Hi, I am Jared Lawrence.

A hundred and fifty kids stand before me playing a vast array of games: hopscotch, cage ball, human foosball, tug of war. I mingle between them, shooting pictures of their smiling faces as they are having the time of their life. I try my best to capture their raw emotions, their thoughts and characteristics. I think about their personality traits, what makes each kid a kid. I shoot to capture even those minute details, to capture the soul.

A family of five stand before me, chatting with one another before a majestic oak tree in the middle of small-town Pascagoula. A light breeze is in the air, the sun setting in the backdrop. Before the formal pictures, I'm busy shooting these upstaged shots, knowing that these are the pictures that the family will appreciate. Capturing the connections they have with one another, the love and care that is shared between blood and smiles.

A wild one-year-old sits in a distressed white high chair, surrounded with deep green ferns on a winding concrete walkway. Her eyes are a brilliant blue, contrasting with the deep greens and whites that surround her. She is immensely curious about the sound that my camera makes, her face lighting up every time a burst erupts from my DSLR.

These are the moments that I am to capture when I shoot.

Jared Lawrence is a local staple serving the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He has 12 years of experience in special events, playdates, birthdays, and portrait. His favorite equipment to use is his Canon 5D, Carl Zeiss Planar 58mm, and Carl Zeiss Makro-Sonnar 100mm. He uses Lightroom sparingly, aiming to capture the perfect shot without effects or post edits.