Meet Leah Varney

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Leah Varney a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Leah , we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

Confidence and self-esteem didn’t arrive overnight; they were built through experience, failure, and the decision to keep showing up anyway. Photography taught me that perfection doesn’t exist; it’s about seeing beauty in real imperfect moments. That perspective has carried into everything I do, especially real estate. When you’re helping someone buy or sell a home, you can’t fake confidence, clients will feel it immediately. Mine comes from being prepared, trusting my instincts, and remembering that every challenge is a chance to prove to myself that I can adapt and rise again. I’ve overcome so many obstacles throughout my life, that’s it’s impossible to let anything stand in my way.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m a photographer and a licensed real-estate professional based in San Diego, and what I love most about both worlds is how they connect through storytelling. Whether I’m behind a camera or helping a client find their dream home, it’s really about capturing a feeling, that moment when something just clicks.

My photography background gives me an eye for light, composition, and detail, which now plays a huge role in how I approach real-estate marketing. Every listing deserves to be presented like a work of art. The same care I give to my photos, I bring to staging, presentation, and branding homes.

What’s new for me right now is expansion: I recently joined Keller Williams Luxury La Jolla, where I’m building a brand that blends artistry with professionalism. It’s been exciting to grow something that feels both beautiful and personal , a brand that reflects creativity, integrity, and San Diego’s coastal lifestyle

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

If I had to narrow it down to three things, I’d say resilience, adaptability, and intuition have shaped my journey more than anything.

Resilience came from the ups and downs, in photography, real estate, and even in my personal life. Every creative or entrepreneurial path comes with rejection and reinvention. You have to learn not to take setbacks personally and to see them as redirection instead of failure.

Adaptability is what allowed me to move fluidly from one career chapter to another. Photography taught me to work with changing light, weather, and people’s moods , which, funny enough, are all things that come in handy in real estate too! The world keeps evolving, and the ones who thrive are those who stay curious and flexible.

And finally, intuition. I’ve learned to trust my gut. Whether it’s choosing a photo composition, negotiating a deal, or deciding who to work with, your instincts are a compass , but you have to give them room to speak by quieting the noise around you.

For anyone early in their journey, my advice is simple: build resilience by keeping promises to yourself, practice adaptability by saying yes to things that scare you a little, and develop intuition by listening , really listening , to what feels aligned versus what feels forced.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

Definitely! Collaboration has always been where the magic happens. I love connecting with people who are passionate and creative, whether that’s other photographers, stylists, small business owners, or fellow real-estate professionals. When everyone brings their own strengths to the table, amazing things tend to unfold.

On the real-estate side, I’m especially drawn to working with agents, builders, and designers who appreciate how visual storytelling can elevate a property. My photography background really bridges that gap between creativity and strategy.

The best way to reach me is through Instagram or Keller Williams Luxury La Jolla. I’m always open to new projects, ideas, and collaborations that feel aligned with authenticity, artistry, and growth.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Www.wowmediaservices.com

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?

We asked folks a question that led to many surprising answers – some sad, some

Confidence
Being Effective Even When No One Else is Like You

Inevitably you will find yourself in a room where no one else is like you.

Confidence
Stories of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and