Daily Inspiration: Meet Leah Van Note

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Van Note.

Hi Leah, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
This is quite the open-ended question… I guess I would say my passion for storytelling and capturing moments started when I was little, probably around ten. I forced my sister into making a little YouTube channel with me where we would just post silly little skits of ourselves in front of our green screen, just seeing where our imagination would take us, and with a green screen, it can take you pretty far! A couple of years later, maybe around the age 14, I got my first real camera, a Canon t5i. Little did I know this camera would be my ride or die for the next six years. Stepping into high school, I got more into photography as I started taking classes. I began to learn all of the camera settings and almost instantly became fascinated with everything I could do and create with just this camera.

It started with once again, making my sister be my model for a couple of years, not that I think many 16 years old around that time had a problem with “modeling” for their sister in their backyard every so often. Sibling photoshoots turned into friend photoshoots and then came along AP Photography. This was my senior year of high school, had taken every other photography class my school had offered and I wanted to try to push myself to be more creative. This was a fun time in my photography career and really let me figure out what I was loving shooting and what I wasn’t liking so much. I found out that what I like is people. Capturing little moments for people, snapshots of a moment in their life. My Senior year of high school is when I started my photography business. Now, I wouldn’t say it was much of a business, I didn’t have a website and my only clients were my senior photos for my friends, but those 10 photoshoots were something that was really exciting for me. Since then, I have set a mission for myself to one day be a full-time photographer, as this is the thing I truly enjoy.

Stepping into my first year of college at Colorado State University, I began my journey as a Journalism and Media Communications major. I wanted a major that would connect well with my photography hobby but not overconsume my hobby into school. These next couple of years is when I really broke out of my shell. I continued marketing myself to my High School as a photographer for senior photos and even reached out to families for family photos as well. My business now is mostly based off of Grads and Couples, but what I aspire to get more into is weddings! I am very proud of all the steps I have taken to get to the point I am now, but I am nowhere near being done!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. A lot of my struggles began with, “How do I, as a 16 years old, start my own business?”. I mean honestly, now as a 20 years old, I still don’t really know how to do that. It’s something that I work on almost every day now. Reaching out to potential customers, marketing myself, and doing as much research as I can. I have just now finally started getting to the point where I have had people find me instead of me finding them, which I think is a huge accomplishment.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Northern Colorado Portrait photographer who specializes in Senior Portraits and Couples. I am most proud of my success because everything I have done, I have done myself. It has taken me a long time to get to where I am, and im just getting started!

I try to set myself apart from others, but it is a little hard. Photography right now can be a little “trendy” and that is what I struggle with. It’s hard to keep up with the style trends while still keeping your own touch to the photos as well. Personally, I do think I have a style that sets myself apart from others, but I definitely want to keep working at keeping myself unique!

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Within the next 5-10 years, I would love to specialize in couples. Senior photography has been my safe space for the past couple of years, but I do really love capturing memories as well. I would love to create more bonds with my customers shifting to engagement and wedding photos. I think that is an industry where more storytelling can be done, and that is what I love about it. Emotion draws people in and creates true art which is what I want to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lnvannote.wixsite.com/photography
• Instagram: leahvannotephotos