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

Alright, LeeAnn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success is such a subjective thing. In our modern society most business owners (myself included) start out with an idea that a certain number of followers on instagram or a certain level of revenue will make you successful. Most people quickly realize that those outside measures don’t actually make you feel successful. What I’ve found is that true success doesn’t have a standard look and feel for any one person. Five years into my business success looks and feels like tenacity, self-worth, and resilience. It’s not defined by vanity metrics and sales because that rises and falls.

LeeAnn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is LeeAnn and I’m a Pittsburgh-based brand photographer and mentor who empowers purpose-driven women-owned brands to create compelling visuals that stand out. My human-forward approach helps my clients define their brand’s uniqueness and translate it into one-of-a-kind visuals so they can market and attract their dream clients.

With nearly a decade of experience, my work has attracted renowned clients like Duolingo and ConvertKit, as well as women- and queer-owned brands bravely pursuing their dreams like Riverroad Sprinkle Co., Una Biologicals, and Gingerly Press. I work to weave personal moments into powerful professional experiences that capture brand stories and elevate brands to the next level.

At the age of 24 my mother unexpectedly died from advanced lung cancer, I channeled my grief into the pursuit of living life on my terms. My experience enables me to uncover the human elements in any visual story, and I’m dedicated to helping women understand that our worth is not defined by our circumstances, but by how we navigate them – both personally and professionally.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Just a little under the two year mark of being in business when the Pandemic hit. To save my business and relieve the financial stress I decided to nanny part-time. On one hand taking another job felt like I was failing as a business owner but on the other hand (my smarter side) I knew that if I was serious about growing and sustaining my business having a job that could support me financially would allow me to make smarter decisions for my business. Most people start their business out of a desire and passion to live a more abundant, free life and to make a greater impact in the world. What I’ve learned five years in – staying committed and finding success requires us to remove our egos from the equation and to think more like leaders and CEO’s. Entering into year six of business it seems to me that this shift in thinking and being is a key factor in staying resilient in the face of setbacks.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Before starting my business I checked all the buckets for success; went to college, had the career, and I was in a committed partnership. When my mother passed it unearthed a deep-sadness and years of unprocessed trauma. The awareness that my life up till that moment felt half-lived was a catalyst for choosing a different path and a different story. Starting my business was my first step at reclaiming my life and redefining what happiness and success feels like. Turns out, for me it is a constant choice to step into my worth, to heal past traumas and to embrace life with a sense of curiosity and liveliness. Success can’t be defined by accolades, likes or material possession. Success is an internal barometer gauged with the question “if I die tomorrow would I be happy with the choices I’ve made?” Anytime I find myself not skewing to the answer yes, I know I need to course correct.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.leeannkphotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/leeann_k_photography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leeannkphotography
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/settings?trk=d_flagship3_profile_self_view_public_profile
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/leeann-k-photography-pittsburgh

Image Credits
Sami Caun Photo, Edited by LeeAnn Stromyer LeeAnn Stromyer, LeeAnn K Photography