Photographer Interview - Leanne Cantelon
We love sharing the work of our friends. They are photographers that inspire us with their art, and who are constantly stretching themselves and reaching new levels of creativity. Today, we're chatting with long-time friend Leanne Cantelon, talking about how the change from Vancouver to LA has affected her images.
Leanne is a Vancouver wedding photographer turned LA portrait photographer. Not just a photographer, Leanne is a wife, mother, accomplished piano player, singer and has an eye for beautiful aesthetic. The Cantelon home, which Leanne created, always looked straight out of a nordic magazine. Her creativity and eye for composition has always been showcased in her images, and she has an ability to use lighting to put a unique flare on her images.
Last year, Leanne and her husband packed up their family home, and along with daughter, left overcast Vancouver for sunny LA. As we've followed along their journey, it's been incredible watching her images adapt and evolve to her new surroundings and see her images be re-inspired by her changed surroundings. Make sure you follow along Leanne's journey through her Instagram here!
Q1. Who is Leanne Cantelon?
LC: I'm Leanne. A 24-year-old wife, mother, and photographer. I'm all about laughing really hard, and being better at life every day, listening to good music, eating good food, trying to be more like Jesus, loving my husband and daughter, and being more real with people. I am still learning how to do my make-up, and wondering if it's really worth it. The struggle is real. I'm also a huge nerd about a lot of things. There is another question at the end where I say what makes me a nerd, so I'll save that for the end.
Q2. How and when did you get started as a photographer?
LC: I have loved playing around with cameras since I was a kid, but I shot my first legitimate session when I was 18. It seemed like a fun way to make a living, and people seemed to like the photos I was taking. So, I guess I accidentally became a photographer?
Q3. When you were living in Vancouver you shot primarily weddings, now that you're in LA what are you primarily shooting?
LC: I'm primarily shooting portraits - I'm under my husbands visa, so I've taken a step back from doing photography as a business, and started doing it for fun again. It has been seriously refreshing!
Q4. What is the difference between shooting in the Pacific North West versus shooting in Southern California?
LC: LESS RAIN! Haha, but seriously. It has been so fun being able to shoot in a legitimate "golden hour" almost every day. It's allowed me to experiment a lot more with natural light. And, maybe it's the smog in LA, but there always seems to be a softness to light, no matter what time of day you are shooting.
Q5. We LOVE your new work and creative risks you have been taking. What advice would you give to a photographer who wants to try new things?
LC: Well, thanks! This is something I'm definitely still learning, but my advice would be to start by following the work of artists and photographers who see things differently than you do. That helps me keep an open mind when I'm shooting! I also take time to sit and image a photo that I HAVEN'T seen before, and make a mental note (or physical note) to try it next time I shoot. Lastly, when you want to change things up, try something new with the way you process photos! I regularly try out different editing styles to try and match the mood of the photo, rather than shooting photos to match how I normally edit.
Q6. How do you stay inspired?
LC: I always try to prioritize taking the time to shoot for the fun of it! Finding people who se style and personality works well with mine and taking photos of them with no pressure to "deliver" a certain set of images. Doing that really has allowed me to push creativity and hone in on who and what I love photographing!
Q7. Favourite thing to shoot?
LC: Definitely portraits/lifestyle! I love being able to focus on one subject - take the time to study features and photograph what truly makes that person unique. For me, the greatest success is taking a beautiful photo that makes the subject see the best in themselves!
Q8. What are 3 of the most interesting facts about Leanne Cantelon?
LC:
1. I can quote all the Lord of the Rings movies, including all the parts in Elvish and other languages.
2. I eat pasta 1-3 times a day. Lunch, Dinner, and possibly a mid-afternooon or late-night snack.
3. I am REALLY good at Halo. Yes, the shooting video game. Like, I consistently have the highest score when playing online. Wow, that sounds even more nerdy when I say it.
Thank you so much, Leanne! We love you and your images and can't wait to see all the things you create over the next year.
