Leandra, the redhead behind Leandra Creative Co. Photography is an Elopement & Intimate Wedding photographer currently in North Carolina but traveling anywhere her couples want to say “I do.” We loved learning about her passion for connection with her clients, big dreams, and why she believes your personality is a crucial part of your brand as a photographer.
“Human connection means everything to me, I believe in divine timing and the fact that we’re all connected in a really beautiful, kismet, and unexplainable way. Beyond that, I’m a creator at heart, a video producer and photography hobbyist turned international elopement and intimate wedding photographer that is madly in love with capturing love.” The upstate New Yorker born turned Carolinian, said. She currently serves North Carolina along with the coast, and honestly “anywhere my couples decide they want to say I do.”
Leandra started her LLC a few years ago never wanting to do big weddings, being a “competitive extrovert that craves deep connection and having struggled with anxiety and ADHD thorough life”, she says she was uninterested in the idea of shooting big, staged, commercial-ish weddings. She vowed (pun intended) to only shoot other small businesses and brands, and couples. A few months before the pandemic hit in the US, she decided she wanted to try capturing elopements and intimate weddings, “I thought I’d put my fear of a ‘saturated market’ and limited belief about what I was cable of down and decided to go all in.” she proclaimed.
Leandra wanted to share her definition of elopement. “In my eyes, an elopement is a fantastic way to honor your unique love story, a path to vow your partnership to your forever person in a fun, personalized & meaningful way.” We learned that elopements no longer hold that runaway, secretive, frowned upon meaning that we once gave it. “It is an unparalleled intimate wedding experience that allows the focus to be on the love & connection between the couple, and what they want,” Leandra said. “I love capturing elopements because they’re not just for one kind of person, they are for anyone and everyone that values connection over things and quality time, an epic experience and an adventure with your soulmate over the decor, guests, social expectations or “norm,” she said. Leandra is passionate about helping couples have the wedding day of their dreams in a way that works for them, without all the fuss. “I believe they are the best way to get married” she stated. “I believe that creating a day that is authentic to you two and honoring your legacy in a way that feels special, relaxed, and memorable is always going to not only lend space for photographs that will live on as artistic heirlooms for years to come but will actually bring you closer as a couple and showcase the real commitment that you’re making better than a big wedding ever could,” Leandra said.
After learning about elopements, we asked about her brand and what it means to her. “My brand is about more than just intimate wedding and elopement photography, it’s about capturing a legacy. It matters to me that the little moments, glances & touches of couples love is captured, not just the posed moments. It matters to me that my couples KNOW that the person on the other side of the lens has their best interest at heart and is going to capture the all the intimacy, soul & romance in a way that makes them fall in love all over again for years to come I became obsessed with visual storytelling when I lived in Belgium, the multitude of cultures made me realized we all have a story that’s worth telling.” She says she would describe her style as soulful, candid and nostalgic.
Leandra’s love of helping couples have a small wedding that feels more natural for them and her passion for storytelling has her booking elopements in Colorado, Italy, and New York. “My goal is to create heirloom-quality memories and turn them into art..art that turns into legacies while creating lasting relationships in the process.” She holds the unique belief that timeless and extraordinary photographs look and FEEL different when they are created by someone that truly honors and connects with the couple’s love story.
What it was like owning and building her photography empire in such a short time!
Building a photography business is so much more than “taking pretty pictures.” I’ve had people ask, “what do you do when it’s raining?! Must be a great gig.” I used to get frustrated with these comments but now I just rest easy knowing I have the best job in the world and we’re all making it up as we go anyway” She expressed the importance of brand identity and why it is so important for photographers, not just for recognition or to be “cohesive” on Instagram, either. “Your brand is so much more than fonts and colors. Your brand is YOU and this is especially important for wedding and elopement photographers because you are going to be someone’s right-hand person on one of the most important & special days of their life. I believe that sharing your personality in your brand is essential to allow your dream clients to connect with you!” Leandra said! She also offers photography coaching for other soulful photographers and emphasized that this is something she loves teaching because she believes each photographer has something truly unique to share that some couple out there truly needs.
What’s the future of Leandra Creative Co. Photography?
My vision for the future of this business is big, and I don’t want to share too much because I’m a total dreamer” she laughed. “Right now I’m just excited to continue moving more into international destination elopements with rad couples in love and serving my people the best I can!”
What if someone reading this wants to take the leap to start their own biz?
Go get it, she said! “If you’re thinking of taking the jump and starting your own business, please do it. The world needs your greatness! I wish someone kicked me to do it years before I did and now I feel so aligned with my purpose. It’s always going to be scary, it will not be scary. Nothing amazing ever came from our little bubble of comfort, right?! But it doesn’t have to be as hard as we make seem it in our minds. I’m not saying that they’re aren’t long nights, stressful days, and sacrifices, but it’s worth every second. You’re worth it!”
Company Name: Leandra Creative Co. Photography
Email Address : hello@leandracreativeco.com
Website : leandracreativeco.com
Instagram : www.instagram.com/leandracreativecophoto