Meet Leah Carter

We were lucky to catch up with Leah Carter recently and have shared our conversation below.

Leah, we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?

Self-care has become an increasingly important part to my business and something I continue to learn and explore. At the beginning of my career, I would rarely take my foot off the pedal, taking almost any inquiry that came my way in order to build my portfolio and client base. As I quickly became familiar with burn out, I realized that if I don’t take care of myself, I wouldn’t be able to give 110% to my business. Although my schedule remains busy, I’ve found “scheduling” in self care has been super helpful. Throughout my busy wedding season, I take time to get massages and work out regularly. I’ve found that group exercise classes have been great for me because I can put them into my schedule and remain accountable. Additionally, making time to see friends and family is one of my favorite forms of self-care!

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a brand and wedding/elopement photographer and studio owner located in southern Maine. I primarily work with couples and small business owners, but also love to work with a variety of clients to continuously challenge myself and be creative. I also operate a studio that I use mostly for brand work and also rent to other photographers. A niche that I particularly love has been surprise proposals, usually taking place on the beautiful coast of Maine. This entails planning with the person that is proposing and usually hiding out to capture the perfect moment. A common string throughout my couples work is that I love to showcase the beauty of Maine. I feel so grateful to spend so many golden hours on the coast with my couples capturing their love stories!

On the flip side of my business, I work with a variety of brands ranging from estheticians to local HVAC companies. With previous corporate experience in sales + marketing and my marketing degrees, I love working with small business owners and seeing how investing in brand photography can help excel their business and tell a story.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Persistence – Early on in starting a business, it can feel disheartening or defeating, especially when you’re surrounded by so many talented individuals that are ultimately on their own paths. Without being persistent, I don’t think I would be in the position I am today.

2. Confidence – Similar to above, imposter syndrome is almost inevitable. A key to overcoming this is believing in yourself and having the confidence to be unique. Finding the confidence to know your worth and showcase that value is one of the tipping points to success!

3. Connection – A deep rooted part of my business is in my connections with others, including my clients, other photographers, vendors, my community, etc. Working closely to find connection with others has helped my business excel and feel more rewarding and authentic to me.

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?

One of my goals for 2024 was to automate and create better systems that help support my business. Throughout the past year, I have implemented a new project management platform, streamlined booking systems, and increased my efficiency when it comes to culling and editing galleries. All of these areas of improvement have ultimately given me more time back and also helped to better my client experience.

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