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

Leanne , appreciate you joining us today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

I have been a photographer for over ten years, but it wasn’t until 2020 when I was forced to stop did I take a chance to look around. I realized that while I was “busy” I wasn’t working smart or towards a “goal”. I was just “being a photographer.” In 2020, I was able to start over and in retrospect, there is so much I would have done differently ten years ago.

The biggest thing that I would do differently is, I would have found a business coach to help me get out of my own way. Imposter Syndrome held me back for so long (still does) and it stopped me from marketing myself properly. I always thought there was someone better so I hid my early work and shied away from actively pursuing this as a business. A business coach would have held me accountable when I couldn’t.

Besides a business coach, which is an investment, the one free thing I would have done was started Pinterest marketing sooner. It’s free, organic, and gets your photos in front of thousands.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Leanne Gelish and I have been a professional photographer for ten years. Based on Long Island, NY I specialize in Lifestyle and Intimate Wedding Photography. In addition, I have self-published four books, my favorite being “Seasons: A Collection of Poetry” available on Amazon. I am a left-handed Pisces who has always seen the world differently and I use photography to capture fleeting moments in time.

After attending Siena College and graduating with a Marketing/Management degree, I knew I wanted to build a brand of my own. Except, I had no idea how and no money to live like a starving artist. So, I took a job as an assistant executive director and at night, started pursuing writing and blogging. I started a fan page for the Dave Matthews Band and was somehow able to secure interviews with various band members. Along the way, I purchased my first DSLR camera, a Nikon D3200, and was able to photograph the band in the press kit at various venues across the United States. With my kit lens and no experience, I fell in love and knew I had found my passion.

Fast forward to 2018, I was asked to photograph my first wedding in Michigan and fell in love with every minute of the day. From getting ready, exchanging rings, dancing and portraits, there was something so magnetic about being trusted to tell this love story, and I knew I had to learn how to photograph more weddings. Since then, I’ve photographed over 40 weddings ( which is a lot with a shoestring marketing budget and a pandemic that halted the world) and have branched out to more corporate/event work.

What sets me apart is that my photography is a story. From start to finish, I capture as much as the day as possible. From how the venue looked when I arrive to that small moment you didn’t even know I was watching. It’s creative photojournalism. I edit every photo delivered and take pride in emphasizing rich colors and texture.

My goal is to break down any barriers someone might have with a camera or having their picture taken. My superpower, as my clients say, is that I am able to make anyone feel comfortable and empowered within 5 minutes of a session starting. And, that’s what I want people to take away from my brand. Everything from the lotion I wear to the color choices of my website/logo is meant to calm you. I am not coming in and doing the same six poses I learned at a course, I’m coming in with the goal to teach you how to be comfortable in front of any camera. Tits up, shoulders back, and there’s no room for insecurity in my space.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Two weeks before my first wedding, in Fenton Michigan, I tore three ligaments in my shoulder. I knew I was still going to do this wedding and found a strap that would take the pressure off my shoulder for the day. The day I was supposed to fly out to Detroit, Michigan, and then drive up to Fenton, my flight got canceled. I went from airline to airline trying to find another flight to no avail. The connector from Boston had already left and I was completely out of luck…

I ended up renting a car and driving overnight to Michigan from New York with few rest stops but no sleep in between. I arrived in Fenton at 7 a.m. and was scheduled to start shooting at 8 a.m.

12 hours later, on one hour of sleep, I had the best session of my life and knew I was about to embark on an entirely new journey. Everything for this wedding was stacked against me but I didn’t quit.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Seeing how my work resonates with others. We often feel like we’re alone in our feelings but I have learned through putting myself out there that we’re not, My poetry book really opened my eyes up to this when complete strangers would message me. It was that book that helped give an underlying mission to my photography. At every session, whether it’s a prom, newborn session, wedding, editorial, or event, my goal is help at least one person see how beautiful and magnetic they are. Without filters, without photoshop, without any of it. Those laugh lines mean you live a full life, that post-baby “stomach” means your body was strong enough to bring a new life to earth, those “big arms” mean you’re strong. Whatever flaw a client thinks they have, I try and negate it through my work. And, hearing how people see themselves differently is the best gift.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.leannegelish.com
• Instagram: @leannegelishstudio
• Facebook: @leannegelishstudio

Image Credits
All images are taken by Leanne Gelish from Leanne Gelish Studio