A B O U T : / /

I N T R O D U C T I O N S : To whom it may concern,

I seem to live with my phone at about 16% battery life and my stereo at full blast. I'm the kind of person that likes to blow out a set of good speakers just to be able to say that she has done it. Not every day is a good day, but I feel like we should see the best in even the very worst. I'm like a warm front meeting a cold front; I'm El Niño at my best. I like to curse because vulgarity can be a type of sex appeal and self expression in stress-release. I can be a blatant professional or I can get down & throw a dance party with my coolest of clients. I like to be who I am and I expect you to do the same; I will be disappointed if you don't spend a good ten percent or greater of our shoot laughing. I feel that laughter and love and complete solace are the best medicines for healing and healing is what we aim to do. I am real and I want to see nothing but absolutely 100% you. You are unique and beautiful and it's by time you see it for yourself. >> Keep scrolling for more of the good stuff. <<

W H O : I’m Laura Leigh Mazanec, formerly Laura Leigh Blain. In 2019, I was finally able to change my legal name between surgeries. I’m a daughter, a friend, a sister, an ear, a pet-mom, a wife, an artist, an aunt, and a woman; I’m a professional, but I am not done learning. I feel there is always more to life & way more that we can be. I strive to be as distinguished as possible and to do as much as I can, be all that I can before my time on this planet is extinguished. I’m a young heart with an old soul rolled into a nice balance of daring and cautious. I see the beauty in everything and the light within the dark; I can turn a trashcan into a well engineered photograph. I’m a photojournalist and a photo-therapist, so I am here for the conversation. Anyone that knows me knows that I have the gift of gab. However, it’s taken me years to be able to formulate a short bio page for my “about me” style. How do you summarize a life that is still living or a story that is still being written? In my humble opinion, we don’t - we instead capture that moment in being exactly who we are and preserve that memory for a lifetime. But, I’m getting ahead of myself! I suppose we should start at the beginning.

B A C K S T O R Y : I started seriously taking pictures in high school as means of connecting with my big sister when she started college. She wanted to be a photographer and frankly, I wanted to do everything she wanted to do. Kimberly was always my inspiration, my hero, and honestly still is; I wanted to be her when I grew up. Then – I grew up and finally learned to want to be myself, leaning on the aspirations of the sister whose footsteps I attempted to follow. Kimberly ended up as a hospice nurse, and I went to school for photojournalism. While in school, I met a young man that became the reason for my first tattoo and the inspiration for my company name. Between classes, we would fold paper airplanes and write happy notes inside to shoot at people walking up and down the stairs. We were both of the philosophy that bringing a smile to someone could entirely change their day. This dear friend passed, but his memory lived on. He knew what I was meant to do long before I did. A few months later, my camera saved my life and shifted my perspective entirely. From there forward, I want to help people see themselves in a different light & change the narrative.

W H A T : I am a firm believer that sometimes, you do not know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. I’m often asked, “What do you do?” The answer is not all that simple and it is more than just a job title that you can tack at the front of a name. I’m not just a photographer or a journalist; I’m a storyteller, counsel, and a mirror. I help those that are struggling to see the good in themselves feel anew. I do not believe in excessive photoshopping or dodging the burns, but rather embracing the art of exploring what makes each wound heal and every step of that forward motion and growth. I’m here to hold your hand, to celebrate your successes and to grieve your losses alongside you. Phototherapy and photojournalism are tools that can be utilized to create not just art, but the self expression of every traumatic or elating event. If we can harness those feelings, that emotion, that passion - we can create something so raw together : we can showcase you, the real you. I’m here to make your moments into tangible memories to remind you, should you ever forget.

W H E N : I offer sessions from Monday - Friday, unless previously discussed. My office hours are 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM and my phone goes on “do not disturb” after business hours. We will set up a time and date depending on both client and photographer availability. I offer travel and adventure sessions throughout the year except on major holidays.

W H E R E : I do a lot of things & take a lot of pictures. I’m paid to travel the miles for the adventure we can take together. I offer one on one sessions at my in-home office and studio space, but I prefer a more natural light and setting when applicable. The earth can be so nurturing and an essential for personal development in healing past traumas. The greener, the better! Meet me in the mountains and we will have a meeting of the minds. Show me a waterfall, and we will dive right in. Show me the stars and I will show you you’re worth more than all the galaxies. Start me a fire and we will display the seven wonders of your body’s empowerment. Let us play in the rain and I will help you dry the tears. If you’re not catching my drift yet, I go where the camera and soul bond leads us. I’m at your service, just tell me where to go or come on by and let’s have a cup of tea and dig through the client closet.

W H Y : Photography is something very dear to my heart and I feel that expressing oneself should not come from just one format or medium. I am in love with the art of storytelling and I want to hear what you have to say. Our session isn’t just about getting the right angle or the perfect shot but about getting in touch with who you are and what you have to offer yourself. Finding purpose can help guide us through the toughest of moments. Truth be told, my camera and this artform saved my life when I was wrapped so deep in the arms of depression that I almost lost. If my passion can help just one person in some miniscule way, it will all have been worth it. So, ask yourself why you should choose to book a session with me. I will give you five good reasons.

1. I’m real. I’m filled with raw emotions and I will be the person to hug you or hold your hand through the hard stuff. You can cry or yell and scream, you can dance in your underwear, you can be brave, you can feel any and all of it with me and I’m not going to judge you or think negatively about you. What is said in a session stays in a session. I’m not going to go blab your secrets to social media, but I will assist you in telling your story when you are ready.

2. I see life through an unique perspective and I see the beauty in that birthmark, that dimple you hate, the freckles you cover with make-up, your tummy rolls, in the way your curly hair is massive with the humidity changes. I’m going to go above and beyond to not only get your “good side” but I’m going to show you what makes the other parts of you that you discount so much incredibly special. I can show you what others see in you - what you should see in you.

3. I’m great with kids, I’m a Disney Princess, & parents LOVE me. I can assimilate into any environment you put me in. Professional appearances and thematic events are my bread and butter. I excel at being charismatic when I’m a complete stranger and I love a pantsuit! I’m going to catch that first handshake, the joke everyone laughs at, or the twentieth time Little Johnnie swings that baseball bat and finally strikes the piñata that sends candy flying everywhere. I will see opportunity in the moments others would miss and I’m going to make sure the candid wholeheartedly outweighs the staged.

4. I have keen attention to detail and notice the particulars you would prefer to eliminate like the giant black hair tie on your wrist or the crumpled water bottle behind that park bench. We will remove these objects from taking the focus. Whilst it may take me a bit longer than others to finish fine-tuning your images, I can stand by my promise to curate a well-crafted gallery of images without smudges, glares, or blurry under-quality photographs. Every image you receive will be print-worthy and in HD format. I believe that variety is the spice of life, so you’re going to get a great mix and match of poses, outfits, props, angles, and healthy combination of vibrant colors and black and white.

5. It’s going to be a blast! By the end of our session, you will be heading home with a smile and a new hiking buddy, a good friend, or at least the knowledge that you are worthy of all the good things. Take up that space!

H O W : The process of setting up a session varies from client to client depending on your photography need/desire and the state of the world. I require a consultation from all clients except charitable donations in order to better assess your photography or phototherapy needs. This is non-negotiable and is a means of making sure that we are not only a good model + photographer match but it also allows us to get to know one another a little better in order to remove some of the shoot-day jitters. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are equipped for video conferencing consolations via FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, Facebook Messenger, Instagram Chat, and various other methods.

I home-base in the following locations:

San Antonio, TX  78217
Austin, TX  78660

Did I already do an introduction?

Paper Plane Photographs Facts :
+ hardcore North American road-tripper; you pay, I photo.

+ here to declare that deposits are non-refundable as you are taking away space from another client. You pay to take up space on my calendar.

+ playing with cameras since high school (class of 2007, represent).

+ A-type planner with no set schedule.

+ no specific editing style. I do what I like.

+ ready for all the social media friends because when you support small businesses, you are supporting someone’s dream.

+ we support the 3g’s : the girls, the gays, the goths. All inclusive proud supporter.

Laura Leigh Facts :
+ my camera, my camper, & my mom are my pride & joy.

+ self-proclaimed bird lady and animal rescuer (dog mama, of current).

+ turning 36 but I act 46.

+ life philosophy : live hard. talk dirty. laugh deep. eat well.