An Eye For Beauty

Walking through the woods on a cool and sunny afternoon, Lauren Snyder stops to take a breath of fresh air. As the leaves crackle beneath her feet, she looks up to see dozens of colorful birds in the trees. She grabs her Canon EOS digital camera and begins to snap pictures of the beautiful sight. This is a perfect example of a girl doing what she loves.

"Photography is a big part of who I am as a person. It's my passion." 

Lauren with her sisters on a family vacation in Hilton Head

Lauren Snyder was born on December 29, 1991 in Columbus, Ohio. She grew up in a nice house in Dublin with her mom and dad, and eventually her two sisters were born. Madison is now 6 and Reagan is 9.

"My sisters are adorable! They can obviously get on my nerves, but we get along for the most part. It's just hard to be really close with them since they're so much younger than I am." Lauren explained.

Along with taking care of her sisters, Lauren worked at a girl scout camp near her home for two years and is very good with kids. She hopes to someday have children of her own, but in the meantime she is enjoying the life of a typical 19-year-old at Ohio University. 

"I'd like to say that I'm not your average girl, but I really am!" She said proudly.

Lauren taking pictures of nature in a park near her house

Lauren ran track and was a cheerleader in high school. She was an average athlete and got average grades. Despite these things however, she had a talent that many others did not. She had an eye for beauty and was able to capture amazing moments through the lens of her camera. She worked for her school newspaper and even took senior pictures for her friends. On campus, she takes pictures mainly for fun and for her classes.

It should be no surprise that Lauren is studying Commercial Photography at OU and continues to keep her camera nearby.

"My favorite things to take pictures of are people, but I also love nature and animals. I don't know why I like it so much, I just always have." She chuckled.

Lauren with her boyfriend Griff Heft at Old Man's Cave last spring

Other than photography, Lauren enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, and rock climbing. She can also be found at her sorority house relaxing with friends, or doing crafts such as scrapbooking. Lauren babysits a few nights a week for a family in the Athens are and is busy with school work and "sorority stuff."

For the future, Lauren has dreams of owning a studio somewhere out west or taking pictures for a well-known magazine like National Geographic. She lives every day to the fullest and appreciates the gift she has been given.

"I do think I have a special talent and I was born to take pictures. I want to show real-life people and situations. The world around us is beautiful, and I strive to capture that."

Favorites:

Color: Pink

Movie: The Notebook

Food: Pizza or pasta

Animal: Liger

Lauren and her sorority sisters enjoying a night out in Athens