Through the Lens is our interview series highlighting photographers from around the globe putting their own spin on the sport of running.
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This edition of Through the Lens is with NYC-based photographer Lauren Nemeroff. Lauren has been chasing our Program Saturday long runs around the city like an absolute madwoman. We stopped her electric city bike (the lambo version) to grab a quick word...
Hi, I’m Lauren :)
I'm originally from Kentucky and moved to NYC from Cincinnati about a year ago (back in September!). Currently working full time in advertising tech, I am also an Orangetheory fitness coach and photographer.
I started shooting right before the pandemic, a natural progression influenced by my roommate's major success in wedding photography and my boyfriend's role as a photographer and creative producer. They brought me in to help with weddings and creative campaigns as a second shooter for fun and began to teach me the basics.
I started professionally shooting when I began my career in a "wear-all-hats" marketing role, where I worked as the content manager and in-house photographer for a small business, crafting everything from lifestyle visuals to e-commerce imagery. It wasn’t until I moved to New York though, that I felt I really hit my stride. Central to my growth was my boyfriend, Shawn (the also-amazing photographer mentioned above). When we moved, he was keen on diving into the creative scene and building relationships with brands - his efforts landed us some dreamy collaborations: most notably our recent work with the Asics team (who we adore), working on campaigns with their ambassadors and Olympic athletes. Other notable projects include: Take the Bridge, SouthBound 400, and collaborations with brands such as Strava, Snapchat and other local NYC fitness brands.
Fitness and sport has always played a major role in my life so it was natural for me to lean into fitness photography. I played soccer all my life and in college, and knew I wanted to be connected to sport + movement somehow post-grad. That ‘how’ has just recently manifested itself into my new favorite thing: shooting badass athletes of all levels doing hard things.
Speed Round
- Favorite camera: I have only shot on Nikons, but need to break out of my comfort zone!
- Film or digital: Digital
- Landscape or portrait: Portrait
- Color or black & white: oooh, 50/50. I love both for different occasions/shots.
- Action or still: Action!
- Favorite photographer right now: This might be against the rules but I have 3: Cortney White, Sam Greenhill and Ava Lamb. The last two are from my hometown and are absolute creative geniuses.
- Favorite photographer of all-time: I need to get back to you on this.
- Best photography advice: Don’t take it too seriously (at least that’s what I tell myself). IMO, photography & shoots should be joyful and fluid - not just for the photographer, but for the subjects, models and even clients involved. The most captivating photos come from the unscripted instances within the staged scenes - I think it’s the photographer's role to cultivate an environment for these moments to naturally occur. The best way to do that is by having fun, and not taking it too seriously.
- Describe your photos in three words: natural, familiar, clean
- What makes a photo great: Cliché, but: it’s ability to tell a story.
5 Favorite Photos
Candace Hill, Asics T&F athlete. She was so natural in front of the camera but I love this photo because it captures so much of her strength and skill in a still image.
This photo has a ton of really amazing memories surrounding it, so that may be a small (biased) reason why it’s in my top 5. This was taken during the Southbound 400 race, where over three days five teams covered 400 miles connecting the border town of Rouses Point, NY to the southernmost tip of Manhattan through the Empire State Trail. It was one of the craziest events I have shot to date and I think this photo encapsulates the depth of the course.
Taliyah Brooks being Taliyah Brooks. This was hard to choose because her gallery from the Asics shoot was one of my favorites.
This is what I like to call “a runner’s POV”. Literally shot running with the run group across the BK bridge last weekend I was flinging my camera around pointing, shooting and praying that something would come out cool. I love this one.
Clean, calm, cool, collected. The photo… & Emma Bates.
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Thanks, Lauren! Follow @l_nemeroff for more goodness.
