We are welcoming Lindsay Leslie as a leader in this community, as well as to the blog today and we could not be more excited! As our latest Unraveled Expert Artist, we are excited to watch her grow more and share her knowledge and passion with our members! We believe the one word her work embodies the most is PLAYFUL. She seems to skip past the teethy smiles and gets straight to the gut-wrenching laughter. Every moment feels like a celebration when looking at her work. Even the more serious shots. The light is always there to remind you of the joy – or silver lining.

Lindsay is a wife and mom living in Barre, Massachusetts. She offers family and portrait photography, but her greatest joy is capturing memories of her own loved ones. Lindsay loves small town living, weekend barbecues, and strong IPA's. She is happiest when she can tag along on adventures with her camera in hand.

FOR MORE INSPIRATION FROM LINDSAY:

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Here is Lindsay, Unraveled…

What inspires your art? 

My family is my biggest inspiration and having babies is what prompted me to buy my first DSLR in the first place. Capturing the love of a family brings me joy. I am also inspired by beautiful light and unique faces. I often people watch and will stare at strangers and take pictures of them in my mind. Sounds creepy, but I bet there are folks who can relate.

What do you shoot with? Camera body and favorite lens? 

I currently shoot with a Nikon D750, but I am itching to go mirrorless. The lens I use most is my 50mm f/1.4. But in tight spots I use my older model 35mm f/2.

What other ways do you express your creativity? 

I sometimes write poetry. I usually write it as a caption for Instagram. I am not really a wordsmith, but it helps fuel my creativity.

How do you de-stress at the end of the day? 

I love a glass of red wine while I watch shows with my husband. That usually means I am scrolling on my phone, while I occasionally glance at the TV. But once in a while I am actually invested in a show.

What kind of music do you listen to while editing? 

I have very eclectic taste in music. I listen to everything from country to pop and even hymns.\

What is your favorite book? 

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. I know that probably sounds odd, but I just loved it so much. She talks a lot about fear and how it can negatively impact women during birth and ways that you can reframe that fear. I found it immensely helpful during birth, but I also find it useful in everyday life.

Name one movie that inspires you. 

As a preteen I loved old movies. Anything with Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. I loved old Hollywood glamour.

How do you handle self-doubt or creative slumps? 

The winter is tough for me. And every winter I get a little bummed out because I can't really photograph outdoors that much. It forces me to get creative indoors though. I am forever trying to find patches of pretty light in my house. Once the promise of Spring is in the air it really gets me out of my creative funk.

What has been the most difficult part of your creative journey?

Playing the comparison game and imposter syndrome. I struggle with comparing my work to my peers. Or even comparing my business to my peers. I am happy with photography being a supplemental income and not a full time gig. It doesn't make sense for me to compare myself to others in that area, but I still do. I don't ever want to be so overwhelmed and busy that it sucks the joy out of photography so I need to remember this when things are slow.

What is your favorite pizza topping?

Mushrooms!

What is your most favorite kind of light and why?

Oh gosh. This is tough because I love so many different kinds of light. But I absolutely love sun flares so I have to pick backlight.

Who is one of your favorite photographers? 

This is another tough one! There are so many. I really love Elliana Allon and the way she captures mothers. They remind me of paintings you see in museums. I love Brittany Grubs and her earthy pregnant mamas and rich colors. I really love the way Katie Metka captures her family and tells a story through her imagery. I truly love so many so it's tough to name a few!

What is your favorite course or lesson at Unraveled? 

Sarah Driscoll's Engraving of a Person was one of my favorites. It was the first lesson I watched and I think it really helped me to get more creative with the standard head and shoulder portrait. I love portraits, but they can get a little boring if you're not pushing yourself. Her course showed simple ways to capture your viewers attention. I also loved Ace Fanning's senior course in the Onward Retreat. The way he keeps things constantly moving and tips he gave for more flattering angles is something I use with my families.