having the best time. I did this on and off for 2 years, and while I was exploring, I started gaining more and more clients along the way.

Eventually this evolved from car rides to plane tickets. I started meeting up with people from all around the world to connect and travel together. This ultimately led me to more success shortly after I started. I began gaining more clients and eventually getting paid to travel to these amazing places. The key to success is surrounding yourself with positive people who are motivated and want what’s best for you. Community is everything, so let them inspire you. If I could go back to the beginning, I would say to start connecting, talking to other creators and asking questions. You never know where it will lead you!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Detroit has an amazing food and music scene. Restaurant hopping and going to a show is my version of a perfect time in the city. Some of my favorite restaurants are Grey Ghost and Selden Standard. Amazing food and vibes. If it’s not in the city, I want to show them another side of Michigan. Taking a day trip to Lake Michigan and spending it on the beach is a perfect relaxation day. The Saugatuck Sand Dunes is one of my favorite places to go for a nice hike to the beach. Lake Michigan is so big you would think it’s an ocean. It’s such an underrated destination in the United States.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am incredibly thankful to my friends who have been so supportive of my career. When I first started photography, they were always supportive and would model for me, help me in the studio or share my work. It means so much. I am also thankful for my family, who have pushed me when I felt like giving up a million times. I feel grateful for the support I have received from day one of my career.

Website: https://www.lexiedoephoto.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexiedoehner/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexie-doehner-49a279313

Image Credits
Lexie Doehner