Lauri Lyons Email & Phone Number

New York City Metropolitan Area

Rest With Honor is a nonprofit organization dedicated to uniting communities, technology, and historical research in the critical pursuit of racial justice and cultural preservation. The Rest With Honor Project undertook a meticulous investigation, uncovering archival documents and public records that confirmed the existence of the Colonial-era African Burying Ground in Savannah, Georgia—a site long obscured by history. This groundbreaking research led to the launch of the first civic petition aimed at removing the Confederate name from the site, sparking vital discussions about historical accountability. In 2024, our efforts culminated in the official renaming of the site to honor Susie King Taylor, the first Black nurse of the American Civil War, ensuring her legacy and the stories of countless others are recognized and preserved for future generations.

New York City

NOMADS Magazine was an exhilarating digital travel guide that celebrated the thrill of a global lifestyle. The platform featured captivating digital magazines, engaging podcasts, thought-provoking web articles, exclusive celebrity interviews, and dynamic social media content. As the Editor, I spearheaded weekly content creation, wrote and edited compelling articles, and joined exciting press trips to uncover the latest travel trends. Collaborating with renowned contributing writers and photographers, I ensured our stories were not only informative but also inspiring. Alongside this creative work, I expertly managed the business and legal facets of the platform, forging strong relationships with team members and partners to amplify our content and elevate our brand visibility.

New York City

As a Contributing Blogger, I passionately crafted and produced engaging web articles that explored the vibrant worlds of global politics, travel, culture, food, and media. I also had the thrilling opportunity to conduct interviews with celebrities, bringing their stories to life. Each article was a creative journey, where I brainstormed captivating topics, wrote compelling content, edited photos, and collaborated with PR firms and talent agents to secure exclusive interviews. I ensured every piece was optimized for SEO and seamlessly uploaded text and images to the website's back end for publication, making each article not just informative but truly captivating.

New York City

I have embarked on transformative journeys across more than 30 countries and throughout the United States, creating powerful celebrity portraiture and comprehensive multimedia documentary projects that intricately weave photography, video, text, and audio for editorial and advertising clients. As the author of three acclaimed coffee table books, I explore the rich complexities of American culture, race, politics, gender, and identity, shedding light on narratives that often go unheard. My work has achieved significant recognition, being published and exhibited both domestically and internationally, celebrating the stories that shape our world. I made history as the first woman to shoot the cover of Fortune Magazine and have been featured in films highlighting the vital contributions of Black female photographers, emphasizing the importance of representation in the arts and inspiring future generations to tell their own stories.

Providence, Rhode Island Area

As a photography professor, I provided students with a comprehensive education in the history of photography, emphasizing its evolution and cultural significance. My curriculum encompassed the scientific principles behind photographic concepts and techniques, the mechanics of analog cameras, as well as darkroom chemistry and analog printing processes. Additionally, I taught photographic techniques and styles, ensuring students gained proficiency in contemporary practices. Instruction also covered the effective use of both artificial and natural light, composition, and visual storytelling. By offering a solid technical foundation, I exposed students to a diverse canon of global photography, fostering an appreciation for the medium’s rich heritage and its role in various cultural contexts.

New York City

As a photography instructor, I provided adult and teenage students with a rigorous and comprehensive education in the history of photography, with a particular focus on its evolution and cultural significance. My curriculum integrated the scientific principles underlying photographic concepts and techniques, alongside the mechanics of 35mm and medium format cameras, as well as darkroom chemistry and analog printing processes. Furthermore, I taught advanced post-production techniques and styles, ensuring students achieved proficiency in contemporary practices. Instruction also included the effective utilization of both artificial and natural light, composition, personal narratives, and visual storytelling.

Greater New York City Area

Honey Magazine was a vibrant platform that celebrated the unique voices and experiences of Black women aged 18-34, showcasing an authentic African-American visual aesthetic and cultural perspective. As the Photo Editor, I had the exciting opportunity to produce dynamic global photo shoots that captured the essence of our community. My role involved assembling talented creative teams, expertly editing images, conducting in-depth photo research, and licensing art that resonated with our audience. I also managed budgets and maintained comprehensive photo archives, ensuring that our visual storytelling remained both impactful and culturally relevant.

New York, New York

Essence Magazine is a leading legacy publication and cultural festival committed to celebrating the diverse voices and experiences of Black women aged 18-65, while showcasing an authentic African-American visual aesthetic. In my capacity as Photo Editor, I oversaw the coordination and execution of global photo shoots that effectively represented our community and highlighted prominent celebrities. My responsibilities included assembling highly skilled creative teams, optimizing image editing for enhanced visual impact, conducting comprehensive photo research, and managing the licensing of relevant artwork. Additionally, I handled budget management to ensure optimal resource allocation and maintained extensive photo archives, ensuring our visual storytelling remained both impactful and aligned with editorial and corporate objectives.

Greater New York City Area

Black Entertainment Television Magazine was a quarterly publication produced in collaboration with the Daily News, designed to engage and inspire its audience. As Photo Editor, I played a crucial role in coordinating and executing celebrity photo shoots and art licensing for our editorial features. My responsibilities included assembling top-tier creative teams, enhancing image editing for maximum visual impact, and strategically managing the licensing of artwork. Additionally, I oversaw the budget for both photo shoots and art licensing, ensuring that all original and licensed images were aligned with the B.E.T. visual brand and resonated with the our television content. This cohesive approach helped us deliver compelling and brand-consistent media that truly connected with our audience.

New York City

The Source Magazine was the groundbreaking publication that chronicled the explosive rise of hip-hop culture, music, fashion, and the artists who became global icons. As Photo Editor, I was at the forefront of this vibrant movement, coordinating dynamic celebrity cover shoots, fashion stories, and impactful editorial features that captured the essence of the genre. My role involved leading creative teams, skillfully editing photos to ensure they resonated with our culturally rich audience, and managing budgets and billing to keep our projects on track. That pioneer experience not only allowed me to contribute to the evolution of hip-hop media but also to celebrate and amplify the voices and stories that define this powerful cultural phenomenon.

Magnum Photos is the leading photo agency representing iconic photographers and their archives. I was responsible for overseeing the vast photo archive, which includes photographic prints, slides, and contact sheets. Additionally, I conducted detailed photo research to fulfill image requests from editorial, commercial, and educational clients, ensuring that we met their specific needs with precision and efficiency. My work contributed to maintaining the agency's reputation for excellence and its ability to deliver high-quality visual content to a diverse range of clients.

Bachelor Of Fine Arts - Bfa, Media Arts

Executive Digital Media Program

Hyper Island is an Executive Learning Program that enhances the understanding of how digital media changes societies and consumer.

Law School For Visual Artists Program

The VLA Law curriculum teaches the legalities and issues surrounding intellectual property, copyright and trademarks, entertainment law.