Life & Work with Claire Lindsey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Lindsey. 

Hi Claire, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I always knew I needed an art career in order to feel fulfilled. I had grown up doing more fine art and painting than anything else, but the digital art world interested me. My first year of college I jumped right into photography classes without ever really touched a DSLR. I bought a Canon Rebel and took 4 years of photo classes until I had not only earned a degree but actually knew something about photography. After that I did portraiture for a few years until I second-shot my first wedding, feeling really daunted with the idea of all the responsibility of a primary photographer. A few hours into the day I remember the lead photographer pulling me aside and saying I needed to take over. I felt overwhelmed in that moment but I think it was the push I needed, and now I love wedding photography and it’s what I do the most of currently. 

In addition to portraits, I made some connections in the restaurant industry and began taking food and drink photos on the side. It took about a year of relearning techniques to feel really confident in the new genre. After doing a few months of research on social media and marketing I started picking up on marketing techniques and how algorithms run various platforms. Since then, I’ve found a passion in doing social media management for restaurants and businesses, redesigning their social presence, taking food photos, and running their social platforms. Currently, I use my weekdays for restaurant work and my weekends for weddings and portraiture. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not always been easy. When I graduated with my degree in photography, I remember thinking I was done now, I had learned everything and now I’m a “real photographer,” whatever that means. It took almost a year for me to get any consistent paid opportunities. Throughout that time, I knew I had to keep shooting and keep learning, or else I wouldn’t get anywhere and would never succeed. So, I spent a lot of time doing unpaid collaborative work with local models. I value that time so much because it’s during that period that I met some of my closest friends and best career connections. I was able to travel and do work that paid just enough to cover my hotel and work in the retail and food industry to make ends meet. My goal for that year was to take photos of some sort every single day for the entire year. I actually did do it, starting in January until about October, when I finally realized, I could start charging and taking fewer clients. I was around 20-21 at this time so I had a lot of energy for that sort of thing, and it ended up being a great thing as a new photographer. 

Working with food was also a whole new curveball too. I had to start bringing in more equipment, different lenses, lighting, working with assistants. It definitely is a lot more of a production. One of my first food clients was this big corporate-type spot with multiple locations, and they always ripped my work apart during our check-in meetings. It reminded me of critiques we would have back in college, and I definitely left work a few times feeling really bummed about my photos. But looking back, it was exactly what I needed to push myself harder and really step up to learn how to take better photos. Plenty of times I’d be really excited about a photo, just to have it perform poorly on multiple social platforms. The algorithms change frequently so I’m always watching videos on any updates to better predict that sort of stuff. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a photographer from Ann Arbor but will travel anywhere. I mainly shoot weddings, as well as run socials and take photos for restaurants and businesses. 

My wedding and portrait style is moody, with rich greens and diffused warm light. I love being the person by the couple’s side the entire day and capturing every tiny moment as a memory. 

I take a crisp and vibrant approach with my food photos. I have a project I titled “Splash” which is a collection of drink photos in motion. Even with food though I like to catch dynamic shots the most. Anytime a chef brings out oysters on dry ice, or a dish that’s intentionally set on fire, my eyes light up. 

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love that Ann Arbor has a restaurant, coffee, and bar scene that’s so connected. Having worked in the food industry and also as a food photographer, over the years I run into old coworkers and get to work with friends all the time. I grew up here too so I’m working with businesses I was literally raised going to on special occasions. It’s really fun to be taking photos during a dinner rush too. I’ve met so many cool people just by them coming up and asking why I’m standing on a table in a packed restaurant, or saying they’ve seen the photos on the restaurant’s Instagram. 

I do think Ann Arbor is a little limiting in that way though. Everybody knows everybody, and it’s a pretty small city. Sometimes I wish there were just more exciting spots downtown and in the area. I’ve been able to work with some places in Detroit and other nearby cities, even in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles here and there, but I think with any creative job most of the opportunities are in the bigger cities. 

Contact Info:

• Email: claire@cvaire.com
• Website: cvaire.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cvaire/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cvaire/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG7xgjIcFw_cFO8gpBlhhLw
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/cvairephoto/