Making micro shifts w/ Lauren Fair

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Making Micro-Shifts: Evolve Without Losing Your Signature Style w/ Lauren Fair

In the ever-changing world of wedding photography and videography, it can feel like staying relevant requires constantly reinventing yourself. One week, it’s all about editorial elegance. The next, it’s blurry film shots and direct flash vibes. So how do you evolve and stay fresh, without losing the signature style that got you booked in the first place?

To answer this, we sat down with renowned photographer Lauren Fair, whose work has become synonymous with timeless, editorial beauty with a modern edge. After more than 15 years in the industry — from her scrappy college days to booking destination weddings all over the world — Lauren has perfected the art of evolving without losing herself. Here’s how you can do the same.

The Power of Defining Your Signature Style ✨

One of the biggest factors that helps luxury creatives stand out — and stay in demand — is having a clear, defined signature style. It’s not just about creating beautiful work; it’s about knowing exactly what makes your work yours — and being able to confidently communicate that to planners, clients, and your audience.

For example, luxury photographer Lauren Fair describes her signature style with three words: Exquisite, Iconic, and Joy-Filled. These words guide everything from her shooting style to how she curates her portfolio, ensuring her brand stays cohesive and recognizable — even as her work evolves.

Define Your Three Words

If you haven’t defined your own brand pillars yet, now’s the time. Take a moment to reflect on your work and ask:

• What do I want every client to feel when they see my work?
• What visual or emotional qualities show up in my best work?
• How do I want planners and luxury clients to describe my style?
• What kinds of images or films light me up creatively?

Once you have your answers, narrow them down to three core words that capture the essence of your brand. These words become your North Star, guiding your portfolio curation, website copy, and even how you present yourself on social media.

Pro Tip

Your signature style doesn’t need to sound like anyone else’s — it should feel authentic to you. Whether you’re modern and editorial, nostalgic and romantic, or documentary and raw, the goal is clarity and consistency.

Why Evolution is Essential for Longevity 🌱

One of the biggest mistakes photographers and filmmakers make is locking themselves into one visual style forever. Lauren admits that after years of perfecting her signature medium format film look, she hit a wall — creatively and personally.

“I got to the point where I was bored with my own work,” she says. “It was too perfect, too predictable. I needed more grit, more movement, more fun.”

That desire to evolve — not for the sake of trends, but to keep her own passion alive — is what led Lauren to start making micro-shifts in her work about five years ago.

Micro-Shifts: Small Changes That Keep You Fresh (Without Losing Your Identity)

Lauren’s evolution wasn’t a complete overhaul. Instead, she made small, intentional shifts — always grounded in her signature style. These micro-shifts allowed her to stay creatively inspired, while delivering the consistency her clients expect.

Here are some examples of micro-shifts Lauren has made:

🎞️ Incorporating 35mm Direct Flash

Direct flash and 35mm film have become trendy, but Lauren was already experimenting with them years ago — first at receptions, and now throughout the entire wedding day. It adds a bit of that gritty, behind-the-scenes energy to balance her more refined portraits.

📷 Wider Lenses for Storytelling

For years, Lauren relied heavily on her Contax 80mm, known for its dreamy compression. But recently, she’s intentionally incorporated wider lenses to capture more context — giving her galleries a cinematic sense of place.

🎥 Playing with Motion & Blur

Instead of chasing trends, Lauren found her own way to incorporate motion blur — by allowing her subjects to move naturally, rather than forcing intentional camera shake. It’s the perfect marriage of modern energy and timeless elegance.

🎨 Consistent Editing

Lauren’s editing has remained true to her signature look — timeless, clean, with natural skin tones. While some photographers jump on trendy presets, Lauren holds firm, knowing her clients expect a consistent aesthetic that will stand the test of time.

Trends vs. Timelessness: How to Choose What to Embrace 🔎

Trends aren’t inherently bad — they’re often where creative growth comes from. But Lauren’s advice is to filter trends through your own artistic voice.

When a new trend (like blurry photos or hard flash) catches her eye, she asks herself:

• Does this fit with my core style?
• Can I adapt this in a way that feels authentic to me?
• Does this elevate the experience for my clients?

If the answer is yes, she’ll experiment — but always with intention. It’s about adding tools to your creative toolbox, not rebuilding the whole house.

Clients Want It All — Can You Deliver? 📸

For Lauren, this isn’t overwhelming — it’s an opportunity.

“Clients now are seeing everything on Instagram and TikTok,” she says. “They want a mix of styles, and I’m happy to deliver that — because I’ve built the skills to do it all.”

The key is that she’s still filtering all of it through her signature lens — so her clients get variety without losing the cohesive feel they fell in love with.

Know Yourself — and Build Systems to Support It 🧩

If the idea of delivering multiple styles sounds overwhelming, you’re not alone. Lauren’s advice? Build a team that supports your vision.

For example, you could:

• Bring on a second shooter who specializes in 35mm film.
• Hire a dedicated drone operator.
• Work with an assistant who helps manage gear so you can stay in the creative zone.

You don’t have to do everything yourself — you just have to ensure everything fits within your creative vision.

Evolve Intentionally — Not Reactively 🚀

One of the biggest mistakes Lauren sees? Photographers abandoning their entire style to chase trends — then losing all brand consistency.

When you constantly shift your work based on what’s trendy, you confuse your audience — and your referral network of planners and vendors who rely on you for a specific style.

Instead, Lauren recommends intentional evolution — small shifts that feel exciting for you and enhance the client experience, without confusing your brand.

Your Work Should Excite You First 💥

Lauren’s biggest piece of advice for anyone feeling stuck? Create work that excites you.

“If I’m excited, my clients will feel it,” she says. “The work is better, the energy is better, and it all just flows.”

That excitement doesn’t come from chasing trends — it comes from knowing your voice, trusting your instincts, and evolving on your own terms.

Final Takeaways: Your Micro-Shift Game Plan

✅ Define Your Core Style – What are the 3-5 words that describe your signature?
✅ Audit Your Work – Are you bored? Are your galleries starting to feel repetitive?
✅ Identify Trends That Resonate – What’s inspiring you right now?
✅ Experiment (In Low-Stakes Ways) – Test new techniques at personal projects or smaller shoots.
✅ Filter Everything Through Your Signature Lens – Every image should still feel like you.
✅ Document Your Evolution – Update your website, social, and client galleries to reflect your shifts.

Ready to Build a Signature Style That Evolves With You?

If you’re tired of wondering why luxury clients aren’t finding you (even though your work is beautiful), The Luxury Wedding Playbook is for you.

✨ Learn the exact strategies to:
✅ Turn your brand into a magnet for high-end clients
✅ Build relationships with the planners who can open luxury doors
✅ Finally stop chasing inquiries — and start attracting them

👉 Grab your copy now: thelevelupco.com/playbook

Your dream clients are out there — let’s make sure they see you.