Laurie Klein
About
Laurie Klein (laurieklein.com) is recognized worldwide for her infrared photography. Her work embodies a soft passionate style that most often depicts the human experience in nature. Her work has appeared in hundreds of publications and has a life-long record of gallery exhibitions. She has been teaching for over 30 years. Laurie has authored 4 books, including Hand Coloring Black and White Photography, The Female Form with Digital Infrared and co-author of 2 editions of Infrared Photography: Artistic Techniques for Brilliant Images. (She is working on a new book of hand coloring in the digital age.)
Gallery
LACP Interviews Laurie Klein
LACP asks Laurie Klein ten questions about their background, career in and beliefs about photography:
Los Angeles Center of Photography: What kind of photographer are you?
Laurie Klein: I am predominantly an infrared photographer. Infrared is my voice – my way of healing and working out my heart’s landscape. I mostly photograph women who become my expression for transformation and wisdom.
LACP: How long have you been photographing?
LK: Photography found me when I was in high school. It has been a love affair for five decades. Like any romance, there have been highs and lows, ups and downs, yet each year I fall more in love with my visual craft.
LACP: Where did you get your training?
LK: I was in the Bio-Medical Photography program at Rochester Institute of Technology, where I learned infrared photography, but I realized I was more of an art photographer. I changed majors to Photo Illustration and received my B.F.A., then went to Ohio University for my M.F.A to guide others in discovering their souls through photography as an instructor.
LACP: When did you know you wanted to devote your life to photography?
LK: When I was 16, photography became my voice. I realized I could be vulnerable in expressing my emotions and receive accolades for being my authentic self.
LACP: Did you ever come close to giving up?
LK: Absolutely! When digital came onto the scene, I wrote a story for a photography magazine titled “Film Wasn’t Dead Why Did We Have To Fix It ???.“ With the ability to convert digital cameras to record the infrared spectrum, I fully embraced the advances technology afforded me – having the freedom to “expose” pixels at my heart’s desire without the expense of film and its processing.
LACP: Have you sacrificed anything by being a photographer?
LK: No. Photography is one of the greatest gifts I have been given. The incredible thing is I keep growing as a photographic artist because it synchronizes with exploring who I am. To me, photography is my soul’s work.
LACP: What have you gained by being a photographer?
LK: I almost quit photography in my early 30’s. I was overwhelmed being a single parent to two amazing sons, owning a gallery and photo school, and teaching at the local college. So, I re-branded myself as a very successful niche infrared wedding photographer in the New York City vicinity, which allowed me to be at home during the week. In addition, my commitment to my family led to my celebrity as a hand-color photographic storyteller, where a nationally televised morning talk show showcased me during a segment.
LACP: What classes do you teach at LACP?
LK: Hand Coloring Black and White Photographs, and Introduction to Infrared Photography. I am also hoping to debut The Soul of Your Photography!!!!
LACP: What do you love most about teaching?
LK: Photographs are windows to the soul; every photographer has a pattern. I love helping others find, hone, and develop their style and stories.
LACP: What advice would you give someone who is thinking about making a career in photography?
LK: Create for love. Photography is very meditative and revealing. Be true to who you are as an image maker. Hopefully, you will continue to fall in love with the medium as I have. There is still so much to learn, feel, and be inspired.