Contact

For prints or portrait inquiries: lainasydney@gmail.com

About

I was born in 1990 in South Florida, spent half my life in Colorado (Denver and Aspen), had a quick stint in both NYC and LA, and now call Encinitas, California home. My very first camera was a Spice Girls Edition Polaroid—and honestly, it’s still my favorite. I’ve been shooting film and digital photography for over 20 years, with work shown in galleries and art shows in both Denver and Aspen.

These days, I focus on lifestyle and portrait photography with a love for honest, story-driven imagery. I’m less concerned with perfect settings or the sharpest lens. What matters most to me is capturing something real.

My work is rooted in composition and connection. I’m not into stiff poses or forced smiles. I want people to feel comfortable, seen, and fully themselves. A good portrait is timeless. My style lives somewhere between documentary and dreamlike—natural light, organic moments, and a touch of nostalgia.

There’s nothing better than someone looking at a photo I took and saying, “I actually love this of me.” That’s everything.

“Laina has been a great friend and inspiration of ours for a long time, far before we put any of these misadventures to print. I’ve always been impressed with her penchant for experimentation and general disinterest in following any script or trends. It’s a noteworthy part of why her work stands out in, to put it mildly, a very crowded space.” Michael Goodwin, Ritual of Sin Magazine