Where do you currently reside and work? I live and work at my loft space in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.
How would you describe Lindsay Wynn? Thats a hard one. A lot of different factors in my life have lead me to where, and who I am today. As a person I hope to be empathetic, relatable, unique and occasionally exciting. These are similar qualities I aim to portray in my work.
How did you start as a photographer? I was a fine art major in college. I bounced around doing different fashion internships with stints at Vera Wang and Phillip Lim. I eventually made my way back to the fine art world and worked for NY Arts Magazine, and The Opera galleries. While I was learning a ton from these internships they weren’t paying the bills. I started messing around with DSLR cameras and shooting odd jobs at my internships and different art for friends in college. I think it started there.
Did you study photography, or is it self-taught? As I mentioned, I was a fine arts major in College. You are required to take photo courses, but my primary focus in college was painting. I think this actually opened me up to having more fun with my photo work as it wasn’t my primary academic concentration. This allowed me to take more risks because I was less fearful of being judged for the aesthetic choices I was making. Art school was brutal in that way.
Do you remember your first camera? What was it and how did you get it? I do! It’s actually still sitting on my shelf with some of my other favorite little film cameras. Its a Canon EOS rebel K2. Unfortunately it no longer works but it was a pretty cool no frills camera. It was given to me by parents when I was 14 or 15 years old. My first rolls of film were of my grandparents rose garden, which have become invaluable to me now. Before it died it also turned out some of my favorite NYC images when I first moved here and was spending a lot of time developing film in the dark room.
What was your first paying job as a photographer? It was at school photographing art for friends, this was a much harder undertaking then I knew. It taught me a lot about light and perspective. After that, assisting for weddings.
What has been your most challenging shoot to date, and why? In the last few years since I have started shooting a personal body of work it’s the unknown that is the most challenging. In some early shoots I was doing with milk, chocolate, or other viscous materials you have no way of knowing if it will translate in camera. You just have to hope for the best and make sure the model is comfortable. For example when you pour $100 of maraschino cherries all over someone and it doesn’t come out how you wanted, you just have to laugh about it.
What was the most disappointing shoot you’ve ever had? There isn’t really one in my mind that sticks out. When I was younger I would get really caught up in the the technical aspects of my photos and I would lose the engagement of the subject. I was frantic, I was so excited to be shooting I always felt an extreme amount of pressure to get everything right, which ultimately did the opposite. I am sure there were a lot of missed opportunities for better photos on some of those shoots, but no sense in dwelling on it. I am grateful to have learned about myself as a photographer in that way.
As a photographer what would be your ideal subject or location to shoot? In this moment I am really interested in supporting the goals of my subjects. I want them to feel excited about creating something. So whoever and wherever that is, is dependent on the person. Giving the ability to be creative in a judgement free space to someone who doesn’t often have the opportunity to do so is the most fulfilling aspect of my work right now.
Do you shoot film at all? Yes, not as much as I would like to. I took a trip to Cuba recently and shot exclusively on film cameras and there is something very special about those photos. You really can’t replace the quality and nostalgia of a few film frames as opposed to a few thousand on digital.
What other types of art interests you? Honestly most types, but I painted most of my life and then extensively throughout college showing for a few years after. Painting still informs my photography work and vice versa.
How do you define success? Success is relative. My mom always told me life is all about hills and valleys, she was right. You get to the top of one mountain after innumerable trials and tribulations and you see the other mountain tops, then your goals change. At one point landing the internship at Vera Wang was my version of success, I was working my butt off and always on the go in the fashion world but eventually I realized that world wasn’t for me. I have a much more holistic view of success now. I want to be making things that represent the social and political values I hold, and inspire people to think deeply about the content they are creating. Being appreciated for that is my current version of success.
Whose work do you admire? I have always been a fan of Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, Diane Arbus, Herb Ritts and Annie Leibovitz. These photographers have always inspired me since I was young. Even in my early painting days I was constantly looking to these photographers to learn about their use of light and composition as well as interesting subject matter.
Do you have a place/person/thing that you visit for inspiration? Music. My family was big into dance parties when we were kids and there was always something blaring from the stereo. It was an escape as a child and has become a catalyst for inspired change as an artist. If I am feeling stagnated, dance and movement always gives me fresh perspective on my work.
Three people dead/alive you would like to shoot? Freddie Mercury, Barack Obama, Elizabeth Taylor
Name three things you can’t live without? Music, yoga, and sadly – my laptop.
How would someone find you on Social Media? The best way to see what I am up to is via instagram @lindsaywynn. I am pretty bad at keeping up with all of the other channels.
