We were lucky to catch up with Leigh Nelson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Leigh, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
I will begin with a bit of backstory. After various family traumas that I had experienced in my teens through my thirties, in 2018, I had also lost my pregnancy at 20 weeks. Then, in March of 2021, my mother, who was my best friend and a very healthy 74-year-old, suddenly had a double aneurysm and passed away the next day.
Needless to say, the battle with depression seeped in. When I photographed newborn sessions, it made me wonder what it would have been like to hold my daughter’s tiny hand, had she been alive. When I photographed weddings, the bride and her mother’s embrace made me think about the last hug that I shared with my mother.
What helped me to persist was knowing whole-heartedly that my love of photography stems from the joy of connecting with others, and being able to tell the beauty of their story through the pictures that I take of them. I also have tremendous faith that God has a plan for everybody, and even though my story isn’t what I had planned for it to be, God has a plan for me and is walking with me every step of the way. This faith helped me to separate my story from the stories of my clients.
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 have been a wedding and portrait photographer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. for 15 years. I am passionate about telling stories of people, places and things. By using my artistic perspective, I have been able to create powerful, dynamic and relatable imagery in order to tell these stories.
New in 2025, I have launched a commercial photography brand outside of my wedding and portrait photography brand! I am very excited to bring my visual storytelling experience to another level by photographing genres such as products, landscapes, and also corporate headshots.
My work has been featured on Wired, in Pittsburgh Weddings Magazine, and also Whirl Pittsburgh, to name a few. In addition to my extensive list of tremendous wedding and portrait clients, I have also had the pleasure of working with brands such as Facebook Reality Labs, STANTT, and A519 Chocolates.
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?
1.) Network
Get out there and network! Whether it is with potential clients, or professionals in your own niche.
In an example of Networking with Potential Clients:
It isn’t uncommon for me to walk into a retail store, give a little background about my product photography services, and ask if there is a new marketing campaign or product launch that they may need pictures for. Even if they don’t have an answer on the spot, your face will come to mind when an opportunity arises.
In an example of Networking with Professionals in My Niche:
I am part of a Facebook group of photographers who lend support to one another. We bounce ideas off of each other, list referrals, and also give and receive advice. It is such a positive and supportive group! Our bonding through social media has initiated face-to-face meet ups, which has further strengthened our relationship.
2.) Be Authentic
They say authenticity is the highest level of vibration; 400 times that of love. By aligning your brand and how you present yourself with your genuine values and unique personality, you will not only differentiate yourself from others in your profession, but clients will also feel a connection to you and will trust you.
3.) Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
With the increasing importance of having a social media platform for a business, multiple times a day, you may view the success stories of your peers and competitors. While it is much easier to tear yourself down than build yourself up, try to remember; no good comes from putting yourself down. It only lowers your esteem, and causes a negative impact on your productivity. Everybody has a different journey and everybody is presented with different opportunities. Be grateful for the opportunities that you have been given; someone else may have given it all to be in your position.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
When I was considering leaving my eight-to-five corporate job in marketing to become a full-time, self-employed photographer, it was very intimidating for me to think about leaving a guaranteed and steady source of income for my own photography business, which was only in its fledgling stage of development.
I decided to consult my parents about making a career change. Both my mother and my father are conservative; I wouldn’t consider them to be huge risk takers. To my surprise, when I asked them whether they thought I should take the leap, they were both fully supportive of me doing it! Their confidence in me gave me the push that I needed to take that leap.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://leighnelson.photo
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leighnelson.photo/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighnelson1/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
