2010 August | Lara Jade Photography

These past few weeks have been a whirlwind of emotion, a roller coaster constantly on highs and dropping to lows before speeding up to the highest point again. I have to admit this ride comes with the job – and during the first few years of any photographers career the majority of the ride will be at the low, waiting on good news to come in, a mixture of wondering when and where your next job is, extreme self critique, late nights frustrated over retouching images and a wanting to always be better at your skill.

I have been traveling non stop this week. I had to return to London to shoot a pitch for a potential ad campaign with a clothing company. My agent phoned me a few days before and luckily it slotted into my schedule – but very tightly. So I’ve been flying to and from London over three days and now running on two hours sleep waiting for my flight to Charlottetown, Canada to shoot for a client. No matter how jet lagged I am and how much I want to throw the towel in right now – I am in love with what I do and no amount of exhaustion could pry me from it.

I am also happy to admit to myself I finally know what I want from life and in the next months I can reveal all. It feels good to know I am finally on the right path and things are going my way. So at the moment I am happy to see where life takes me – and hopefully I’ll continue on the high road for a while!

Here I am enjoying the wonderful British weather. Sorry London – it was good to see you again but NYC wanted me back!! (Photo by Phil Hewitt)

LJ.

So I’ve been in NYC for the past five weeks now, time has gone so quickly! I feel like there’s so much more to do here. Things to see, people to meet, shoots to create.. there’s not enough time!

I have completed a fair few shoots in my time here, including a shoot for LUSH magazine in collaboration with photographer Hannah Khymych, a 50′s inspired shoot for Content Mode (by amazing stylist Deborah Ferguson) as well as a number of tests to add to my retouching list! I am also shooting a dark beauty story for Masquerade Magazine on Thursday – I have an amazing team involved so it should turn out great. I also have plans for more personal projects and more editorial tests while I’m out here. I have met so many amazing creative contacts during my time I want to make sure I get to work with them at least twice. I celebrated my twenty first birthday out here out at Juliet’s and partied till the early morning.. here’s some pictoral evidence.

My personal time here has also unfolded nicely – meeting a special new person in my life and friends that are there for me no matter what including the wonderfully amazing Ros (“Ros’ll fix it”) – I love you! I am going to miss you all when I eventually leave but I know for sure I will be back soon. Below is me and my boy James, he’s going to hate me for posting these..

I was also in Florida recently – mainly for a court trial most of you will probably be familiar with. If you want to read up on what happened during the trial please see here: http://www.plagiarismtoday.com/2010/07/27/update-lara-jade-coton-gets-her-day-in-court/ The whole situation is still far from over but it was a step in the right direction.

Florida wasn’t all about trials though – I stayed with the wonderful Kugler family (Brad & Gina and their kids) in Palm Harbour – they are so welcoming and I had a great time with them. I also met a few people during my stay here which ended up folding out into shoots and regular trips to the local drive thru starbucks (which I thought was a fantastic idea since we don’t have them in the UK!). I also went to a Warped Tour over in St Petersburg – great to meet a few familar faces including the talented Mr Gage Young despite the rainstorm that day!

So my trip isn’t over JUST yet. I have to fly back to London on Thursday to shoot a pitch for an ad campaign (can’t disclose details just yet!) and then I fly back to NYC Sunday before jetting off to Charlottetown, Canada to shoot a wedding for a client on Monday. Yes, you could say I’m pretty busy but hey – what is life if it isn’t worth living for?

The past few weeks..

My journey so far..