Hi, I'm Leslie...


 

A sequence shows someone sipping and enjoying a beverage from a decorative ceramic bowl with floral designs.

Hiring a photographer isn’t just about the photos (though yes, I promise to make you look good). It’s about connection — knowing the person behind the camera and feeling like you can relax around them. So let me pull back the curtain and tell you a little about me. Here are five things you should know before we hang out with my camera in hand.

#1: I'm a Mom, First.

Translation: I know kids (& dogs) are unpredictable, and that's okay.
A Jack Russell terrier rests on its side and back in various sleeping poses on a gray cushion or bed.
A group walking down a city sidewalk on a summer evening, with a person wearing a bright red two-piece outfit.

My kids have taught me more about patience and perspective than any photography class ever could. I’ve learned how to roll with meltdowns, snack emergencies, grass stains, and wild energy — and that spills over into my sessions. If your toddler sprints in the opposite direction, I’ll run with them. If your teenager insists on making silly faces, I’ll photograph those, too.


The truth is, kids — and people in general — don’t need to perform. They just need to be themselves. And when you let that happen, the photos are so much better.

Family members enjoy time together outdoors on a bright sunny day.
A laughter-filled moment captured on a sofa as someone holds a smiling toddler in casual summer clothes.

#2:  I Think Differently

Which means I notice things you might not, and i'll definitely get excited about them.
A playful moment captured in a dry grassy field showing jeans and light colored sweaters in motion.

My brain is wired a little differently, and honestly? It’s one of my greatest strengths as a photographer. I pick up on details you may not even see in the moment — the way sunlight glows through tall grass, the quick smile between you and your partner, the way your kid scrunches their nose when they laugh.


I might interrupt myself mid-sentence because I spotted the perfect light or suddenly ask you to move two steps to the left because the background just lined up beautifully. That’s me chasing creative sparks. Sessions with me aren’t stiff or overly posed — they’re playful, dynamic, and alive. Thinking differently means I’m always looking for the little things that make your story yours.

Couple relaxing on white blanket in sunny field during golden hour.

#3: I Used to Teach.

By day, I work full-time in corporate fintech — wrangling projects, strategies, and big-picture problem solving. By night (and weekends), I get to slip into something way more fun: my role as a photographer. I like to think of myself as a jack of all trades, constantly learning, constantly stretching into new spaces.


That background matters because it shapes how I run my sessions. Corporate life taught me structure, planning, and how to adapt on the fly when things inevitably change. Teaching and leadership education taught me how to connect with people, guide them, and bring out the best in them. And photography? That’s where all of it blends together — the structure, the connection, and the creativity.


I’m proof that you don’t have to fit in one box. I bring all of my experiences — the educator, the executive, the mom, the creative — into each shoot. It makes me flexible, resourceful, and ready to capture your story in a way that feels natural and true to you.

#4: Candid Over Perfect

Because real Moments beat stiff poses
A couple sits on a wooden bench sharing a tender moment surrounded by autumn leaves in a park setting.

I love a polished portrait as much as the next person — sometimes you need that LinkedIn headshot or a clean, framed photo for the living room wall. But what makes an image really stick isn’t whether your hair stayed in place or your smile was flawless. It’s whether it feels like you.


That’s why I lean into prompts, movement, and little sparks of personality instead of stiff, hold-your-breath posing. If you’re coming to me for a headshot, I’ll make sure we get the confident, professional portrait you need — but I’ll also coach you into relaxing, dropping your shoulders, and letting your personality shine through. If you’re with family, I’ll encourage you to play, laugh, and interact in ways that feel authentic, not staged.


“Perfect” is fine, but it’s not the point. The point is to capture the things that make you unique — whether that’s your laugh lines, your kid’s unstoppable energy, or the calm confidence you want to project in your professional life. Those are the images you’ll actually want to look back on, because they’re honest.

#5: I'm Just a Goofy Human

Because sometimes laughter is the best pose
Collage of playful moments between two people sitting in a rustic wooden frame or structure.

Here’s the thing: most people don’t love being in front of a camera. It can feel awkward, like suddenly you’ve forgotten what to do with your face or your hands. That’s where I come in — not just as a photographer, but as the resident goofball who will absolutely make a fool of herself if it helps you relax.


I’ll sing 90’s throwback songs mid-shoot, trip over my own feet, or crack the world’s corniest joke if it means getting a genuine smile. With kids, I’ll turn a photo session into a game; with adults, I’ll make it feel less like “picture day” and more like hanging out with a friend who happens to have a camera. Even during headshots or professional portraits, I’ll find ways to ease the tension so your confidence — not your nerves — shines through.


Outside of sessions, you’ll usually find me with my kids and our dog, outdoors whenever possible, or rewatching (and quoting) 90’s movies. That playful energy follows me into every shoot. My goal isn’t just to capture how you look — it’s to capture the real, relaxed version of you. And if laughing at me helps get us there? Even better.