Welcome to the New and Improved Leanne Gelish Studio

Happy 2023, friends.

By the time you see this, it will be sometime in May or June and this site will be announced and in your hands. It is such an expression of who I am as a person, as a writer, and as a photographer- I couldn’t be more grateful for the time, energy, and intention put into this space on the internet.

I’ve been a photographer for over 12 years now: I’ve seen and photographed it all. From working with magazines like Cosmopolitan to a pseudo “Almost Famous” summer with the Dave Matthews Band, my cameras are an extension of how I experience the world.

Entering 2023, there was this nagging “urge” living inside me surrounding photography. Maybe it was burnout- I was coming off the busiest year of my life- or maybe it was the sense of craving more stability.

Stability in what I say “yes” to. Stability in the clients I work with. Stability in knowing that my work mattered, and that I wasn’t just a vendor. Stability in being able to be “me”, instead of segmented “brands”. We all experience pivot points in our careers, I just happened to be approaching mine.

The official pivot point came in February when a collaborative Love Yourself Session was featured in Newsday. Twelve years of being a photographer and suddenly, my work was being noticed- not just the photographs, but the way I made people feel.

As so many of us do, I sold myself short when it came to how I saw myself as a photographer. In one week, that all changed. I realized I had something to say as a photographer that was more meaningful than anything I’d done before, and it was time to fully lean into it. I realized that what makes me different is my empathy and my appreciation for life- so, how do you sell that?

Maybe you don’t.

For so long, photography was this place of “what’s next?” or “where’s the next client?”

A sense of urgency seeped into my marketing message, disconnecting my authenticity and genuine passion because I was trying to be what I saw trending. I need photography like I need air, and I compared myself to so many who have walked the trail before me in hopes that I could create the same stability they did.

Comparison is the thief of presence, happiness, and simplicity though.

And, that all brings us here. To the most authentic reflection of who I am as an artist. To a trail I carved all my own.

I am an artist,

a writer,

a creative,

a linchpin in my thought processes- and, that’s who I want you to know.

I want you to know and love that my favorite photos are dark, moody , textured, and full of movement. I want you to know that when you’re with me, you’ll feel empowered, comfortable, and genuine. I want you to be able to go to my Instagram and see my dogs and snippets of my life. I want you to go to my substack and see that every day I work on fueling my passions, all in the pursuit of living happily and passionately.

My brand is authenticity, and I hope you feel that too.

Here’s to another decade doing what I love, with people who appreciate and value it all too.

xx,