We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sierra Greenlee. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sierra below.

Sierra, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was deciding to pursue photography seriously after my first trip to Spain. At the time, I had just bought my first DSLR to document the trip, mostly thinking I’d be taking landscape photos. But something shifted when I started photographing my friend Carla. I found so much joy in capturing her in these beautiful surroundings—and more than that, I felt a connection to the moment and to the process itself.

When I came back from that trip, I decided to start photographing people for free, just to see if it was something I really wanted to pursue. It felt like a risk, especially putting myself out there creatively without any formal training, just trusting that I had something to offer. I was investing hours into shoots, editing, and learning everything I could about lighting, composition, and post-processing without knowing if it would lead to anything.

But slowly, people started to take notice. I began charging for my work, built up a client base, and fell in love with the entire experience of connecting with people through my lens. That risk—to take something that started as a hobby and treat it with real intention—completely changed the course of my life. I’ve never looked back, and I genuinely can’t imagine doing anything else.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi, I’m Sierra, the photographer behind Greenlee Photography. I’m based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and I specialize in portrait, editorial, and branding photography that feels intimate, artistic, and true to the people I’m capturing. My work is centered around connection—between subject and lens, environment and emotion, and ultimately between myself and the people I photograph.

My journey into photography started when I was about 12 years old with a simple digital camera. I took it everywhere—on vacations, around the house, snapping selfies, and just experimenting. It wasn’t until college that photography started to take on a deeper meaning. I began photographing friends for fun and for Instagram, which eventually led me to purchase my first DSLR in 2018 before a trip to Spain. That trip changed everything. While I loved photographing the landscapes, I found real joy in photographing my friend Carla. It was in capturing her that I realized how much I loved photographing people—not just documenting how they looked, but freezing something emotional and real in time.

When I came back, I started doing portrait sessions for free. I fell in love with the process of connecting with people and capturing a specific season or version of who they were in that moment. Over time, I began charging, honing my craft, and building my business into what it is today.

I think what sets my work apart is my commitment to quality over quantity. I don’t rush through edits or deliver a huge volume of images just to check a box. I hand-edit each photo with care, paying close attention to skin, light, stray hairs, and any distracting elements. I want the images to look elevated while still feeling natural—true to the person, just enhanced in the best way possible. Retouching is a big part of what I offer, and I take my time to make sure every photo feels polished but never overly processed.

I’m most proud of the emotional honesty in my work. I think you can feel when a photo was taken in a moment of comfort, play, or vulnerability, and that’s what I’m always chasing. I’m also incredibly grateful for the relationships I’ve built through this work—both with clients and fellow creatives who have mentored and inspired me along the way.
If you’re new to my work or thinking about working with me, I want you to know that I care deeply about the experience you have in front of my camera. My sessions are relaxed, intentional, and collaborative. Whether you’re camera-shy or creatively ambitious, I’ll meet you where you’re at and help bring your vision—or your truest self—to life through imagery.

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

For me, the most rewarding part of being a creative is the ability to make people feel something—seen, beautiful, powerful, nostalgic, or connected. There’s nothing quite like capturing a moment that someone will treasure for the rest of their life, or creating an image that makes someone stop and say, “That’s me?!” It’s such an intimate and vulnerable thing to step in front of a camera, and being trusted with that space feels like a privilege every time.

I also find so much joy in the process itself—whether it’s conceptualizing a shoot, chasing beautiful light, or sitting down to carefully edit an image until it feels just right. Being able to bring a vision to life and watch how people respond to it, how they connect with it, that’s where the real magic is. It’s in those moments of shared creativity and emotion that I feel the most fulfilled in what I do.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Absolutely. One of the most defining moments of resilience in my journey came when I shot my very first wedding. It was the kind of day where everything that could go wrong, did. During the ceremony, the weather shifted—dark clouds rolled in and threatened rain, making the lighting difficult to work with. I didn’t yet own the proper lighting equipment to handle low-light situations, and the flash I did bring refused to fire correctly. I had barely used flash before, and suddenly I was relying on it in high-stakes conditions.

To make matters more stressful, the bride became tired of taking photos—not uncommon, but challenging for a first-timer—and the venue staff were unusually rude. I was also working alongside another photographer, who unexpectedly packed up and left early, leaving me to cover the rest of the night solo. After the wedding, he informed me he needed the photos edited on a rushed timeline—something he hadn’t mentioned beforehand. I was still working a day job at the time, so I began waking up every day at 5 a.m. to edit before heading to work.

Despite the chaos, I got the gallery delivered on time, and most importantly, the bride was happy with the photos. That experience taught me more than any workshop ever could—about preparation, communication, adaptability, and setting clear expectations. It showed me that even when you’re thrown into the deep end, you can find a way to swim.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://greenleephotography.co
• Instagram: @sierralaphoto