Sylvie de Meyer is a well-loved member of Lloyds workshop with whom I chatted about how the workshop has shaped her journey with photography.
As always, it had to be asked who was on the current rotation in Sylvie's playlist, and she has an iconic lineup featuring artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, King Princess, Harry Styles, and Black Pumas. Sylvie has an evident appreciation for music, which is fantastic to see in a music photographer.
Sylvie finds her inspiration primarily on Instagram, with William Wark and Christian Wade being her main influences for music photography. Sylvie shared with me her personal journey that led her to join Lloyd's workshop. She explains how she rediscovered her passion for photography after a challenging period with young children and during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the pandemic, she heard on the radio that Harry Styles had won a Grammy. Not knowing who he was but recognizing his name from a song on her playlist (sign of the times), she listened to his album and immediately fell in love. Through following Harry, she then discovered Lloyd Wakefield and was immediately drawn to his photography style. When he announced a photography workshop just after the tour ended, the timing couldn't have been better. With newfound mental space and clarity, she felt ready to reconnect with a long-lost passion: photography.
Sylvie described how the workshop's weekly challenges have significantly improved her skills by pushing her out of her comfort zone and exposing her to new techniques. She has explored studio photography and unexpectedly developed an interest in concert photography, which she now pursues regularly. Sylvie describes the Lloyds workshop community as warm, funny, and supportive, with no gatekeeping and an international, predominantly female membership. She recently started photography as a side job, inspired by the workshop and mentorship with Lloyd.
Lloyd's willingness to share industry knowledge and behind-the-scenes insights has been highly beneficial to her, allowing her to visualize herself in the scenario and then apply that knowledge to her own photography career. Sylvie is working towards building her portfolio and reaching out to photo agencies for commercial work, with two paid gigs scheduled for June. She finds the one-on-one mentorship calls with Lloyd valuable as they are tailored to her specific goals and discussions.
When discussing the next generation of creatives, Sylvie advises aspiring photographers to persevere, take small steps, and find a supportive community. She emphasizes the importance of having a network of like-minded individuals who understand the challenges and successes in photography, as it can be a solitary profession. She shared with me how these elements of community can be found within Lloyds workshop. Sylvie advises those considering joining the workshop to try it for one month, participate in the challenges, and experience the whole process. She believes that after a month, most people will be convinced to stay; we both agreed that if the workshop is cancelled for a week, our routine feels incomplete.
