Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Leah Wright. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Leah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?

When we consider classes for young kids or teenagers to take to prepare them for the “real world” it is important to remember that there are “real world” jobs in the arts. There are truly so many opportunities available, but they require specific training and education. Most high schools are quick to cut art programs in favor of sports or other extra curricular activities which limits these kids on the actual possibilities that lay before them.

I think that setting a standard for education in the arts is tricky. There is need for a base knowledge for budding artists, such as art history and the fundamentals of design. However, as the students progress, they will need to develop their own style and goals. Structure is still needed to help mold the student’s goals into a tangible career plan, as a good professor or teacher can provide through feedback and critique. I was fortunate enough to have professors who had a more “real world” style of teaching, they were extremely open to letting us students experiment while also offering advice on how to market ourselves and how to navigate a career in the arts.

Leah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Texas based commercial and fine art photographer. I graduated with a degree in Fine Art Photography from the University of North Texas in Denton in 2022. Currently, I work for a photography studio in San Antonio as a full time photography/ stylist assistant.

Most of my portfolio focuses on product and fashion photography. This includes wedding & engagement photography, product, as well as corporate event photography and headshots. I also work with alternative photography methods, such as large format film and the Cyanotype process.

I have been featured in several DFW based online magazines, including Voyage and Shoutout DFW, and her live music photography has been commissioned for promotional work for bands and DFW Based Venues.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I started shooting weddings and social events, which was not what I intend on pursuing as a career, but it gave me a somewhat stable income and confidence to pursue what I really want to do. It is incredibly important to create a robust portfolio of the type of work you want to do – with photography that could be food & drink, product, weddings/ events, etc; building a portfolio is the only way for potential clients to discern.

In high school, I started taking photos as a way to earn money, simple engagement or graduation pictures. This helped me gain confidence in my work and my ability to market myself and expand my network. Everyone has to start somewhere!

I was fortunate enough to have an uncle in the photography business. He was always around to answer my questions, offer advice, and set an example for me at a young age that a career in the arts was even possible. I come from a family of doctors, lawyers, and engineers and was expected from a pretty young age to follow in a more traditional career path. There were few options that were given to me as a realistic choice on what to do with my career if I chose to stick with photography.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Definitely the Society for Photographic Education. I recently graduated from the University of North Texas in Denton, where I was able to receive constant feedback from professors and my peers regarding my work, something taht does not exist post-college. As a professional, especially a freelancer, that feedback ceases to exist. SPE offers that feedback from professionals in the field down to other beginners, they offer contests, job boards, and advice from big names in the industry. It is truly a wonderful resource for any artist at any skill level!

Contact Info:

• Website: leahwrightstudio.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/leahwrightphoto
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leah-wright-53978b186/

Image Credits
Leah Wright Photography