Lori Garner: Freelance Photographer
Lori Garner is a freelance photographer with many years of management experience in receivables finance. In 2012, she traded her corporate life for her longtime creative passion of photography. Photography and design has given her the creative platform to explore beautiful locations and work with a diverse clientele. She says, “the creative feeling keeps me in the ‘ZONE.’ It’s the moment when you are completely submerged; all thoughts and actions are in capturing or creating that single image in time.” Lori’s work has been published in several magazines and posted on many social media sites. Her clients have described her work as amazing, spectacular and awesome.
Since moving to the Nashville area, she has been able to combine the passion of Music and Photography (Taken from her website).
TSM: Lori, it’s so wonderful to have you in TSM, and appreciate you taking time out of your schedule to do an interview for the magazine.
LG: Thank you for inviting me. It is great to share this time with you!
TSM: What inspired you to become a photographer? And is it something you’ve always wanted to do since you were a young girl?
LG: I loved the art of photography since I was in middle school. But I truly fell in love with the digital art world thirteen years ago. I am a huge believer of memories. In life we all cherish those amazing special moments in life. But no matter how great our memories are, we can never capture the true details of the moment like we can in an image. The first thing we look for when someone is no longer with us on this earth is all the photos. Each smile, each milestone, each beautiful moment that validates we were here, and love by others. What an amazing art to capture, LIFE. I have captured a live birth, and I have captured a full body burial at sea. I share those moments, and say I capture birth to death, and all of life in between.
TSM: Can you recall your very first photo shoot?
LG: Most likely in middle school, it was anyone that would stand in front of my camera 🙂
TSM: What are some of your most memorable photo shoots? And what is it that made these photo shoots special to you?
LG: As I shared above the birth shoot, was my grandbaby so that will always be special. And a full body burial was in 10 foot seas so it was an amazing life moment. While trying to stay on board the boat as it pitched in the waves.
I have so many .. each session has a special meaning.. I fall in love with my subjects. So this is a difficult question. In Florida I always loved working with you, and Robyn Z, and I have many beautiful memories when I worked as the staff photographer for a magazine called Spotlight Families. In Nashville there are so many talented artists. Their Music seems to inspire me, and it gives me new creative direction with each one. It’s wonderful to collaborate with creative minds. I spun off a special website for the artist, its www.musiccityphotography.com. I must say everyone who stands in front of my Nikon and lets me capture life is a blessing…so they are all uniquely special to me.. each one.
TSM: How do you as a photographer make sure that the thing, person or landscape you want to shoot looks the way you want it to?
LG: Practice… Practice .. Practice …and pay attention to detail. Learn the art of making the person feel comfortable.
TSM: How do you choose what you are going to shoot?
LG: I shoot to capture the beauty of life…or that amazing moment…or the true spirit of a person. If they are an artist, I listen to their music. I try to listen, people will usually share what they are wanting. If it is nature, I just look for Gods beauty. If we would just stop, look and listen, we’ll see and feel when it is the right shot.
TSM: From your point of view, what makes a good picture?
LG: Life, emotion, true raw emotion, nature and lighting. I love chasing light.
TSM: Who are some photographers that have influenced you the most?
LG: Keith Dotson and Annie Leibovitz
TSM: I know that you started a blog when lockdown started. Tell us a bit about your blog and the inspiration behind it.
LG: Well, I had a spiritual encounter twenty-five months ago and started writing (some knew I was never a writer before). I wanted to learn more about the Bible and started a Bible word study. And then Covid19 hit, and I opened my computer, and started a blog with the words. I take one word, look up the meaning, the scriptures and then write from my heart. It was birthed on March 19, 2020 and we have over 11,555 views worldwide. I had no idea how far the blog could reach. It’s mind blowing. The blog also incorporates my images and music that inspires my soul.
And now I am creating a podcast that documents my twenty-five month spiritual journey, where I share my experience and my heart. The launch is scheduled for Sept 3, 2020.
I do believe, when Covid19 hit many of us started doing some soul searching. We were inspired and decided a virus could lock us up physically. But could never lock our hearts, our souls and our creativity.
TSM: If you had the power to do something in the world today, what would it be and why?
LG: I would stop hate, I would stop world hunger, I would stop suffering at all levels, and I would stop illnesses. Our world needs peace, kindness, forgiveness, compassion… and most of all LOVE. For every man woman and child…We need our heavenly Father to hold us in His loving hands.
TSM: What is one of your favourite quotes (or lines) that inspires you?
LG: “To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement.”― St. Augustine of Hippo
TSM: Anything else you’d like to share? And where can readers find out more about you and your work?
LG: Life. I would like to share life with your readers…It can be the most amazing journey. There is a bigger picture!! I have been on the most amazing spiritual journey with a LOVE greater that we can ever imagine. BE KIND, BE LOVED, BE THE AMAZING YOU !!! And never stop making and capturing memories.
Here are the links to my work.
https://triunelovesme.blogspot.com
https://triunelovesme.buzzsprout.com/
https://www.creationsbylori.photography
https://www.musiccityphotographer.com
TSM: Thanks again for doing this interview and wish you all the best in the future.
LG: Thank you for listening to my story! Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness!
