Photography had always been something that Lauren Valvasori ‘14 was interested in, but it wasn‘t always on her radar for a career path until after university. Her love for people, storytelling and capturing relationships is what inspired her to pick up a camera in the first place, and why she does what she does now. Today, she can be found shooting weddings, families and milestones, all of the moments that tell someone‘s life story. 

“I love seeing how much what I document means to people, how much they appreciate and treasure those memories. That feeling never gets old, making people happy“. 

In the mid-2010s, after Valvasori had obtained a degree in criminal justice and began working in the insurance industry, photography remained a hobby. That is, until she decided to take a Continuing Education course in photography at Mohawk. Valvasori learned enough in the course to realize she wanted to pursue a career as a photographer. Not wanting to spend years taking courses part-time, she enrolled in the full-time Creative Photography – Still & Motion program. Not only did Valvasori learn the technical skills of being behind the camera, she also gained important knowledge from the business course in her final semester. 

Working hard to start building her network and clientele around the same time that she started the program, Valvasori was able to set herself up for success later down the road. By the time she graduated from the program, she had enough work booked that she didn‘t need to find another job to support her income, achieving a goal she had set for herself when she began. 

Reflecting on her career today, approximately five years later, Valvasori shares that she has experienced “a whirlwind of emotions,“ the two most prominent being fear and excitement. She adds that the fear is healthy and “keeps her motivated.“

Valvasori is proud to be an entrepreneur and loves that her achievements are a direct result of her own efforts. Her passion and success is evident in her work being recognized by the Canada Photo Convention, honouring her as one of the Top 30 under 30 Wedding Photographers in Canada in 2016. 

Her biggest advice for budding entrepreneurs? “If you wait until when you think you‘re going to be ready to do something, you might be waiting around for a long time, so just start.“ Valvasori adds that getting out there and sharing her work has been very important, “social media has been huge for my business.“ It has given her a platform to not only share her clients‘ stories through their photos, but to put a voice to her business and brand. Her clients often feel like they know her by the time they meet in person, which is exactly what she strives for. Valvasori‘s studio, Moments - by Valvasori, is located in Hamilton, Ont. 

By: Jenna Yeomans

This story was originally published in Spring 2019 of the Mohawk Alumni In Touch magazine.