Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Rodriguez.
Hi Leslie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my photography business as a side business and creative outlet when I was in graduate school at Vanderbilt University. Most of my early wedding clients were all colleagues of mine from Latin American Studies and later the Sociology Department. I received my master’s degree in Latin American Studies and a second master’s in Sociology, and while pursuing my Ph.D. in Sociology I had an opportunity to join the touring band Humming House as one of the band’s lead vocalists. I left the Ph.D. program and toured the country with Humming House for four years, and kept my camera with me at all times. I documented our life on the road and photographed family sessions and weddings whenever the band was off the road.
In 2017 I became pregnant with my oldest daughter and decided to retire from tour life to pursue wedding photography full-time. I photographed dozens of weddings in Nashville and later moved to Louisville where I own a photography studio. My clientele, both in wedding, corporate, and family photography, is evenly split between Nashville and Louisville at the moment. It is a joy to still have such close ties with Nashville, and one of my photos is displayed as a mural in the Nashville airport. I will always think of Nashville as home.
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?
It has definitely not been a smooth road! I think one of the biggest struggles in this business is finding the courage to ask for help from others in the industry, and this is something I had to learn both as a musician and as a photographer. It was hard, especially as a young 20-something, to admit that I didn’t know everything and that I couldn’t do everything on my own.
Ironically, the longer I am in this industry the easier it is to acknowledge my weaknesses and seek help and community from others. I am now in my late-30s and have been working as a photographer since 2010, and my business is where it is today thanks to the enormous network I have been able to build among wedding vendors across the country who can offer their advice and help when I reach out. Along the same lines, the loneliness of this industry can be a huge struggle. Surrounding myself with other like-minded photographers and wedding vendors (planners, florists, venue owners, etc.) has helped smooth out the road quite a bit.
Another major struggle, both in music and in photography, has been making sure that I am always true to my own artistic voice. I have learned that my opinions and identity as an artist can be easily drowned out if I tune in too closely to the cacophony of sameness that can be found on social media. If I ever find myself slipping into a world of comparison or trying to be successful like that other photographer over there, I usually have to take a step away from social media and find some rewarding creative project that I create on my own terms to get myself back on track.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am primarily a wedding photographer and I specialize in documenting a wedding day as an entire story, not just a series of poses one after another. I am most proud of my ability to communicate with my clients and vendor partners to be able to bring their vision to life while simultaneously satisfying my own creative impulses; I don’t often find myself having to sacrifice one to benefit the other. This is a delicate balance that I have learned to hone over the years, and I’m certain if I wasn’t able to accomplish it I would have burned out of this industry a long time ago. I am known for my use of color, my inclusivity, and my ability to document feelings. I love working with vendor partners as part of a creative team; it is truly amazing what a team of creatives can accomplish on a wedding day and I love being a part of that community. I started my career trying to take on the industry as a lone artist and quickly realized you cannot get far without collaboration and cooperation. I treasure the community of the wedding industry and I love seeing a wedding day come together as a true production and dream come to life.
I recently began a new endeavor as a photography educator and started a Patreon account where I teach everything that I have learned (and continue to learn) to different levels of photographers. I have membership tiers for photography beginners and for photographers moving into the professional space, and this community has been enormously rewarding for me. I actually learned about Patreon from several of my Nashville musician friends who use Patreon as a source of supplemental income and a way to connect with their fan base. I took this idea and turned it into a photography education platform, and I have been able to lay out everything I have learned in this industry into compact lessons for anyone who wants to improve their photography and creative business skills.
In addition to wedding photography, I own a photography studio and photograph families and businesses both in Nashville and Louisville. I have worked with several companies in Nashville including BNA, Vanderbilt, Centennial Park Conservancy, Clara Jane Hemp Dispensary, and several bands in town.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The wedding industry is constantly shifting, adjusting, and moving forward; it can be incredibly hard to keep up if you’re not paying attention. I think one of the biggest shifts over the last few years has been the movement away from weddings as one-day events toward full weekend experiences.
This is no longer a 5:00-midnight affair; couples are providing full experiences for their guests that are personalized every step of the way. Who knows if this answer will age well! As I said, the wedding industry is full of moving pieces and is constantly responding to the world at large (markets, politics, fashion, pop culture, underground trends, and new generations moving into the marriage space), so you have to keep your finger on the pulse to stay relevant and top of mind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://leslierodriguezphoto.com/
- Instagram: @l_slierodriguez
- Other: https://www.patreon.com/LeslieRodriguezPhotography
Image Credits
Leslie Rodriguez Photography and Leah Barry Photography
