Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Goetzel.
Leah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My dad was always the photographer in our family. He took this tiny point and shoot camera everywhere— every vacation, every first day of school. And he did *anything* for a shot. He’d wait for 15 minutes until every tourist was out of his frame, he’d get on walls, in lakes, anything. I remember my mom and I watching as he held onto a very unstable tree branch, stretched out over a river, his camera in his left hand, taking photos of a bridge. He fell in. But somehow managed to throw the camera onto the bank, completely unharmed.
I soaked up this determination and passion like a sponge. When I was in middle school we went to Greece, we were walking around looking at these incredible, old temples. And I noticed that one of them was reflected in a puddle. I asked my dad if I could borrow his camera to capture it. The entire day I was on a high, from his praise, from how the light came through the pillar temples. I was hooked.
I started babysitting, pet sitting, doing extra chores, whatever I could to save up extra money to buy a camera. When I finally got my hands on one, I would never put it down. And not much has changed since. I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a History and French degree. But when asked what I wanted to do, all I could think of was take photos. I didn’t think it would be possible to actually make a living doing what I had done as a hobby for so many years. But I hustled, working multiple jobs until I could finally go full time. I did last year and I haven’t looked back.
I now primarily photograph weddings, which I never thought was the path I’d take. But I feel like the luckiest person in the world. I get to be creative and capture love. I still have a huge passion for travel photography. My goal is to eventually merge the two — my client work and my travel work. If I was able to do that I think you’d have to physically pry my camera out of my hands.
Has it been a smooth road?
I think any freelancer can agree the journey is a bumpy one. Sometimes things look like a straight line, you can see your goal right in front of you, and then life has other plans and veers you off course. And sometimes your goals change too.
I struggle a lot with loneliness. Even though I am surrounded by people daily, taking their photos, I always feel like an outsider, capturing these people’s memories. Owning a business and freelancing is incredibly isolating. I don’t have coworkers and the industry can be so competitive that forming genuine relationships is very difficult. A lot of the days I edit for hours and hours, sometimes I get so sucked in I forget to leave my house.
Due to social media, I think everyone sees an idyllic image of people’s lives. Most photographers put on a facade that everything is great and their lives are perfect. But I think it’s important to be authentic and talk about how difficult of a profession it can sometimes be.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Leah Goetzel Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am a wedding, portrait and lifestyle photographer that caters to DFW and beyond. I welcome all people regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation, which is something I’m incredibly proud of. I also donate a portion of all my proceeds to a foundation that I’ve worked with since 3rd grade called the Mother Maryam Foundation. The foundation brings healthcare, education, and clean water to areas in Northern Sudan. We’ve built clinics which offer free healthcare and middle schools. That’s probably what I’m most proud of.
What sets me apart from other wedding photographers is I don’t take myself too seriously. I am goofy and weird. I don’t have a perfectly curated Instagram feed. I don’t have a pristine website full of eloquent words and beautiful graphics. My website is an extension of myself. It’s colorful, and over the top, and mentions tacos too many times. I’m just me. And I want that authenticity to seep into everything I do, including my business.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the diversity. I didn’t realize how whitewashed Austin was until I moved to Dallas. I really appreciate that about Dallas. And it’s meant I’ve been able to try the most amazing food, I never knew Lebanese Tapas was a thing and it is amazing. There’s also SO much stuff to do in Dallas, museums, bars, theaters— there really is something for everyone here.
I dislike Dallas drivers. Y’all are crazy!!
Pricing:
- Wedding Photography is priced at $250/hr. I also offer engagement, bridal and boudoir shoots.
- Portrait sessions are typically an hour long and those are $220 and include 15 digital images.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.leahgoetzel.com
- Email: hello@leahgoetzel.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/leahgoetzel
- Facebook: www.facebook,com/leahgoetzelphotogoraphy
- Other: http://mothermaryam.org/
Image Credit:
Leah Goetzel Photography
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