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| Copyright 2008 Aviva Photography |
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ABOUT LAUREN
My love of photography started at an early
age. I vividly remember receiving my first
camera, probably around my 7th or 8th
birthday. Although it was nothing fancy, it
was mine. Suddenly I had this incredible
tool, with which I could "capture" just about
anything I saw around me.
During those early days, I believe I spent
most of my time snapping pictures of
friends and family. Most were candid and
probably somewhat goofy, although I do
remember several friends (bless their
hearts) who allowed me to photograph them
more formally. Using the quilt off my bed
as a backdrop, I would transform my
bedroom into a "studio" and have a child's
version of a photo shoot. Although I no
longer believe in using a rigid studio setting,
this time in my life simply illustrates my
early passion for capturing on film what I
saw in life.
As the years stretched on, a new passion
came to the surface. Around the time of
middle and high school, I became very
interested in the world of wilderness
expeditions. I had always been an
outdoorsy kid, but I now found an even
greater interest in camping, backpacking,
canoeing, etc. In the summer after my
junior year of high school,I enrolled in a
64-day wilderness semester with Outward
Bound. It was on this trip that I realized I
should combine two loves - my love of the
natural world and my love of photography.
But to be honest, photography started to
take a backseat to all that I was learning
about paddling through whitewater, setting
up rock climbs, and treading lightly on the
earth.
When I went off to college, not long after, I
felt as though I had everything figured out -
I would continue to explore, and hike
peaks, and paddle rivers, and learn from
age. I vividly remember receiving my first
camera, probably around my 7th or 8th
birthday. Although it was nothing fancy, it
was mine. Suddenly I had this incredible
tool, with which I could "capture" just about
anything I saw around me.
During those early days, I believe I spent
most of my time snapping pictures of
friends and family. Most were candid and
probably somewhat goofy, although I do
remember several friends (bless their
hearts) who allowed me to photograph them
more formally. Using the quilt off my bed
as a backdrop, I would transform my
bedroom into a "studio" and have a child's
version of a photo shoot. Although I no
longer believe in using a rigid studio setting,
this time in my life simply illustrates my
early passion for capturing on film what I
saw in life.
As the years stretched on, a new passion
came to the surface. Around the time of
middle and high school, I became very
interested in the world of wilderness
expeditions. I had always been an
outdoorsy kid, but I now found an even
greater interest in camping, backpacking,
canoeing, etc. In the summer after my
junior year of high school,I enrolled in a
64-day wilderness semester with Outward
Bound. It was on this trip that I realized I
should combine two loves - my love of the
natural world and my love of photography.
But to be honest, photography started to
take a backseat to all that I was learning
about paddling through whitewater, setting
up rock climbs, and treading lightly on the
earth.
When I went off to college, not long after, I
felt as though I had everything figured out -
I would continue to explore, and hike
peaks, and paddle rivers, and learn from
those who came before me. Sometimes I would
take pictures. Sometimes I would not. Ultimately,
I would be satisfied, regardless of how many rolls
of film I shot. However, the passing of an
immediate member of my family called all that
theory into question. Suddenly things didn't seem
so clear - a great deal of focus was lost in a blur.
With time, however, old wounds have somewhat
healed (especially with the discovery of the love of
my life - my husband - and the birth of our
daughter). And I have come to understand that
life is too precious to let it slip by - unrecorded,
undocumented. The name of my business - AVIVA
(a Hebrew word that can mean renewal or life) - is
a tribute to that which I now believe: All life is a
series of new beginnings. Whether it is the
awakening of a garden in the springtime, the birth
of a child, or the moment of bliss when two people
bind their souls to one another, all elements of life
can be transforming - can bring us renewal. All
are worthy of capturing - not only in the mind's
eye, but also through the eye of the camera lens.
As a photographer, I look forward to sharing in
your new beginnings and allowing you to see the
beauty you hold within yourself and the beauty of
life that surrounds us each day.
Lauren Gilhooley
take pictures. Sometimes I would not. Ultimately,
I would be satisfied, regardless of how many rolls
of film I shot. However, the passing of an
immediate member of my family called all that
theory into question. Suddenly things didn't seem
so clear - a great deal of focus was lost in a blur.
With time, however, old wounds have somewhat
healed (especially with the discovery of the love of
my life - my husband - and the birth of our
daughter). And I have come to understand that
life is too precious to let it slip by - unrecorded,
undocumented. The name of my business - AVIVA
(a Hebrew word that can mean renewal or life) - is
a tribute to that which I now believe: All life is a
series of new beginnings. Whether it is the
awakening of a garden in the springtime, the birth
of a child, or the moment of bliss when two people
bind their souls to one another, all elements of life
can be transforming - can bring us renewal. All
are worthy of capturing - not only in the mind's
eye, but also through the eye of the camera lens.
As a photographer, I look forward to sharing in
your new beginnings and allowing you to see the
beauty you hold within yourself and the beauty of
life that surrounds us each day.
Lauren Gilhooley
