Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Dunn.
Leah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started photography six years ago when I was accepted into the studio art program at the University of North Texas. I was not at all experienced in photography. Initially, I was very in over my head. It definitely took me the entirety of my four years in college to master the craft. The professors I had were TOUGH. They challenged me every step of the way and sometimes, I was so frustrated by that. However, I am immensely glad that they shut me down during critiques because you need a thick skin when making art because you can never grow without criticism of some sort. I know for a fact that without two of them, Paho Mann and Dornith Doherty, I would not be confident in my work today. They pushed me to break through any boundaries I had and I am forever grateful for them.
After college, I became increasingly interested in the human form and how it interacts with the negative space around it. A lot of my work is very much focused on composition. A face is only as good as the background behind it and if you can make the background work with the subject in a lovely way, your portraits will always turn out beautifully. My background always needs to be just as important as my subject.
Today, I am still very much influenced by my education in fine art and I really try to keep that a consistent part of my work.
Has it been a smooth road?
Hell to the absolute no. Is there even such a thing as a smooth road anymore? I struggled like crazy from the beginning. Lots of blood sweat and tears (for many different reasons) have gone into my body of work. Sometimes I still question my ability. I had a very hard time creating art because when you don’t understand something it’s very difficult to make work with it. I also had a tough time trying to see myself as an artist when my peers at the time were so beyond my level artistically. Self-criticism is a real thing… and it sucks, for lack of a better phrase.
About halfway through college, I began a silent battle with depression. At the time, I really did not think I was going through that. It was one of those “Oh, that’s something that happens to someone else, not me” type of situations. However, that’s exactly what it was when I look back on it now. My projects turned into a way for me to work through that period of my life.
I can imagine there will always be struggles and trials to test me. That’s life, and you just have to roll with the punches.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Leah Alisse Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
Currently, I am a freelance portrait photographer. I specialize in fine art portraits. I’d like to think what sets me apart from other photographers is my trained eye for composition and lighting. I’m actually not sure what I am most proud of. I actually tell the people closest to me that my most recent shoot at the time is “the most happy I’ve been with my work so far”. I think that will just continue to be my pattern. I don’t think I will ever be so proud of my work that I will think that I’ve reached some kind of peak moment and that actually makes me happy.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Oh my goodness… five or even ten years from now? As much as I hate to say it, I think cell phone technology will be equal to or possibly surpass professional-grade cameras. Of course, I will continue to think that professional photographers can never truly be replaced. Technology can only do so much in that way but without the creativity of the person behind the camera, there’s no true replacement for photographers. Photography is such a human necessary art that even the best camera out there needs someone behind the lens to make something incredible.
Pricing:
- Individual Portrait Session: $325.00
- Couples Portrait Session: $425.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.leahalissephotography.com
- Phone: (214)-766-1481
- Email: leahalissephotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leah_alissephotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leahalissephotography/
Image Credit:
Makeup Artists: Riley Dennis, Reemah Sowemimo
Models: Hanna Grace Lawrence, Hailey Dunn, Alex Faoro, Colleen Snover, Morgan Boskat
Locations: The TX Studio
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