Meet Emilie Leazier | Film & Digital Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emilie Leazier and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emilie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve been a photographer my whole life, but I had my first client when I was in high school. I started by taking my friends’ senior photos and you know how high school is, word travels fast, and I had friends asking me for senior photos that whole year. I came to college and wanted to pursue a degree because I wasn’t sure where I wanted to take my career. I landed on Communication Studies for the ability to land in many fields and also pursue my passion for film, media and photography.

It wasn’t until my junior year of college when I realized I wanted to pursue photography on a professional level. I invested time and money into education, research, gear, filing my LLC and obtaining business insurance. I worked hard for six months to ultimately land my first wedding in December of 2023, just 5 months after starting my business.

When it comes to the thought process behind my business, I knew I always wanted to be my own boss. Truthfully, an LLC seemed like the next step when taking on real income and opening doors to work at more venues and obtain permits for specific photo locations.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My field is incredibly artistic and creative. Wedding photography is such a sacred piece of a wedding day. When you think about it, it’s all you’ll have left from the day. It’s something worth investing in and feeling confident in who you choose. What sets any photographer apart is their personality and shooting style.

Film photography is where I set myself apart. Film is another medium of photographer other than digital. Film can capture color, texture, and light in a way that digital photography can’t. When the shutter of the camera is open, the film is exposed to light and an impression is captured. This is what photography used to be before technology progressed to where it is now. When it comes to film, I am able to be present in the moment, capture the real moments of a wedding day and deliver my best work because I’m expressing my creativity.

I want to world to know that my brand is centered around my clients. Every aspect of their day is about them, every detail they plan deserves to be documented and prioritized. Each wedding day is so uniquely different and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to photographing it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is amazing!! I love Fort Collins and the amount of activities the city has to offer.

Day 1
Pick my friend up from the airport around noon and head into town and stop by Odell Brewing for an afternoon drink.
Settle in and plan for the rest of the week.
Head out to The Social for light appetizers and a cocktail.

Day 2
Wake up and head to Silvergrille for breakfast.
Shop around Downtown and hit the boutiques like Blue Harvest, Ivy and Sunday.

Day 3
Grab a bagel at Gibs and drive up to Horsetooth for a hike.
Hike in Lory State Park to Arthurs Rock
Spend the rest of the day swimming in Horsetooth
Drive back into town and pick up a Krazy Karls pizza for dinner

Day 4
Sleep in and walk around town and grab a coffee at Lima.
Spend the afternoon going to a CSU Football game.
At night, head out to Highpoint Bar and Luck Joe’s for a little bit of night life

Day 5
Last day!
Take a final drive up to Verns for breakfast and catch some views of Horsteooth
Drive to the airport

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When it comes to recognition, I believe my shoutout goes to the entire Northern Colorado photographer and creative community. Instagram has helped me assimilate into the community and connect with other wedding vendors. With that, I have been able to find a place and encouragement when I showcase my work online. This has also helped my business grow exponentially with referrals and extending my reach!

Website: https://emilieleazier.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilieleazierphotography/