Laura Grier

Travel | Last Updated: April 3, 2023

My name is Laura Grier and I am the “Indiana Jones” of adventure, travel, and destination wedding photography and honored to be a recent addition to the Discovery Channel UK’s “20 Richest People in the World List,” people who are rich in life experiences that is.

I am a jet-setter at heart and have been from an early age having grown up internationally with two parents that worked for the CIA. It is no surprise that I ended up turning my life of travel, adventure, and exploration into a profession. As a photojournalist for 18 years, I have made a life out of exploring the world, capturing, and writing about my experiences.

I graduated from Syracuse University with a dual degree in photojournalism and art photography. In 2003 I founded Beautiful Day Photography, based in Los Angeles and specializing in destination weddings and events. I feel that my ability to channel my storytelling into a chic, vibrant perspective has made me a veteran International photographer, shooting weddings on 6 of the 7 continents.

While on these trips, I felt an overwhelming need to tell the stories of the people and experiences I have gathered along the way through my lens. This desire sparked the creation of “Wanderlust by Laura Grier,” a personal blog focusing on travel, portraiture and fine art, highlighting the behind-the-scenes of my photography and personal stories while jet-setting around the world.

I have worked hard to brand myself not only as a wedding photographer, but as a destination and adventure photographer and travel writer. I love to talk and to inspire. I have a loud, fun way about me that I feel engages my clients.

I average about 50 weddings a year through my business and travel internationally about once a month through my work. I have been published in over 25 publications worldwide and I am presently a Tastemaker/blogger/lead photographer for Novica/National Geographic, shooting all of their catalog work, training their in-house photographers around the world and shooting and filming their “happiness” philanthropic projects.

I feel that I have a lot to offer to other photographers through my experiences in the past 18 years of being a professional photographer. I think my saturated style stands out from a lot of other work and shows a different approach to destination photography.

Every year I lead adventure photography workshops in exotic places around the world that have a philanthropic element to them. I love being a part of passion projects such as volunteering with the Women’s Global Education Project in Senegal, Africa documenting a huge project underway to build schools for girls in a mostly Muslim country. I am also a proud ambassador for the Dept. of Good, which works with organizations around the world that give back.

I have spoken at Canon Headquarters, WPPI, Catersource, Wedding MBA, Pictage, Event Solutions, and I have mentored and taught a photojournalism program with the Step Up Women’s Network in Los Angeles. The entire purpose of the program is to inspire young women to become successful, college-educated people who are good at and passionate about what they do. I am a firm believer in empowering women, building your business around the lifestyle that you want to lead, and pursuing your passions.

I’ve been a fan of Canon and have used their products for my entire career. I am constantly expanding my kit, whether it’s a new travel backpack or an underwater light for some adventurous photos. I upgraded to the Mark IV when it became available but have had some of my lenses for 15 years.

To learn more about me and see more of my portfolio, check out my website at www.lauragrier.com

List of gear:

Canon 5D Mark IV (review) and battery charger

Canon 50mm f/1.2

Canon 16-35mm f/2.8

Canon 24-70mm f/2.8

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8

GoPro HERO 4

SHOOT Dome Port for Lens Housing Action Camera Underwater Photography

Polaroid 350 Ultra High Powered Super Bright LED Camera / Camcorder Video Light with Variable Color Temp, batteries, and charger

Canon Speedlite 600EX II‑RT

Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT