Meet Lauren Klinge | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Klinge and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risks are absolutely terrifying, but when they work out…that feeling of excitement and success is so worth it. I don’t think I would be where I am today if I didn’t take risks constantly. It has given me some of my greatest opportunities!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a photographer that specializes in capturing live music performances and documenting the behind-the-scenes of concerts and touring. I started shooting bands about 11 years ago with my first DSLR camera I had saved up months for by working many hours at the local Arby’s while attending high school in a small Minnesota town. The day I got that camera in my hands was one of the best days of my life. I wanted to photograph everything and everyone! And so I did. One of my favorite activities was attending concerts and I decided to start bringing my camera with me and I quickly fell in love with capturing the movement and chaos that ensued. I eventually moved to Fargo, ND where I began attending art school and continued to photograph every local show I could. After a few semesters of school, I decided it was just not where I wanted to be and I dropped out and moved to Minneapolis to be closer to a bigger music scene with more concerts to shoot. During that time, I began shooting for a music publication and started photographing bands I never imagined possible. After years of networking I had made some connections in the music industry and finally got the opportunity to go on a few tours and that’s when I realized what I truly loved doing the most. Since then, I have continued to tour throughout the years and only strive to keep working towards bigger opportunities. It has definitely not been an easy journey, though. There have been many times I have wanted to give up and throw in the towel, but somehow I just still kept pushing along. There are many days I have to fight the feeling of imposter syndrome and allow myself to feel good about my work and what I have accomplished. During the pandemic, it was so hard to not lose hope as it felt like things were never going to go back to normal and concerts were never going to come back. Less than a year ago, I had the opportunity to move across the country to Phoenix and I believe it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for myself and my career, despite how scary it may have felt to leave everything I’ve ever known. I still have a long way to go and the growing never stops, but there are a few important lessons I have learned along the way. One thing I find so significant, and that I still need to remind myself occasionally, is to not compare yourself to others constantly; focus on yourself and the progress you make, only compare yourself to YOU. Also, don’t be afraid to take risks and try new things! I think I would say that I am most proud of my resilience and how I always find a way to continue on and not give up. I want my story to be known as one of taking risks, perseverance, and passion despite the things that work against me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I moved here about 9 months ago, so there are still so many places I have yet to discover but there are a few that I absolutely love and have become staples in my life! Green New American Vegetarian is my favorite spot for all things veg, Tacos Chiwas has been my favorite Mexican spot, and Pedal Haus Pub Downtown PHX is my go-to for great food and beer and a great rooftop to hang out on! A few of my favorite outdoor activities have been visiting the Botanical Garden, Saguaro Lake, and Lake Pleasant! I’ve been wanting to visit Sedona so that would also be on the itinerary! And last, but not least, we would definitely be making it to a concert at one of the many awesome venues in the area.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to shoutout to some of my best friends, Stef and Cody, who happen to also be a big reason I moved to Phoenix! Their band, City of the Weak, was the first band to take a chance on me and bring me along on one of their tours in 2015 to capture photos and get some touring experience under my belt. We’ve been friends ever since! They’re always there to hype me up whenever I’m feeling discouraged. I’d also love to give a special shoutout to my parents and friends who have always supported my crazy endeavors, as well as any bands who have hired me and helped my dreams become reality.

Website: www.laurenklingephotography.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurenklinge

Image Credits
Micala Austin, Jesus Ernesto