Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Kaszer.
Leslie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I actually started out wanting to edit photos! My sister started her photography business and at the time, I loved all things editing and retouching and was planning on doing just that. I was a part of a couple photography and artists sites online and started seeing images that really inspired me and made me really feel something, and I wanted to create that myself. So, I decided to jump in and I absolutely loved it. I started like every new photographer and I photographed everything – but my real dream was to be a wedding and portrait photographer
I knew I wanted to photograph weddings and was lucky enough to work with a fellow San Diego photographer who took me under her wing and let me 2nd shoot for her while I built up my portfolio and learned the ropes. About a year after that, I photographed my first wedding and have been doing so for the past 5 years.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Having a great community of photographers who believe in community over competition has been awesome. Anytime I felt like I was in a rut creatively or had a question, I always have a couple friends to ask to offer advice or to feel motivated again.
Sometimes we get into a creative rut or get on the roller-coaster of thinking our work is good and the next day, it’s awful. 🙂 It’s just part of the process and having a great group of fellow photographers to kick you back into gear is always what I do to overcome a challenge like that.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Leslie Anne Photofinish story. Tell us more about the business.
I’m a San Diego wedding and portrait photographer, specializing in timeless and classic images. One of my favorite pastimes was going to my grandparent’s house and looking through all of their photo albums. My Grandma documented everything and their albums go back to the early days of their childhood – almost 100 years.
I want my clients to have this, and to have something their kids and grandkids can look back on for years to come. I love the timeless and classic look to photos that stand the test of time with their posing and lighting and to offer that to my clients and their families., while having a great time laughing and feeling completely happy on their wedding day. And I simply love weddings. 🙂
I’m most proud that my clients will come back to me again and again for other sessions as their family grows. I absolutely love getting emails from past brides or parents, saying what a great experience they had working with me on their wedding day. That is THE best compliment and makes me love what I do more and more.
While I know that we all, as photographers, offer great service to our clients on their wedding day – I really pride myself on making my clients laugh and feel at ease. As someone who literally runs away when I see a camera pointed at me, I know what it’s like to feel awkward and make sure my clients feel totally at ease and comfortable when I’m photographing them.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I believe everything happens for a reason – we can call it ‘luck’ – but it was all part of the plan and all things happen when they’re supposed to happen. I believe everything has its own timing and luck has little to do with it – unless we’re talking about how lucky you are to have caught that one shot of a hilarious moment with a toddler of a ring bearer and his lack of a belt while walking down the aisle, but that’s a story for another day. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: www.leslieannephotofinish.com
- Phone: 858.248.0225
- Email: lesliannephoto@gmail.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/leslieannephoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Leslieannephotofinish
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/leslie-anne-photofinish-carlsbad
- Other: https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/leslie-anne-photofinish-carlsbad/ec26d998692ac028.html
Image Credit:
Lindsay Kujawa Photography
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