Part of living a photographic life and developing your photography often comes from finding seeds of inspiration amongst your peers. In essence this is how creativity works; one idea leads to another and a little seed blossoms into its own unique flower. The mini profiles at Photography 24/7 is a new content series which aims to uncover creative and talented photographers that you may not have come across before, and with the hope that you come away with a little seed of inspiration.

Laura Burlton

Meet Laura Burlton from Houston, Texas, USA.

As you will no doubt notice from the following photos, and certainly if you explore Laura’s work in more depth, Laura loves photography and as she says herself: “Always have. Always will.” Laura’s father taught her how to use his SLR when she was just 10. A couple of years later he had to get Laura her own camera. She was smitten by photography at a young age.

Laura thinks of herself as an artist and consider photography to be just another medium. She is also a trained painter, sculptor and illustrator, so creative endeavours lie close to hear. However photography remains her primary creative pursuit. Laura’s photography has been published in various books and magazines and she has also had her work showcased in galleries in Houston, Texas where she lives and as far away as Canada, Austria and Spain.

And as you’ll discover she is of the view that “you can never have too many toy cameras!”

1. Your dad taught you to use a SLR camera when you were around the age of 10. How much, if any, has he been an influence on your photography as you developed through your childhood years? Have other people influenced your style of photography?

My dad just planted the seed. He was a keen amateur, but not as much into the art or business of it. We always had a camera around though and he loved to take photos. I still remember the old polaroid land camera my parents had, i must have been about 3 or so then. I like the magic of the image appearing after just a minute or so. I also liked the little square photos that resulted.

I have had many influences in my photography throughout the years. I think Sarah Moon was one of the first people whose work really spoke to me. It is just so ethereally beautiful.

Other people who have really helped to shape and mentor me are Amy Blakemore and Will Michels, both of whom I have had as instructors and I count as friends.

Wedding photography by Laura Burlton

2. You have used toy cameras for many years now. What sparked your interest in toy cameras and what makes them so much fun to use?

I was introduced to medium format toy cameras by Amy Blakemore. One day she brought out all kinds of different types of cameras in class and since i wanted to shoot something on bigger film and could not even contemplate purchasing a hasselblad, I bought a holga. It was the beginning of a love affair. I remember ordering it from Main Photo Workshops and then looking online at different peoples work, of which there was not too much around. David Niles had some work up that just blew my mind so I then called all over town looking to see if I could buy a holga right then and there. Found one for twice the price as I had paid online, but it was worth every single penny and I still had the other one coming. You can never have too many toy cameras! I had also been introduced to lomo cameras a few years before this and owned a few of them, but I will say my love of photography and it’s overwhelming impact on my life started the day I got that holga. Before that it was just a hobby. After, an all consuming passion.

3. Your ‘Dreams in Chalk’ series is incredibly beautiful, creative and unique. How did you come up with the idea for this series?

You know, I guess I was trying to do something with stars. First I tried cutting a bunch of them out and hanging them up with fishing line, but they kept moving….Next I decided to draw them with chalk as there was always some sidewalk chalk laying around. Then I started to get all sorts of ideas. I love fairytales and had worked with those sort of themes before and it really just made sense to draw these little vignettes. Plus, I guess it was another way to use my other artistic talents and combine them with my photography.

"Dancing on the moon" by Laura Burlton

4. You also shoot weddings and have a beautiful wedding portfolio. I can’t imagine a much more high pressure situation than shooting someone’s wedding – how do you deal with this kind of pressure? And how much do you let your clients direct you with regards to your ‘creative freedom’ on how to shoot their wedding?

I approach weddings in a totally different manner than I do my fine art work. On the one hand I try to be as artsitic as possible with the parameters given to me, but really I am there to tell someone elses story, to document the love that a couple feels for each other and the joy of a wedding celebration. I have to check my ego at the door on this one. I love to get the artistic shots, but I really also have to be true to the couple who have entrusted me to capture their day. One day I would really like to shoot half of a wedding with a holga or something, but until Texas cools down and starts having nice daytime weddings, that is not gonna be too feasable to the way I shoot holgas! I will happily travel though, so if you know some cool people who want their wedding shot with a holga in a more hospitable climate, I will gladly travel!

Wedding photography by Laura Burlton

5. If you could travel to any destination tomorrow, where would you go and what would you like to photograph?

Thats a hard one! My passion is photographing people. I think I would like to follow an old style traveling circus, preferably with a sideshow. The stranger the better. Elephant riders, contortionists, clowns… think something like a circus from the first half of the last century. That would be wonderful.

6. If one of your photographer friends was in a bit of a creative-rut and was looking for a quick fix, and you were asked to recommend a photography accessory and/or a photography book which you think could open up his or her vision, what would you suggest?

I think they should buy a holga and work on just shooting light and composition, not worrying so much about controls and the technical aspects of photography. I would also suggest they try looking at Plastic Cameras: Toying with Creativity By Michelle Bates. I am a contributor to the book.

[Thomas: Thank you Laura for participating in this mini profile and sharing your work.]

You can view more of Laura Burlton’s beautiful work at her website: www.lauraburlton.com and at her blog www.lauraburlton.com/blog.

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