Lainey Conant is a young photographer we had the pleasure of talking about earlier here, known on Instagram as kittylouu. Her representation of the female figure is fresh, new and dimanic, despite the artist’s preference for vintage atmospheres and filters.

Us at Collater.al have asked Lainey a few questions about her and her work:

Why did you choose photography as an expressive medium?

I have been making art for a long time. I’ve been involved in various kinds, from painting to sculpture to sewing and fashion design. I think I picked photography as my main medium because it captures the essence of the human presence so truly and easily. 

What is the image, among those that you have produced, which represents you the most?

That’s a hard question. I feel like an entire body of work seems to be more representative, because every image is different. But my image “Layers” feels like the start of a new season for me and it is really about leaning on your peers and lifting up and encouraging other women. That is very much the heart of my work currently. 

 Why did you want to share these images with us?

I think sharing art is very important. Art is an exchange of ideas and feelings, so I feel like sharing my work is just like me sharing about myself. I like to post my artwork because I think it encourages others to make art and to express themselves as well.P

Most of your shots have women as protagonists: what message do you want to communicate? 

I have always been more drawn to work with female models. I think that’s because when I get together with models, we share a lot of the same ideas, feelings and experiences as women. We immediately make a connection through that. And my role as a photographer feels like one of encouraging women and supporting them, so this is one of the main ways I do that. So overall, just supporting and encouraging women to be themselves and be in community with women that also support them. 

Is there a dream or a project that you would like to achieve in the future?

I would love to photograph celebrities for magazines. I am very influenced by music and fashion, so shooting bands and musicians would be the ultimate dream. I know much of my work is very much centered around women, but I am widely influenced by numerous male artists and bands as well and would love to work in a bit of a different realm with that. Just getting to work with other insanely talented artists is my biggest dream, and I already get to do that.

Follow Lainey’s take over on @Collater.al Instagram profile!