Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Varney.
Hi Leah , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My professional story hasn’t followed one perfectly straight path, but creativity and connecting with people have always been at the center of it. I began working in hospitality, where I developed strong communication skills, learned how to read people, and eventually grew into leadership and bar management.
Photography became another important creative outlet for me. I’ve always been drawn to capturing genuine moments, beautiful details, and the personality behind an image. Over time, that passion grew into photographing people, events, landscapes, wildlife, and food
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a perfectly smooth or straightforward road. One of my biggest challenges has been building new careers while continuing to work full-time in hospitality. Photography and real estate both require time, consistency, self-promotion, and a willingness to keep going even when progress feels slower than expected.
I’ve also had to overcome the tendency to compare my timeline to other people’s. Starting something new can be humbling, especially when you’re accustomed to being experienced and confident in another field. I’ve learned that success rarely happens in a straight line. Every challenge has made me more resourceful, resilient, and comfortable creating my own path.
Balancing hospitality management, photography, and real estate in San Diego can be demanding, but each experience has strengthened the others and helped me become a better communicator, businesswoman, and creative professional.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a San Diego-based photographer whose work includes portraits, events, food, landscapes, and wildlife. While my subjects vary, the common thread is my interest in capturing something genuine—whether that is a person’s personality, the energy of an event, or a moment in nature that might otherwise go unnoticed.
When photographing people, I want them to feel comfortable and recognizable in the final images. I’m less interested in creating something overly staged or artificial than I am in capturing the qualities that make someone distinctive. My years in hospitality have helped me connect with all kinds of personalities, read the energy in a room, and put people at ease.
I’m most proud when someone sees one of my photographs and feels an emotional connection to it. What sets me apart is the combination of creativity, intuition, and people skills I bring to the work. I pay attention not only to composition and light, but also to the small expressions and unexpected moments that often become the most meaningful images.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice is to begin before you feel completely ready. It’s easy to convince yourself that you need better equipment, more training, or a perfect plan before you can call yourself a photographer. In reality, you develop your eye by taking photographs, experimenting, making mistakes, and discovering what consistently draws your attention.
I also wish I had understood earlier that creativity is only one part of building a career. Learning how to communicate with clients, value your time, promote your work, and create genuine relationships is just as important as understanding your camera.
Finally, try not to compare your beginning to someone else’s established career. Inspiration can be valuable, but comparison can make you overlook your own progress and perspective. Your individual way of seeing the world is ultimately what gives your work value.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Lv_elle_veephotography
