Her Story
About Leanne
I've been working in photography for approximately 15 years, a path I was drawn to because of my uncle who passed away when I was little. He was a photographer and was studying art, and his influence stayed with me. My professional journey has been shaped by determination and a refusal to accept limitations. I became a mother at a young age, but I was committed to not being defined by stereotypes. I got my GED when I was about 25 in 2009, then earned my associates degree in public relations in 2013, followed by my bachelor's in corporate communication in 2017. I just completed my master's in science with an emphasis in digital marketing in 2024, and I'm now working on my doctorate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and Education, which I consider my most notable professional achievement. This will be my final degree since there's nothing higher than a doctorate. Throughout this journey, I've raised two sons and learned the importance of work-life balance. I believe in being both an initiator and a finisher, someone who doesn't just start things but sees them through to completion.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Leanne
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My best advice to any woman would be to not ever be a victim of your circumstances, and to not accept stereotypes. I was a single mom, I was a teenage mom, and I got a GED, and now I'm working on my doctorate degree. I didn't want to be a stereotype. My mother was young when she had me - she did not graduate high school or pursue getting her GED or a college degree. Even though I became a mom at a young age also, I did not want to be that stereotype, the young mom that doesn't finish school. So I ended up getting my GED, I got my associates, my bachelor's, my master's, and now I'm working on my doctorate degree. Don't allow yourself to be a statistic, and don't allow yourself to be a stereotype.
02What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in my work and personal life are probably a balance for family - work-life balance. As a mother of two sons while pursuing my education and career in photography, finding that balance between my professional ambitions and my family responsibilities has been essential to who I am and how I approach everything I do.
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