Lanly Le is seriously one of the most talented photographers in all of Arizona. And, she’s still in college. This ASU film student has captured our attention not just because of her amazing photographs, but because she’s also incredibly sweet and lots of fun.
We were super lucky to have Lanly do a fashion spread just for us. Check out the gorgeous Amanda Siobhan Lyons, wearing Camille La Vie gowns, in Swans & Crows. Prepare to be mesmerized.
We absolutely love Lanly’s work, so of course we were interested in learning more about what’s really happening behind the camera. And then, we got to witness it up close and personal.
How did you get started in photography?
“I’ve wanted to become a music video director ever since I was 13, so naturally, I told myself I had to become my own cinematographer freshman year of college when I started film school. I realized I needed to learn about the still image before I could move on to moving images, so I called my friend over one day and asked her to bring her digital point-and-shoot camera. We shot around the house for fun, but I ended up capturing a photo that I loved. It resembled the beauty and perfume campaigns that inspired me so much, so I just kept practicing since then.
I was involved with the Asian and Vietnamese entertainment community, so I practiced my photography skills on my beauty queen and model friends, and got caught up with fashion. Now, I’m in my senior year at ASU, and finally starting to practice more what I set out to do– direct videos. I love shooting fashion photography, but I want to shoot more fashion videos soon too.”
Why is Arizona a great place for photography?
“Arizona is the perfect location for my personal photographic needs because of one big reason: I shoot with natural light. I am still getting the grip of studio lights (though I still am terrible at them), but I can say that Arizona’s light has a predictable timing that allows me to achieve the look that I need in a scheduled manner. We have the most beautiful magic hours (sunrise and sunset), and on those rare overcast days, the even diffusion created by the clouds creates the most envied lighting among many photographers and videographers.”
Behind the scenes of Swans & Crows
What is your favorite type of photo shoot?
“Anything that involves room for movement–so anything involving water, smoke, wind, or long flowing gowns and fabrics makes the shoot super fun and serendipitous.”
You can definitely see that movement Lanly describes in the Swans & Crows photo shoot (and how fun is it to see how they make that movement in our behind the scenes photos?!)
What differentiates a good photo from a GREAT one?
“In my opinion, a good photo is one that is well-composed and exposed. It is just…nice. It’s over-looked. A great one is the image that makes you do a double-take. It is compelling, hypnotizing. It can change your mind and expand your horizons on beauty.
As much as I believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I also believe a great image that captures a certain truth and emotion should not just resonate within yourself, but within many others too. The genuineness and truth of the subject paired with good composition are good starting points towards a great photograph.”
Chills, right? Now we really had to see how this photographer operates behind the camera. Remember when we said we got to witness Lanly’s photography genius firsthand? Well, it wasn’t just sitting and relaxing behind the scenes. This fashion blogger was put to work as a model for some portrait shots. (Not that it was actually work. We had a ton of fun taking the photos!)
To see more of Lanly Le’s photographs and videos, visit LanlyLe.com. Trust us, you’re going to want to see more.
Thanks for taking these incredibly photos for Couture in the Suburbs, Lanly! As you finish up at Arizona State University, we look forward to seeing what’s in store for you in the future. We fully expect to see your name in Vogue one day next to a breathtaking editorial spread.
XoXo Couture in the Suburbs
P.S. Do YOU know an awesome college student in Arizona pursuing their dreams in fashion? Send us an e-mail at lindsay@coutureinthesuburbs.com with more information!
