Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah LaLiberte.
Hi Leah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, I was always a creative person – drawing, writing, playing piano, daydreaming, you name it. So when a camera was introduced, it took my love for creativity and art to the next level. I started taking photos of my sister and our friends in our backyard just for the fun of it.
This is also when Instagram was starting up, so we loved being able to share our fun portraits with friends online. When I was a senior in high school, people started to take notice of the photos we would post and asked me to take their senior photos for them. I was shocked but agreed. Little did I know that would kick off the rest of my life.
Throughout college, I worked hard to make photography my full-time summer job. I took senior photos for students in the grades below me and continued to work on networking in my area. I was presented with the opportunities to photograph weddings, work with brands, and travel. I started to realize that the amount of time and effort I was putting in was finally paying off.
Meanwhile, being from the midwest, travel opened my eyes to a new world of photography. I was instantly inspired to use my passion to show other people how beautiful this country is and how many opportunities are out there. Most people in my hometown planned to go to school there, raise a family there, and live there long term. I understood that that was the right path for some people, it just didn’t sit well with me. All I wanted to do was encourage people to get out of their bubbles and live their best possible life, but I realized I had to live that truth too.
After college, I took a corporate marketing role to make better money. It was a wonderful role, but after three years I realized I had lost my passion. I despised the idea of having to ask someone for permission to travel, take days off, or spend time with loved ones over lunch. So, I grew my photography business back up, asked my job to go remote, moved to Utah with my boyfriend, and quit my corporate job shortly after.
I decided to dive headfirst back into my passion. Though it’s been a bit of a rocky journey, I am so proud to be able to travel when I want, live life on my terms, tell people’s incredible life stories through photos, and create art. I’ve photographed weddings internationally, worked with large brands, and have shot hundreds and hundreds of portraits.
It’s been the biggest blessing, and I am so grateful for everyone that’s helped and supported my crazy journey. I would not be where I am today without them.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely has not been a smooth road, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I would say the two largest struggles have been:
1. Deciding whether to stay in a corporate role (for the income) or commit to my passion, believe in myself, and work hard to match my corporate salary. Making the jump to work for me was the hardest yet best decision I’ve ever made.
2. Finding clients in new states. Word of mouth is the best way to network and get clients, so moving to a new state and knowing nobody was extremely challenging. Luckily through social media and putting myself out there, I was able to find a few wonderful clients my first summer and they have so kindly spread my name to friends, and so on.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a photographer, I try to capture the unique spirit of each person I work with. I feel lucky that during portrait shoots, I get one hour of interrupted time (no phones) with a stranger to learn their story and do my best to showcase their personalities and life.
At my core I am passionate about art, telling stories, and showing people how amazing they are. In today’s culture, it’s extremely easy to compare yourself to others and feel like everyone has a better life than you. Because of that, my goal during shoots is to show off the person I’m working with, encourage them, and provide them with photos that make them feel beautiful and worthy.
My photography style is bright, natural, and colorful – the way I remember the moment in person.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is traveling with my family. My parents introduced my sister and me to new cultures, places, food, and experiences throughout our life.
We also made sure to plan all of our days around watching the sunset. I think this was ultimately what opened my eyes to telling stories and photographing beautiful places and people.
Pricing:
- Portraits – Starting at $500
- Weddings – Starting at $3700
Contact Info:
- Email: leahmaephotography@gmail.com
- Website: www.hael.studio
- Instagram: Personal & Travel Instagram: www.instagram.com/hael/
- Other: Photography Instagram: www.instagram.com/hael.studio/
