Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauryn Haling.
Hi Lauryn, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story starts with me dancing in a little red barn since I was three, so movement has always been one of the most natural ways for me to express myself, especially when words fall flat. For many years, I thought my path was just being a dancer, but my love for dance eventually grew into a more dimensional relationship with creativity. Over the years, I’ve become interested not only in performing, but in everything that goes into creating an experience: photography, modeling, acting, storytelling, branding, visuals, creating concepts from the ground up, and how all these pieces fed off of each other.
As I continued growing, I started working both in front of and behind the camera. Dance taught me how to communicate through movement and composition, while my experiences in photography, content creation, modeling, acting, interviewing, and producing taught me how to think about the overall picture. I realized that I didn’t want to be confined to one creative title. I’m becoming someone who takes an idea, whether my own or another’s, and assists in bringing this vision to life.
This realization led me toward creative direction and multidisciplinary work, although my journey has been far from linear. There have been seasons where I felt incredibly sure of myself and seasons where I questioned if I was still on the right path at all. Opportunities change, life transitions, health issues arise, yet I keep creating even when life doesn’t unfold according to plan, because every experience has added another layer to how I perceive and intentionally express that perception of the world.
That’s how I got to where I am today. I stopped forcing myself into a single identity of dancer and embraced myself as a creative synthesizer: taking different forms of expression and bringing them together to create something that feels intentional, expressive, and distinctly my own. I’m still figuring it out as I go, but that’s part of the beauty.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has definitely not been smooth. There have been plenty of twists, setbacks, and moments when I wonder if I’m making progress towards what I envision. One of the most difficult lessons is learning how to navigate uncertainty. In the creative field, there isn’t always a clear path or a guaranteed next step. There have been periods where I’ve had to balance my creative goals with work, finances, relationships, moving, health constraints, and other major life changes. Sometimes it felt like I had to put my dreams on pause just to keep everything else afloat.
I’ve also struggled with comparison, and the pressure to feel like I should (I don’t like to use that word, haha) be further along by now. Many creatives struggle with this feeling because they’re surrounded by other talented people and constantly seeing everyone’s accomplishments, especially with social media. For me, though, the comparison is against myself: who and where I thought I’d be versus where I am today. For a long time, I had a clear, somewhat conventional path until I graduated in the year of COVID, permanently altering the course of my creative career. I’ve had to learn that my path is still meaningful despite that path now being completely unconventional and continuing to morph into something I orginally didn’t expect.
Probably the most important lesson has been learning how to rebuild and embrace change without needing to know exactly where it’s taking me. There have been times when something I thought was going to be a permanent part of my life ended, or a direction I was ecstatic about didn’t work out the way I expected. These experiences are painful, but they also forced me to become unshakable and grounded in what I want, giving my work a level of honesty that wouldn’t exist otherwise.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work spans dance, modeling, acting, producing, and photography, with a particular interest in the space where those disciplines overlap. I enjoy moving between those different roles depending on what a project calls for. I’m particularly fond of work that gives me the opportunity to collaborate, experiment, and contribute something of my own to the process.
I’m proud of the versatility I’ve built and continue to build as a creative. I’ve given myself the opportunity and permission to explore different mediums instead of limiting myself to one title, and each discipline has influenced the other. Whether that discipline was permanent or temporary, the lessons carry over.
Some examples of this versatility and career highlights include dancing in music videos with local Michigan artists such as Kayla King, No Resolve, Drew Jacobs, and others. While in Miami, I had the opportunity to model for the launch of Matt Steffanina’s “Mad Chill” clothing line along with an advertisement for Roccoco Skin Botanicals. I also worked and photographed many high-level, nationally recognized clients/celebrities such as Serena Williams, Marc Anthony, Austin St. John, Lolo Jones, and more. Last but certainly not least, I’m very excited to make my solo choreographer debut on Marlee X’s music video for their single “Ghost.”
What sets me apart is less about what I do, and more about how I show up. I love connecting with the people I work with. I tend to get very invested in the people and the energy of a project, and I show up as myself, hoping to provide a space where others feel comfortable being their true selves. The best work comes from this sense of connection and trust. I’ve experienced this time and time again when interviewing hundreds of CEO’s for a docu-series. Holding space for yourself and others is vital to achieving the end vision, and sometimes something even greater than envisioned emerges. In other words, I’m not interested in simply showing up, doing my part, and leaving. I want to be present and make the experience itself something people enjoy being a part of.
Ultimately, that’s what I’m most proud of: not just the results, but the relationships and experiences I’ve built in the creative process.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love most about Detroit/the metro area is the people and sense of community. I feel like this is a very common statement when talking about Detroit, but it’s so true! After living in Miami for a year and a half, it truly gave me a different perspective. Here, there is a real appreciation for creativity, and I love how much individuality the city allows. Plus, there’s always something happening: music, dance, art, fashion, food, or some random creative project being brought to life.
What I like least about Detroit/the metro area is that I wish there were more consistent opportunities and resources for emerging creatives. There’s oodles of talent here, and I’d love to see even more of that talent supported and given room to grow locally. At the same time, I’ve also encountered inconsistencies in professionalism and follow-through within the creative community, which can also make turning opportunities into consistent work difficult to navigate and sustain. I’m certainly not exempt from this, as I’ve had periods where my own communication and follow-through needed to be better. I think the broader issue is worth acknowledging because, in my experience, these challenges can contribute to a lot of local talent seeking opportunities for advancement in other states, including myself.
Pricing:
- Pricing varies by project.
- Reach out to discuss rates and availability.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://laurynhaling.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haling_lauryn/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauryn.haling/
