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

Hi Leandra, what do you attribute your success to?
I think what excites me most about photography is capturing the personalities of my clients. I love people and I love sharing their most precious moments with them, and I am able to capture all of their joy and emotion as I strive to bring out the best in them. Photography is a powerful way to tell someone’s story, without words, or motion. It is a timeless record that can reflect a person’s character, allowing them to relive their most important moments, and telling stories for generations to come. So being able to capture that is an important skill for my business.

Additionally, a specific event that changed my perspective was getting married myself in 2018. Being on the other side of the camera gave me a new understanding of specific things that are important to a bride and groom and a better appreciation for variety, and taking my time to understand the specific needs of each individual..

What should our readers know about your business?
In addition to my photography business, I am also a mom, a college mathematics tutor, and a grocery store clerk. So photography is a part-time endeavor, but it has also turned into my most treasured creative outlet. In fact, that’s how it started. It was simply a way to market my jewelry business, but as I got more comfortable with the camera, I started taking it everywhere I went. In 2014, I became a portrait and family photographer, and in 2015, I began photographing weddings as a second shooter. A year and a half later, I started to get hired as the primary wedding photographer. Since then, wedding photography has kept me busy for the past five years.

Today, I take pride in my work and how far I have come in refining my product and services, especially when it becomes challenging. I think the hardest part is managing my time between multiple other jobs and motherhood. Photography requires countless hours editing each photo, communicating with my clients, and lately, expanding my brand. I am learning more with every photoshoot, opportunity, and every new client.

It’s also just fun! I have a wonderful time capturing life’s most important events, laughing along with my customers, and in many cases, making friends and building a community.

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?
First, come by and say hi to me at Natural Grocers and get some delicious snacks on your way up to the mountains! First stop would be downtown Golden, which has some amazing shops, coffee, wine slushies, food and tubing down clear creek. A drive up lookout mountain gives you an incredible view of the east and as well as hiking North and South Table Mountain. Next we would go about another four hours into the mountains to the wildflower capital of Colorado, Crested Butte. It’s hard to put into words how magnificent that place is, from the the mountain culture, fishing, hiking, mountain vista’s, wildflowers, and food…especially Nikki’s Mini Donuts and pizza at the Secret Stash, you won’t want to leave!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Sarah Morgan, with Sarah Morgan Photography. We are each other’s second-shooters for weddings and I couldn’t ask for a better assistant and coach since she has practically taught me everything I know. If she hadn’t had me second shoot for one of her weddings in 2015, I don’t know if I would be where I am today.

To my mother who constantly encouraged me in my eye for photography. She was the one who was there at the beginning when I started this back in 2014.

To my husband, who is the brains behind my website and all the logistics with running a business, and another go-to assistant for weddings.

Website: https://climbingrosephotography.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClimbingRosePhotography

Image Credits
Self portrait photo by Sarah with Sarah Morgan Photography

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