Hi, — I'm a North Carolina based documentary and wedding photographer. I combine documentary and cinematic story telling, with a journalistic approach that is natural in style, with a creative use of light and color. I learned wedding photography through my desire to capture raw, authentic expression, while telling a creative story along the way.
Which it all began when my son was born. I am passionate about being a father, spirituality, telling stories, reading, human consciousness, and spending time with my Son Sloan, our dog Dolce, writing, and taking photographs as we travel the world.Mixing modern and analog mediums to tell the story of your day with empathy, curiosity, and a hint of nostalgia.
I value the connection I have with my clients, and I work to have alll of my couples feel celebrated, supported, and completely comfortable with me on their wedding day. At the end of the day, trust and connection are essential to creating the most authentic and timeless photographs together.
A little about me
Hello,
I'm Lee
Let's Connect
I love capturing the realness and authenticity of wedding stories. Images that are natural and express the trust story of who you are and the love you share with one another. Every wedding is different and my goal is to tell each unique story in the most genuine way.
During your wedding, the most important thing is to be present in the moment with one another. I've seen so many weddings get lost in the entertainment of guests or small details of the day, that the true representation of why you are coming together gets lost. By seeing that, I've learned for us to never be rushed and to fully enjoy the day, moment to moment and taking it all in.
"Perfectly Imperfect"
MY PHILOSOPHY
My son. My son is a big 'why' for me. He has taught me so much already and he is actually the reason I got into photography. I came from a corporate HR background and was very unhappy with the work life balance I had and the deminishing passion.
I had this little Nikon camera sitting on my desk for years, always afraid of being 'creative'. So when my son was born, I finally decided to pick it up and document his journey. Well, a few printed photos later by his mom, and a few 'who took that photo' questions, I finally found my purpose through my own personal Alchemist Journey.
"EVERY Wedding, Every Shoot, I see the WORLD through a Whole New Lens. YOUR Story will be Different from the Last, and This IGNITES My Passion all over again."
Sure, I'm a photographer. Do you know what really gets me going? People.
What I really care about is helping you get more out of your wedding experience and more out of life. After all, isn't that what it's all about?
So if you're looking to break away from the traditional and create something truly unique, I'm here to support you all the way. We'll work together to create the perfect pre-wedding / wedding experience, complete with photos you'll cherish forever.
It's not only about the photos. It's about the relationship we'll form along the way. The experience you will have. How you feel before during and after your wedding day.
And my goal is to add to that. To bring my energy and personality in a way that enhances your wedding day and adds memories of our time together that will live with your photos you look back on.
"Your story matters"
Well, I'm a rather simple and complex human (aren't we all?" HAHA
I love the deeper meaning and topics of life. Talking about philosophy and human consciousness. Exploring my own mind and exesistence, while aiming to understand other peoples cultures, experiences, and life meanings.
Other parts of me enjoy simplicity. I love being outside, camping, and exploring in nature. I love to travel whenever possible and experience different ways of life. MY favorite food is defientiely sushi, with a big ol ribye being a close second.
My biggest driver in life is being a dad. It has taught me so much to see things through his eyes about myself and life in general. Being a dad for me has allowed me to feel a love like no other.
That’s a little sneak peek into my life and a few of my favorite things. No matter who and where we are, we’re all souls wandering this beautiful earth, with a different story to share. No tale is one and the same. And that’s why I LOVE documenting love stories (and hopefully yours too!)”
"My nickname in school was question mark"
Picking out a photographer felt super daunting in the beginning, but after we met Lee we knew it was a perfect match. We just had our engagement photos, and I was BLOWN away by all the little moments he was able to capture.
We wanted to find someone that would blend perfectly with our style and fit right in on our wedding day. It's evident in his work how personal it is for him and how much he truly cares about his clients' experience. I know he’s only ever a quick text or call away. We've had quite a few changes in locations and dates, and he’s been so flexible and helpful throughout.
We were obsessed with the engagement photos he took. The day of the photos, it just so happened to start raining as we were parking to meet up with Lee. He came prepared with two clear umbrellas and was pumped for the shoot regardless of the rain. He immediately put my nerves at rest. We ended up with over 200 photos in less than two weeks.
I couldn't believe all the stunning photos I had to choose from. Not to mention, we had the best time scouting the Lake Lure area during our time. It was the best little adventure. We can’t wait to have Lee meet our two little ones for our family photos next. Our wedding day is about six months away, and there’s still so much to plan. But I’m so happy we found Lee, and I’m so excited to see all the moments he has yet to capture. Highly recommend!
- Nicole & Josh
We are beyond pleased with Lee’s work for our wedding day at the Biltmore Estate and our engagement pictures at Looking Glass falls, the pictures are beautiful and we will cherish them forever. We were in the hunt for a photographer that was able to work independently as we wanted to rely on their creative eye so we could focus on our guests and enjoying our time at our ceremony and reception.
Lee was fantastic to work with since the beginning, he was always able to answer any and all questions via text or a phone call. We were able to speak with him on several occasions to plan our vision. We first met him for our engagement pictures and we didn’t have a clear idea of where we could take pictures since we are from Miami and not familiar with the Asheville area, Lee was great at providing a magnificent backdrop for our shoot, and although the weather at the fall was at times uncomfortable Lee was still able to capture amazing shots that we were delighted with.
For our big day we had to adhere to the many rules and limitations at the Biltmore Estate and Lee was able to pivot to make our first look pictures happen, we were able to enjoy our reception with the assurance he would know what to capture and when and we were satisfied with the end result. The turnabout time was also very reasonable and we had the final pictures before we got back from our honeymoon. We would recommend Lee and his team without reservations, and I commend him for his artistic eye and ability to create a wonderful product while also taking into consideration our vision and ideas.
- Cris & Ben
We could not recommend Lee more highly. The pictures themselves were everything we could have hoped for, but Lee did so much more for us than just take excellent pictures. First, the pictures themselves: I don’t think that we have ever looked as cool and sexy and sharp as we do in those pictures. There are fun pictures and cute pictures, and pictures with dark shadows and a creepy Alice-in-Wonderland vibe that we were going for. One of our sister-in-laws is a professional wedding photographer and she was especially impressed with Lee’s work.
Second, Lee is a lot of fun to hang out with. If you haven’t ever gotten married before, you probably don’t realize how much of your wedding day will be spent with your photographer. More than any other vendor, your photographer is the one where it matters if you have fun talking to and hanging out with them as a person. For us, Lee was the perfect person to talk to. Very relaxed, but with a sense of fun and excitement too.
Third, there are a few specific ways that Lee went above and beyond for us.He has a sense of adventure as a photographer, and he found a way to get us through a barbed wire fence (while in dress and suit) in order to nab some amazing photos in the fields on the side of a mountain on our venue. If you are game for something and willing to try it, Lee will find a way to make it happen. Lee is also very capable of being sensitive to complex family dynamics. He was careful to make sure that some photos which would have caused unnecessary drama were not included in the general cache of photos that we shared with family members. Lee was absolutely worth the money, and you should absolutely hire him, especially if you are aiming to have a somewhat quirky or alternative ceremony.
- Tara & Stefan
It needs to be known that this is literally one of the most talented and emotionally dedicated photographers out there. From my experience, my best advice when planning a wedding is to put most of your budget on your venue and your photographer.
The best thing about Lee is you will get A+++++ captured moments and edited pictures while not breaking your budget. This man not only knew what I wanted without telling him, but also gave me the direction to get the pictures I didn’t even think were possible.
The best part of all of it, is Lee became apart of the party and my family and friends loved him. I would have it no other way but to have him as our photographer for all special and memorial events moving forward. Thank you Lee, you are incredibly talented and an amazing person inside and out. Thank you from the Huffman’s.
- Makayla & Tyler
Lee is one of a kind! His photos are beautiful but even more so is the passion for his work with others. I was disabled in 2016 and being a bride is already nerve-racking but even more so from my wheelchair. I was anxious to find a photographer who would work well with me and capture great memories. Lee was so calming and encouraging while giving great direction. He never ran out of ideas or patience. lol. Cannot wait to see how the rest of my pictures turn out but with Lee I trust the process! 11 out of 10 recommend!
- Gabby & Andrew
" It's more than photos, its about the people, connection, and the memories that live on for a lifetime "
I include an engagement session as part of the experience because engagement sessions add so much to the story of who you are as a couple right now, and they're an ideal way to become more comfortable in front of my lens before your wedding day. Your engagement session can be as simple as a stroll through your favorite park, a desert sunset shoot, or even a romantic return to where he proposed- anything you can imagine to share the imagery of your personal love story.
Formal or informal, images from your engagement session are a beautiful addition to your wedding experience, and also make a wonderful signing book. They help craft the whole story, and can even be used for save-the-date cards, invitations, or thank you cards.
Engagement session included?
I am fully invested in serving my couples from the moment you inquire with me, not only on your wedding day. I pride myself on getting to know my couples so that I can help bring your wedding vision to life. I consider myself more than just a vendor to my couples. I am here for every step of the planning process, answering questions, providing advice, and preserving memories that you will truly cherish for a lifetime.
What makes you different?
Me too! HAHA. So I totally understand. My goal is to make couples feel safe, relaxed, and free to be their most authentic selves in front of the camera. I steer away from stiff posing and instead provide ample time for you to get comfortable. By engaging in activities you enjoy together, I create an environment that encourages genuine connections and captures real moments
What if we are nervous in front of a camera?
Thats an easy one. Definitely! Where ever you want to go, I'm in.
Do you travel?
Yes! I have extensive experience shooting in all types of lighting situations. Experience in this area is extremely important because the lighting can often times change quickly and it is important to be able to anticipate the situation vs reacting to the change in lighting. This way, I don't miss a beat on your wedding day! Also, from the technical side, color temperature is a big part of skin tones, colors, and editing, and plays a big factor in the finished image.So knowing all to balance that with lighting is key.
Varies lighting conditions?
For sure. This is a service I provide to all of my couples. I want to help make sure that you are getting the wedding day images you have always dreamed of, and your timeline plays a HUGE role in that. How do you get what you ultimately desire? What are the best practices for the timeline of the day? How do you get the most out of your photography investment? What are common mistakes to avoid? There is so much to consider and I'm here to help you make the best decisions for your day!
Wedding timeline tips?
Genuine and real. My goal is and always will be to create an environment where you can show up yourself 1000% and so can I. Couples can expect professionalism, personalized guidance, timely responses throughout their wedding journey, and FUN. My commitment is to create a stress-free and memorable experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in the present moment.
Whats it like working with you?
No story is ever the same. Yours will be documented to share your unique journey.
