Meet V Lynne Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to V Lynne Smith. 

Hi V Lynne, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My photography journey started with a simple desire to provide quality photos for articles that I had been writing for a local blog called The Social Metro. I have always loved photography, having owned a variety of point-and-shoot cameras throughout my life. It was purchased a Nikon DSLR and began taking photography classes at Oakland Community College. Learning to shoot & develop 35mm film was a fascinating and creative process. But it was upon finding my father’s vintage camera on his birthday a few months later that I knew this was meant to be. I had discovered my WHY, and it became rooted in that single moment. Each time I pick up my camera and each image I capture connects me to my father in ways I can’t put into words. But I can express that feeling in the images I capture. Somehow, I just know in my soul he is pleased, and my WHY is deeply rooted in that connection. In April of 2015, V Lynne’s Lenz was born to fulfill my mission of “Creating Intentional Images that Move the Soul.” 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have definitely been challenges along the way. Living creatively while still holding down a 9-5 is delicate balance that I continue to navigate. It hasn’t been easy, but it does afford me the ability to choose the projects that I want to create. Every creative endeavor I take on is a personal project.

But by far the biggest challenge I’ve faced was when the vision in my left eye became compromised. As a photographer who cherishes every moment I’m able to capture, I became concerned when the vision in my left eye became a little less clear and blurry while on vacation. Upon returning home and seeing my ophthalmologist and a retinal specialist it was determined that I had a macular hole in my left eye, which is a small break in the macula, located in the center of the retina. On November 11, 2021, I had a surgical procedure called a vitrectomy, where the vitreous gel is removed to prevent it from pulling on the retina and replaced with a bubble containing a mixture of air and gas. In the days and weeks following the surgery I often thought of my photography and would I be able to continue. Funny, but I began to see things more clearly when my physical vision was threatened. During my healing process I learned some valuable lessons on grace & patience. I’ve learned to give myself enough grace to trust the process. What I needed to accomplish became very clear in my mind’s eye. I needed my photography more than ever. I needed to share my gift with others and serve as an inspiration to trust yourself and never give up on your WHY!!

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?
As a photographer, I have a passion for landscape, travel, and still life images where my work focuses on creating stories of how I connect to the places in which I travel to while capturing the beauty found in those spaces. For me, photography has always been about connecting and capturing what the eye sees and what the soul feels. It’s about seeing ordinary things in an extraordinary way. Many times, it’s the things that we take for granted. A walk through a neighborhood where you admire flowers you see along the way, the table in our favorite cafe, or even the stranger who shares a kind word. These are the moments I like to think about when I’m capturing images. One of things I’m most proud of is the creation of my first coffee table book titled “We Come to the Water.” I simply adore coffee table books as they are proof of how an image can speak volumes with very few words. It was dream to produce a coffee table book about my travels to Martha’s Vineyard. “We Come to the Water.” It is an inspirational and transparent journey captured in the images I’ve taken while on Martha’s Vineyard over the years. It’s filled with some of things that bring me the most joy, peace, and comfort. This book is the culmination of finding my creative space. 

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
As a child, I remember there was always a camera in my home. My father always had a camera in his hand whenever family and friends were in our home. People were always happy when my dad started taking pictures. There was so much laughter and joy in all the excitement. I remember people just being happy. It’s that kind of feeling I want to capture and people to feel when I create an image. 

Pricing:

• “We Come to the Water” $69.99
• “Petals and Light” $54.99

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vlynneslenz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vlynneslenz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vlynneslenz

Image Credits
V Lynne’s Lenz