Meet Laura Leigh Mazanec

We recently connected with Laura Leigh Mazanec and have shared our conversation below.

Laura Leigh, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Honestly, that is an ongoing effort. One of the best things I ever did for myself was to invest in a remote shutter, snap some photos of myself, and put them out there – in front of the masses. I started doing a weekly Ask Me Anything segment with my followers and really interacting with my social networks. This has been utterly nerve wracking but it has taught me so much about myself, my goals, my company mission, staying authentic, and where I want to go as an artist. Once you figure those things out, you no longer feel like you’re being a phony in calling yourself a business owner or entrepreneur, cosplaying as a she-boss, or playing pretend – you feel like you are really doing the dang thing. This is an entirely different online world than so many of us were privy to in our younger years. The newer generations have a leg up and that can be quiet intimidating when you are not used to marketing on a thousand different platforms or actively showing your face and personal life online in order to “show up” for your clients and customers. At the end of the day, what it all boils down to is simple : Did you do your best to make your clients happy and are you happy with your efforts? If you can say yes to both – you’re not missing anything and you are certainly not missing out.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m Laura Leigh and I’m a photographer! I need to have buttons made because this is something I answer with on a daily basis. Do buttons still raise the message? The thing is, it’s not that simple to describe with a one-word occupational multiple choice-style answer you bubble in. Sure, I shoot all your standard genres like family portraits, graduation memorabilia, and engagements. But, what is my passion project? Simply put, things with feeling. I am in a sector of photography that’s a bit newer called photography-therapy where we work on empowerment and embracing your current self. This allows us to focus on the good that is hidden within what one would stereotypically consider a flaw or unconventional beauty like laugh lines and stretch marks. I help cancer patients see their bodies as beautiful in the height of change, shaved heads due to hair loss, and the hope that comes with realizing what all your body has carried you through. I help wounded warriors of all kinds see the importance and symmetry in telling their war stories. I help those in transition showcase who they really are and those that are ready to show their true identity in being both, all, or none of the above – feel safe to not just look in a mirror but show up for themselves and be photographed in the right now. I help mothers suffering from postpartum depression or loss grieve whether it’s the loss of a child or the loss of the person they planned on being at this stage of life. I hold the hand of those that have suffered sexual abuse and help them take back the power by finding their voice and reclaiming their body through boudoir sessions. The best part? I have recently added another facet of alternative therapy to my services : I now offer touch-therapy sessions which allow those needing a little extra help to find solace in the form of hugs, hand holding, close up cuddles, or even platonic friendship services. I help those with chronic illness find comfort and companionship. I help the elderly feel less alone. I help those that are grieving have a safe space to let their emotions out. I save space for those that need to be physically close to someone but do not have a partner or someone to hold them and run their fingers through their hair or up and down their arms. I offer a space to let your inner child come out to play with finger puppets and blocks and a customizable studio designed with neurodivergents in mind. I have soothing color choices, tons of textures, and all the warm fuzzies you could ask for! I even offer location and travel sessions for both cameras and cuddles! So, when you ask me what I do, my answer is all over the place. I’m a storyteller, a poet, an artist, a cuddle buddy, and a best friend.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The best piece of business advice I have ever received was to jump in head first. As an over-achieving A-type, I felt this devil-may-care attitude was reckless and risky. However, my mentor had a point : “If you wait for the right time to do something, you will never do it.” When I established as a company, I was far from “ready.” I did not have the financial structure to support my business, I did not have proper contracts in place, and I did not have portfolio and pricing guides entirely set up. The fact of the matter is : those things are all ever changing and ever evolving as your business grows and changes. If there is a quality that I can say will absolutely benefit your journey as an entrepreneur – it’s to throw caution to the wind and just to do the dang thing. That risk it attitude will get you everywhere you want to go and probably in ways and down paths you never would have otherwise considered.

Real talk : Starting a business is hard. I was terrified; some days, I still am. What I feared most was failure. My neighbor is a realtor and during a drive to a show a house in Georgetown, he told me that I needed to get over this incessant need for success. “You will fail at some point, it’s inevitable.” Realize that you’re not being thrown out to the wolves – there are countless resources at your fingertips and these days, there’s not a whole lot that cannot be fixed. Mistakes happen. Messes happen. Life happens. You’re going to fail. Instead of fearing it, learn from it and grow.

My last piece of advice is all about knowledge. Know what you are about. I know that sounds like a “duh” kind of statement, but I am serious. While your company mission might change over the years, know who you are and what you want to do. Your purpose might deviate over time as you develop deeper connections and better communication styles, network and find your branding style. It’s okay to pivot or entirely change direction in order to acclimate to say a worldwide pandemic or a socioeconomic pattern, as long as you know where you stand. This counts for business morals, ethics, policies, and your own personal boundaries. Know who your target audience is, show up, and showcase your passion through reiterating your slogan or mission statement and your right path will follow. You get out what you put in and your people will find you.

How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client is anyone and everyone that wants to see what others see in them. I want to help people heal and accept who and how they are. I want to work with the artists, wanting to create. Anyone passionate about what they do and needs commercial photographs to push to the public – I got you. Everyone wanting to show off their real and honest love and be raw in that moment – You’re in great hands. I want to work with anyone and everyone that wants to feel a little less alone and a little more understood. I will save space for you. All of you.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Laura Mazanec of Paper Plane Photographs

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