Lynnsey Dunson is a 25-yr-old self-taught photographer from Colorado whose favorite things are foxes, natural light and film. She frequents the outdoors for many of her portraits which provides an interesting and varied landscape. Enjoy a sampling of Lynnsey’s work below and keep scrolling for an interview.
What made you want to pursue photography?
Lynnsey Dunson: My mother bought me a polaroid camera when I was 7 or 8 and I haven’t stopped taking pictures since. The passion for photography has always been with me. I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that for so long I wanted to be a model, but I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t enjoying it and what was holding me back. Then I realized that I was in the right industry, just not the right career. So I took my love for photography, starting shooting and suddenly things unfolded and I felt at home behind the camera instead of in front of it.
Did you study photography in school?
LD: I am mostly self-taught. I wanted to go to school for photography but I was learning so much with hands-on experience and learning from interning with other photographers that I put it on the back-burner. Education is incredibly important though, so I recently started studying at a local film school where my emphasis is Cinematography.
Have you always been based in Denver?
LD: I’ve been based in Denver for the last six months. I lived in a small southern Colorado town where we were voted the worst dressed city in America, so you can imagine how fashion was kind of glanced over and looked at as strange. I knew that if I wanted to be successful I would need to live in a bigger city where the industry was blooming and I could get a lot of experience. So I packed up my family and things just fell in place! The environment here is very crazy (20 degrees in the morning and 70 by noon sometimes), but I enjoy it, especially for photography. I shoot mostly outdoors in nature and with the mountains and trees it works perfectly.
What are some of your short term and long term goals for your photography?
LD: Short term I would like to really solidify my branding. I’m mostly a fashion and portraiture photographer, but I also love shooting weddings. I also want to add more conceptual shoots to my portfolio. Long term I’d love to continue to grow as an artist and collaborate with even more people. I would love to have my own show at a gallery, help teach aspiring photographers at workshops, shoot editorials for Nylon & Vogue, and I want to be traveling. It’s really important to me to see the world, and I’d love to document every day of it through my lens.
Who is your ideal client?
LD: Usually, the people I want to work for are those I find intimidating because I’m incredibly inspired by them. I’d love to get an opportunity to take portraits of my favorite musical artists, (i.e. Thom Yorke, Florence, Jesse Lacey, etc) and work for companies who like to take chances and create new ideas. I’d love to work for a few photographers I admire or even just sit down and have some hot tea and talk about their lives and work: Brooke Shaden, Kitty Gallannaugh, Lissy Elle, Clayton Austin, all are amazing and so different from one another and have inspired me greatly.
Do you have few favorite cameras?
LD: I am a sucker for anything film. I love toy cameras, like Dianas and Holgas. And I have quite a beautiful Kodak Retina III that I shoot with constantly that was given to me from a family member. It’s been through all of Europe and WWII. It has a story all of it’s own.
Do you use any film emulation software like VSCO in your image editing?
LD: I just use Photoshop. I have pre-set curves and actions that I’ve built over the years and it’s a matter of trying them out on my images and tweaking them to find the perfect fit. A lot of the time I create new ones because I’m too indecisive and just start from scratch. The one thing I don’t edit are my film images, I like the untouched innocence of them.
What’s your most favorite subject to shoot now?
LD: I love shooting my surroundings. Whether it be a store I’m shopping at or the people I’m having dinner with, I like to document things.
Anything we should know about you that we haven’t asked?
LD: My favorite cookies are oreos, I am obsessed with collecting cameos and miniature erasers shaped like food and I will always prefer shooting with natural light.
Visit Lynnsey Dunson:
Lynnsey’s Portfolio
Lynnsey’s Blog
Lynnsey on Facebook
Lynnsey on Flickr
Lynnsey on Deviantart
Lynnsey on Model Mayhem
Be sure to contact Lynnsey for your next shoot.
