Meet Abigail LaFleur-Shaffer // Photographer
Hailing from Colorado, Abigail is passionate, adventurous, and deeply drawn to travel, art and the outdoors. She currently works as a commercial/lifestyle photographer for outdoor brands, creating imagery for marketing and story-telling, as well as pursuing human and environmental advocacy.
EiE: Tell us who you are in just a few words or sentences.
Abigail: I am someone who feels and loves the world deeply, and I want to experience everything, everywhere, all at once. I’m a child of the earth and sun, adventurous, fearless, and joyful.
When did you first develop an interest in photography? Was it something that you immediately knew you’d want to pursue, or did that aspiration come later?
From a very early age, I aspired to become a veterinarian, and throughout high school I held onto that. When I was about 18 or 19 years old, I saw an image online that brought me to tears and shifted my worldview. I discovered I wanted to use a camera and my creativity to not only create positive change in others’ lives, but also to help facilitate sharing personal stories of hope, change, etc.
by Abigail LaFleur-Shaffer
Describe your current photography style. How has it evolved?
Most of my paid work is in the lifestyle commercial world, so a lot of my photography style centers around not only telling a story, but also featuring people and/or products that inspire others to seek adventure and joy in the outdoors. I want my audience/viewers to feel like they can relate to my work. I’d also describe my style as grounded, clean, and warm. In regards to my personal photography work, I really love incorporating a more minimalist style.
What have some of your favorite photography gigs looked like?
I feel so, so grateful I get to play outside a lot for work, and sometimes that’s also enabled me to bring my dogs along, so most of my photography gigs have been my favorite; it’s tough to pick through so many! I do have one that sticks out strongly in my memory because of how difficult it was; I cried! I often produce my own photoshoots for certain clients, and I didn’t know it at the time, but I decided to shoot solo in a location that turned out to be a monster: Los Angeles. I’m sure hundreds of people in LA (if they’re reading this) would laugh at me, and rightfully so— I’m just a Colorado girl who usually photographs in spaces that are easily permitted. Permitting was a nightmare, one of my models last minute told me they were two hours away from location and couldn’t make it, I showed up to location not even sure my permit went through, and the manager on site wasn’t the kindest at the start (although by the end he loved us). I sat on the ground and cried. Then I got up, got my permit at the very last second (30 minutes past our planned shoot time), photographed with two amazing models in a DREAM location (a basketball court overlooking the ocean) and to this day, some of my best work came out of that monstrous shoot. It’s now my favorite photoshoot I’ve ever accomplished in my career, and my client still uses those images to this day. Funny how the most challenging stories can be our most successful. Life es raro (is weird).
by Abigail LaFleur-Shaffer
Tell us more about your modeling career. How has your experience in front of the camera influenced your skill behind it?
I never ever thought I’d get paid to be in front of a camera, and I still struggle to call myself a model, ha! I do enjoy the work though, and it’s been such a great way to meet and connect with people in different worlds/fields of creative work. I’d say being both behind and in front of the camera has contributed to a lot of the work I do currently; they truly click with one another. Working as a photographer has given me insight to what a photographer sees through their viewfinder, and what they might be looking to capture as far as modeling apparel goes (how to position product, where to look, how to engage with co-models, etc.). Equally, modeling has polished my skill set behind the camera because I’ve been able to place myself in my subjects’ shoes. I understand better how to direct my models, and give them advice on how to move, where to look, etc.
Photography is one of the most impactful forms of storytelling. What messages and stories do you like for your photos to convey?
I want my viewers to feel like they’re actually a part of the story, that they can relate to it—whether it’s the activity itself that I’m capturing, or if it’s the feeling. I also want my work to be able to capture a story that will inspire others to share their own stories and adventures in a way that will help create positive change in the world around them, even on the tiniest level. I believe that our evolution and impact in the world begins with a story, a defining moment or a collection of defining moments, which are all very unique to our individual selves—and yet at the same time, can make others feel less alone in their journey. Photography was my introduction to really seeing that everyone in this world (no matter our background, culture, country, language, etc.) has more in common than we all realize. It helped me realize that this world is so vast and so small at the same time, and that there is so much more to the world than we think.
P.S. I also want people to see the photography of my dogs and be inspired to also love and play with their dogs in a way that I’ve had the honor of doing with mine!
by Abigail LaFleur-Shaffer
If you could master a new skill outside of photography, what would it be?
Probably pottery. I used to do it as a side hobby and an outlet a long time ago, and it was very special because it was a thing I did only for myself, not to be paid or to become the best at, but simply to enjoy it. The act of using my hands to create something functional out of a small piece of clay/piece of the earth was a very grounding activity for me.
Where can we find you on a day off?
It really depends on my mood and the season, but you’ll most likely find me in the mountains or desert with my two dogs, Kodi and Kuma, dancing naked in the sun, or sitting in a meadow soaking in everything around me. You can also find me exploring a big city or un pueblo pequeño (a small town) in Latin America with a cafe con leche in hand, a film camera draped over my shoulder, and possibly asking a local where to dance to Latin music that night.
This interview has been condensed and edited.
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