Today we’d like to introduce you to Leigh Ann Edmonds.
Hi Leigh Ann, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As a creative individual, art has always been in the forefront of my life. Over the years, I have experienced and tried almost all art forms from dance to painting to playing a musical instrument. Photography has been the only medium that I felt genuinely connected to where I could use it as both creatively and professionally.
Over the past twenty years in photography I tend to bounce back and forth from using it as a way to make a living to creating work for my own personal archives and expression.
Today, I find myself trying to balance between both worlds as a fine art photographer and as a professional photographer for mainstream clients that are less about expression and more about technical perfection.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I feel photography is a highly competitive industry and there is a constant battle between trying to ‘blend’ in and shoot what is popular so you can stay booked and make money versus trying to ‘stand out’ and be original.
Not everyone is going to understand the art of photography, so yes, to answer your question. The road is only smooth when you stay in line and follow everyone else. The road is harder when you try to go your own way.
My personal work is nothing like my professional work and I think this can be confusing to individuals who do not study or understand the art of photography.
So my main struggle has been trying to stay true to my vision despite the pressures of keeping up with what is popular for mainstream clients.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am here to talk about my personal work, more so than commissioned work. I am most proud of it because it represents me to the core, with no direction or guidance from clients. I am most known for my use of black and white film because not many individuals are shooting film today and if they do shoot film, I feel that color film is trending more than black and white.
I do feel that my black and white does set me apart from the majority because people are used to seeing color photography. Our life is in color, we naturally see color, so when I shoot black and white, it is my escape from reality in color and I feel it forces the viewer of my work to think more about the work and interpret the image for themselves, rather than me telling them what or how to see.
I am most proud for keeping true to myself. I realize this sounds cliche, but it truly is hard to stay honest in your work as an artist when money can be a major playing factor on many decisions.
What were you like growing up?
I feel blessed to have grown up in the 80’s and 90’s before technology consumed so many of today’s lives in children. I felt that it allowed me to get outside and explore. In doing so, it allowed me to learn how to use my imagination, which in return, I would create non-stop. I spent so much time outside, that I feel it still carries over in my life today and this is why photography has been my constant companion for many years because it gives me an excuse to get outside and explore the world around me.
Today, I still feel that I am that same curious child when growing up that loves to get outside and play and I use my photography as a way to capture these explorations.
Pricing:
- fine art prints starting at $55 +
- hourly rates offered
- private fine art commissions for the office
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.LeighAnnEdmonds.com
- Instagram: LeighAnnEdmonds
- Facebook: LeighAnnEdmondsOfficial
