Rising Stars: Meet Leanna Farhat

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leanna Farhat. 

Hi Leanna, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I’m Leanna! As a kid, I always told people I was going to be a photographer because it sounded cool. I grew up in the myspace era of dramatic portraits and always felt like taking angsty photos was my key outlet. Fast forward to adulthood, I really just wanted to focus on taking photos of my son and the one I had on the way, so I asked my husband and family to go in on a joint birthday present of a basic DSLR. I shot my first wedding with that cheap camera and some kit lenses and felt on top of the world, but still with no intention on turning it into a career. (I had been working part-time for a biomedical company and was happy just to be making extra income since we were young parents). The main shift was when I joined a breastfeeding support group and mentioned I took most of our own photos. I couldn’t believe folks were offering me money to take photos of their kids based on what they had seen of my own. It felt like a dream. Since then, has been a wicked (almost) decade of building lasting connections, shooting hundreds of weddings and families, a bunch of inspiring highs, and my fair share of frustrating lows in between. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I don’t think any business owner (especially creative ones) will tell you that their road has been only smooth. However, being able to learn to trust my instincts and being in charge of everything surrounding my business has been worth it. Not to say it doesn’t come without imposter syndrome days. Juggling all that life throws at us as adults and trying to build a business aren’t for the faint of heart. Lots of self-pity and many tears later, I can say I continue to build something successful! 

I remember deciding that it was time to leave my job for good and start taking photography seriously. I had logged serious hours with this company, and it felt like such a huge accomplishment to young me. I felt a need to prove myself as a young mom (and wife), so being able to tell people I contributed to society felt like a cushion to soften the blow of telling people I was such a young mom/wife. Once I realized my photo calendar was making it difficult to keep up with my work, I decided to make the leap and quit…only for my husband to be let go of his own job right after. I panicked and truly believed I made the wrong choice and that things weren’t working out for a reason. But I decided to stick with it, and between our savings and my photo income we made it work. A few months later, my husband was back to work, and I made the decision that my full-time job was photography. There are still so many days I feel defeated and overwhelmed by the weight of the extra work that comes with making your passion your income. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work has evolved and shifted into something different more times than I can count. It even continues to do so! I used to feel wholly insecure about that, but I’ve realized by now that growth is continuous, and I’m proud to be exploring all types of shooting and editing and constantly learning on the way. 

I try to make my work look like real life, only a little better. A little more dimensional but still inspired by film and nostalgia. I indulge myself in a good moody or dark edit still, but I’m feeling a pull more to true-to-life colors these days and I think it will serve my clients well! I would say weddings are the bulk of my work but working with families and other creatives is still such a priority for me. 

Honestly, I’m really proud of all I’ve learned simply by trial and error and the fact that I’ve been able to help others succeed in making photography their own job. I jokingly tell people, “If I knew how much there was to learn about photography, I probably wouldn’t have started,” and that’s exactly why I love to give people a helping hand when I can. When I was learning, the culture wasn’t quite as inclusive to newcomers, and I’m proud to have been one of the ones to shape the way for that to change. 

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
My husband and I were teen parents! I had my son at 17, and I could probably write a novel about the lessons, challenges, and course shifts along the way… but honestly, I just feel seriously proud of the hard work we’ve put in to intentionally raise kids with kindness and purpose. It certainly came with its very unique set of challenges, but I feel lucky to say we’ve had 2 kids, bought a home, and jumpstarted our careers all before we’re even 30. And I feel like I’m just getting started! 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sageandfernphoto.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/sageandfernphoto
• Facebook: Facebook.com/sageandfernphoto