Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Leon.

Hi Jonathan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

I started photography when I was inspired by other photographers taking photos of me. I was also inspired by a totally different hobby which was gymnastics and I had the idea to capture photographs of me doing gymnastics to get good quality photos. So I started photography with my first Canon camera for fun and as a hobby. Then I was introduced to my first graduation photoshoot and then I started to build my portfolio by doing a lot of free photoshoots. Then after building my portfolio for social media and my website, I started to get clients for all kinds of photoshoots in which now I get bookings consistently by building good experiences with my clients. Overall, everything started by doing free photoshoots and taking self portraits and sharing my work!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Having a photography career and business in which it stands over so many factors and categories to keep the business growing and developing but also managing personal life is difficult sometimes.

Being a business owner, entrepreneur, photographer, editor, marketing manager, assistant, client manager, planner and a lot more on the business side, but also being a human in the other side with hobbies, personal goals and dreams who desires to spend most of the time as possible with family, God and even my dogs, sometimes the busy availability is a disaster. But I have done my best everyday by managing my time wisely, having time scheduled for everything from all my business tasks to the little personal tasks like hygiene tasks and making sure my room is clean, laundry is done, physical workout is done, family time is done, etc.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

I do editorial, wedding, and portrait photography. Right now I specialize in wedding photography and videography but I would like to do more editorial work. I am mostly known for my creative photographs and my wedding portfolio. I have done creative and weird photoshoots in which the photographs have brought more clients and opportunities like working for brands and other creatives around the US.
I am most proud of my editorial photographs, mostly in the wedding industry, there is a low number of wedding photographers who bring their creative vision to their photographs because of tradition. And tradition is not part of my business, being a untraditional photographer is what makes me stand out, being a creative photographer is what makes my portfolio stand out. If I have to photograph a engagement photoshoot, the traditional photos are typically photos taken with a beautiful dress at the beach or park, for me if I would like to take untraditional images would be like a maternity photoshoot in the middle of the beach with a squared frame with roses around it and my client wearing a huge gown with natural roses in the dress. Another example in terms of weddings, I photograph the traditional poses but what if I have my couple run as much as they can and just let them have their moment and I get to capture those RAW and candid moments without posing them.

How do you define success?

I define success when I recognize who I am as a photographer. I define success by looking around me, looking to my audience, my clients, my work and all the goals I have achieved in my photography journey. Photography has brought me to so many amazing opportunities and projects.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jonathanlphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathanl_photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JonathanLPhotography

Image Credits

@br_guevara7 @estef.vm @joannadezi @backalleybeat