I’ve lived in New York for 21 years now. And yet every time I am in the city, I still feel like a tourist. That feeling of being a girl from a small town in Indiana in the big city never gets old.
PREVIOUS NYC LOCATIONS
Working with my fabulous clients has given me the opportunity to explore NYC in ways I wouldn’t have otherwise. Every year for the past six years, we have chosen a different place in the bounds of their hometown, NYC. Together we have hit some pretty great locations. First it was Gentry Plaza for the stunning Manhattan skyline. They introduced me to the little known Conservatory Gardens of Central Park which you can see here. The unique gem of a neighborhood Stuyvesant Town was a total surprise. And the revitalized and colorful World Trade Center session was super cool I promise you I would never have seen Stuy-town without this family; the Conservatory Gardens has become a favorite spot because of them.
THIS YEAR’S HOT SPOT
This year, we visited the South Street Seaport. This spot is quintessential NYC. Is it touristy? Sure, but unlike other well visited NYC spots like Times Square or the Empire State Building, Wall Street locals must love this destination for socialization and family time. It’s a great spot to just hang out, dine al fresco, grab a drink with friends, and of course the waterfront and Brooklyn Bridge views never ever get old. This is definitely the kind of place that warrants repeat visits. In fact, as soon as the weather gets nice, I am insisting on a date night there.
But the true start of the show is this family. I just can’t get enough of them. The kids are so smart and so cute. I love to give them artistic control and have them set up shots. We have the best time.
Check out the final product and if you like the idea of this location, hit me up and let’s plan something special.
GEAR AND SETTINGS
Sony A7 iv 24-70 2.8 – Nikon D750 70-200 2.8 Kept my ISO at about 800 as it was an overcast day -kept aperture at 3.2 for whole family and 2.8 for single person and adjusted shutter speed accordingly.
If we haven’t met yet, hi helloooo I’m Leslie 🤍
I’ve been behind the camera for 13+ years, and I’ve learned this the hard way your clients don’t need to be “photogenic”… they need to be directed.
Most photographers think posing is about telling someone where to put their hands. It’s not.
It’s about making people feel something natural enough that the pose disappears.
My clients don’t walk in as models.
They’re everyday people who feel awkward, stiff, and unsure what to do with their bodies.
But with the right posing framework, they leave looking like the best version of themselves.
Here’s what I teach photographers after 13 years of trial, error, and thousands of shoots:
As a photographer, your job is to
– never say “just be natural” (they won’t)
– guide micro movements (chin, shoulders, hands matter)
– create motion instead of stiffness (movement beats posing)
– build trust so expressions become real, not forced
Because great photos aren’t about perfect angles…
They’re about making your client feel seen, comfortable, and confident in front of your lens.
Posing is a skill. Direction is an art.
And once you understand both, everything about your photography changes.
💬DM “POSE” if you want my exact client directing prompts I use on every shoot
POV: you let it happen.
You stopped worrying about the perfect pose, the perfect smile, or what you were supposed to do with your hands.
You just showed up and let the moment be what it was.
And somehow, that’s always when the photos feel the most like you🤍
The real laughs.
The little looks.
The soft moments you didn’t even realize were happening.
That’s the kind of beauty I’m always looking for.
If you want photos that feel natural and easy, without all the pressure to perform for the camera, I’d love to capture that for you📸
Imagine if your photographer sent you photos like this.
The kind you open and instantly feel something.
Not because everyone is posed perfectly, but because it feels familiar.
Like your family, your love, your little world, captured exactly as it is.
✨The soft smiles.
✨The tiny details.
✨The way your kids look at you.
✨The moments that feel simple now, but will mean so much later.
That’s the beauty of photos like these, they don’t just show what everyone looked like, they bring you back to how it all felt.
If this is the kind of feeling you want in your photos, I’d love to help you create it📸
“They’re just photos.”
But really, they’re the little things you’ll always want to remember.
The way they smile at you.
The tiny hands.
The messy laughs.
The cuddles, the chaos, the love.
The season your family is in right now🤍
Photos have a way of making the everyday feel special, even the moments that seemed so simple while they were happening.
And that’s what I love capturing most: the real, sweet, in-between pieces of your life.
If you’ve been wanting photos that feel warm, natural, and full of the people you love, I’d love to help you capture this season exactly as it feels.📸
POV: you wanted photos that feel like love in the movies, so you hired me.
But not just the big, dramatic kind of love.
The everyday kind.
The tiny hands wrapped around yours.
The giggles you wish you could save forever.
The way your people look at each other when they forget anyone is watching.
That’s what I want to capture: the real feeling of it all.🤍
If you want photos that feel like your kind of love, comment “PHOTO” and let’s create something you’ll want to keep forever📸
