Laureen Vellante - Environmental Photographer

From models to moms and more, how did Laureen Vellante go from being a booking agent to photographing entrepreneurs? Working with models like Christie Brinkley, Andie MacDowell and Iman, and photographers like Avedon, Scavullo and Irving Penn. Laureen spent her time on photo shoots and helping models put portfolios together. For six years she learned by osmosis from some of the top photographers in the world.

Leaving that career when she had her first baby, she found herself at the Sears Portrait Studio one day. Laureen says, “The hired photographer had a squeaky rubber ducky and was trying to get my daughter to laugh. I picked up my child, walked out and decided right then and there that I could do this.” That was the day Laureen became a photographer. Immersing herself in classes and workshops, she even built a darkroom in her basement.

“I began working for the newspapers so I could get experience,” she says. Laureen got some freelance assignments and took her daughter with her in a baby back pack, so she her hands were free to take photos. “I made it work and I loved it.” This gave her experience in a number of situations, in a variety of places, with various light challenges. Laureen was able to build a name for herself photographing for local events and she added portraits to her services.

And taking it a step further, Laureen got her life coaching certification so she could help fledging business owners portray themselves in the best light through their photos and on their websites, also calling on her previous agent experience. She calls her work, Environmental Portraiture, wanting to capture people in their natural environment, capturing clients in active shots that represent who they are.

“I am now combining my talents as an agent, a life coach, and a photographer. With the economy in a slide, photos are so important to the success of the business,” and Laureen is there to help tell the story. She has created a niche guiding new entrepreneurs and business owners who need assistance on what to wear, where to take the photo, how to create a brand and an image, and what other images to highlight in their marketing. “I’m so much more than a photographer, I work with my clients to help them showcase their work in the best way and I feel my life coaching experience, gives me the tools to capture the right message through photos,” she says.