established in 2015
Hey there!
I’m Leigh. Some of you know me personally, but some may not. I’m 38 years old, born and raised right here in Hampton Roads. Or Tidewater. Or Coastal Virginia. Whatever they call where I live these days is where I was born and raised. My “studio” (it’s in quotes because it’s actually just a room in my house) is 300 square feet of glory. She’s not the largest space in the world, but what she lacks in space, she makes up for in heart! The studio is a living, breathing room. It’s constantly changing when certain things speak to me and make me feel like I need an adjustment. I love it more now than I ever have, though you still might catch me telling you that I wish it was 5 feet bigger in any direction during your session, juuuust after I’ve stubbed my foot on the bed or hit my head on the chandelier. My wife Shannon took these photos for me (studio art degree from JMU, no big deal) so we’re a pretty creative family. Some random tidbits that define me as a person: I believe that The West Wing is the greatest TV show in the history of television. The Great British Baking Show is the most wholesome content on TV right now. I watch far too much YouTube. Rocket League is one of the greatest video games you’ll ever play. And I’ve run 7 half marathons in my lifetime because I’m an insane human being.
The photography: I’ve been photographing Boudoir for 8 years. It started with an exploration of the human form (thus where the name Bodily Boudoir came from), how light works with shadows to create something from nothing, and how the different plains and peaks and valleys of the body are different on everybody, even though they’re made up of the same thing. From that first session on, I’ve taken every chance I get to have someone in front of my camera. Whether it’s for a project, for them, or anything in between. I love shooting the human form. And let me tell you, I thrive when people come to me with stories of success, of heartbreak, stories of depression and anxiety, stories of falling out of love with themselves and the bodies they live in, and stories of the absolute adoration that they feel when they look at themselves in the mirror. I do not take the opportunity and trust placed with me lightly. I take no greater honor than to be able to help someone through what they may not have been able to see themselves, or to be the vessel for them to show off what they've worked so hard for and are proud of. Every single person that steps in front of my camera knows from the start that we’re in this together. That’s my “why”. That’s why I do what I do. I want to be the outlet for your inner person. I want that person to be who you are and what you are. And by the time you see your photos through my eyes, to know that THAT person is exactly who you are through everyone else’s eyes as well.
I am so thankful for the opportunity I’m afforded every time someone allows me to help guide their creative vision, and that Bodily Boudoir was the right choice for them.
Thanks for being here!