The internet is such a rabbit hole and down I jumped immediately after viewing the portfolio of Melanie Molesworth. It was there that I discovered two talented photographers, Lisa Cohen and Lina Ikse Bergman. I’d like to share Lisa’s work with you because I find the story of how she got started as a photographer very inspirational as the unfolding of it all was quite organic and it’s something I can closely relate to in my own life since I’ve not followed typical paths myself. For her and other creative types out there it so often isn’t about finding one particular career in life and sticking to only that, instead it’s about exploring several paths and doing what you love today. If that changes in 5 years, well so be it.
Lisa has a creative eye that was trained from spending several years working as an Interior Stylist in London and then she went on to become a Decoration Editor over at British House & Garden. Working alongside so many talented photographers and designers created in her a fascination with the finished work and how one obtains the perfect photo – conveying the right mood, proper lighting, balancing layout and composition, working within an environment to create a moment that is captured perfectly on film.
Lisa decided that photography was her calling, now quite evident as you look at her body of work, and proceeded to develop her skills and eye to the point of launching her own studio. She has now worked all over the world shooting the homes of inspirational people to, “create images of how many of us would love to live,” Lisa says. She trained her eye through several different careers and has now established herself as a successful photographer. Isn’t that inspiring?
On another topic (though related), I’m sure some of you have stories to share about the merging of paths and how the career you started off in didn’t lead to what you decided to pursue long term. It’s interesting to sit down sometimes and sketch a diagram, nothing complicated — more of a flowchart, showing your starting point (birth) and where you are today. I did this just recently as a fun exercise and discovered some interesting bits about myself along with revealing a few patterns that I hadn’t noticed before. Often these diagrams help when we’re unsure of taking the next step, so give it a try and see what this creative exercise reveals to you. Perhaps there’s an inner photographer, teacher, artist, writer, interior designer in you waiting to break forth. Or maybe you’ll learn that where you are today is your perfect spot and the exercise will confirm that fact for you, handy to remember during times when you’re full of self-doubt.
Please note: Many of the images here and on Lisa’s website are available for purchase, please contact her directly for more information. lisa AT lisacohenphotography.com
(photography by lisa cohen)
March 12th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Lovely feature. Thanks for sharing info Lisa’s beautiful work!
March 12th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Wow! Her work as a stylist is really evident in her photos. Very visually inspiring.
March 12th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
I have a completely random question that you may know the answer to: I thought I remember from last summer that Apartment Therapy was going to start a Boston branch to go with NYC, LA, SF and Chicago. Do you happen to know ever happened to that?
March 12th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Your creative suggestion about forming a flowchart from birth to now was something I read and then thought about a few times today. Oh, I’ve gone over and over how I landed here and now a million times in my head and whenever I tell “my story.” I’m at the point now where I’m interested in making sure I get where I’m going and amazed at how my “power to focus” really is the key to getting wherever I want to be or doing whatever I want to do.
Speaking of focusing, I adore the entry in the photo with the pink/red/orange rug … and have been thinking a lot about entry ways per another one of your posts.
Thanks for such an inspiring and interesting blog!
March 12th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Gorgeous photos! Somehow the hosta picture really caught my eye!
March 12th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Beautiful images, love them all!
March 13th, 2008 at 1:04 am
wonderful photos…great post
March 13th, 2008 at 1:50 am
I’m all about inspiration {i need it on a daily basis!} and photography…thank you so much for sharing Lisa’s beautiful work.
March 13th, 2008 at 2:13 am
It’s evident from the photos that lighting plays such an important role in creating beautiful images. The composition is wonderful, but the lighting gives them so much dimension. Nice post.
March 13th, 2008 at 3:09 am
I am very intrigued by the flowchart idea. I somehow feel that I am too young and have too little of experiences to see any patterns. However, I may be wrong with my assumption.
As a visual person, is there any possibility that you can provide a visual example of this kind of self-reflecting flowchart? Perhaps not your own, but a copy of something that gave you this idea, maybe from a book, an article, or something.
March 13th, 2008 at 4:50 am
WOW- I’m really impressed with her fresh use of color! Great imagery.
Hey, this is kinda weird, but I was wondering if any of my work deserved a post on your amazing blog. *blushes* (I actually have tried multiple times to email you to inquire about it but, for some reason, it won’t work.)
Loves.
http://www.canyouhearme.etsy.com
March 13th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Canyouhearme – I just searched my inbox and even my spam folder and I have not received any submissions from you to date. Can you please send to decor8blog AT yahoo DOT com? Also, I just clicked over to your etsy store from your comment and I really like what I see. Can you attach to that email the last 4 items in your etsy store that you’ve uploaded only without the words “copyright” on them? Thank you so much.
Jon – I don’t know where the idea came from, I thought of it and just did it without being told, I didn’t read it anywhere. Email me and I can show you mine.
Holly
March 13th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Lisa’s photographs have a beautiful “stillness” about them. Thanks for posting!
March 13th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
i love the idea of tracing one’s history in a flowchart! thanks for that inspired idea!
March 13th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Oooh! I love those purple/rose glass bottles in the photo!
March 14th, 2008 at 3:20 am
They both are so talented! What a gift photographers have to take the most perfect picture that people like me drool over :)
March 14th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Gorgeous photography! Sooo beautiful!
March 14th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
And Holly, I really like your idea of charting our lives on paper to see where our path has taken us. This exercise would certainly work for artists…to see where our vision has been over the years. I believe that there is a “thread” connecting our artwork together…sort of like a visual voice. Anyway… :)
March 14th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Susanna et al,
Here’s a glimpse of my chart, one of them at least, in a journal I keep:
http://flickr.com/photos/decor8/2330756577
xo
Holly