Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslee Mitchell.
Hi Leslee, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a photographer based in Nashville, TN who specializes in photographing architecture, interior design, advertising, people and toy cars. Before photography, I practiced law in Atlanta for a large corporate firm. Long story short, I have passionately loved and been moved by photos my whole life. I saw pictures long before owning a camera. My photos are most known for light, color and beauty.
In addition to being a photographer, I am a car nut. In 2015, I created my Matchbox Car Series. What started as 6 borrowed toy cars and an idea to photograph them on a piece of paper quickly became a highly buzzed-about fleet of over 100 toy cars now used as wall decor in rooms by some the best interior designers in the business.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Working for yourself is time-consuming. If you’re not careful, it will steal from your friendships, your family time, and your ability to relax. You’re responsible for the creative work, the business decisions, the marketing, the finances, and everything in between. Turning something you love into a business fundamentally changes your relationship with it. Just because you’re doing something you love doesn’t mean you love doing it every day.
I’ve built a successful career, but that doesn’t mean the road has gotten easier with recognition. In some ways, maintaining success can be just as difficult as achieving it. The pressure to perform never goes away. Some days, it makes bagging groceries sound like a great career path. Paper or plastic? Sounds good to me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a photographer based in Nashville, TN who specializes in photographing architecture, interior design, advertising, people and toy cars. Before photography, I practiced law in Atlanta for a large corporate firm. Long story short, I have passionately loved and been moved by photos my whole life. I saw pictures long before owning a camera. My photos are most known for light, color and beauty.
In addition to being a photographer, I am a car nut. In 2015, I created my Matchbox Car Series. What started as 6 borrowed toy cars and an idea to photograph them on a piece of paper quickly became a highly buzzed-about fleet of over 100 toy cars now used as wall decor in rooms by some the best interior designers in the business.
In addition to my Matchbox Cars, I’ve created exclusive art collections with retailers including Pottery Barn Kids, Serena & Lily, Janie & Jack and One Kings Lane. My cars have appeared in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Country Living, The Washington Post and several interior design books. They also once made a cameo on the TODAY Show.
My versatility is what sets me apart from others. Photography is one of my mediums. I also paint, draw and style and fortunately have discovered ways to monetize it all. Because of my background, I entered the creative industry with a corporate mind which serves me well and innately sets me apart from others.
What I’m most proud of is taking six borrowed toy cars along with a simple idea and turned it into a body of work that has found its way into homes all over the globe. Plenty of people are creative. Fewer can take an original creative idea, turn it into a product, establish relationships with major retailers and sustain an independent business around it.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
– Buy my art.
– Hire me to photograph your interior design projects, architecture, or advertising campaigns.
– Buy a copy of the Nantucket children’s book I recently illustrated, *1-2-3-ACK*.
-Collaborate with me on custom artwork, licensing, or exclusive collections for your brand or retail store.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.lesleemitchellart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesleemitchell
- Other: https://a.co/d/0bsW5vJL
