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About

What’s just as important as our experiences in life? Immortalizing those experiences through photographs. I was living in Australia when I turned 21 and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate that milestone than feeling the rush of skydiving. We climbed to 14,000 feet as we gracefully skimmed the coast of Torquay Beach. When they opened the door and the wind whipped across my face, the thrill of it all suddenly hit. Leaving all sanity behind, we leapt from the plane plummeting towards the earth below. I thought I was going to have to forcibly keep my eyes open, but to my surprise I couldn’t close my eyes as I laughed and screamed hysterically the whole way down. Today I am able to look at my photos from that day and my heart still skips a beat thinking of the pure rush that was skydiving. That ability to relive that moment every time I look at the photos is one of the reasons I love photography so much. I want to give that gift to all those I capture on film (uh, or compact flash cards as it were these days!). Whether it’s remembering a rush, a heartfelt moment, or always being able to look back and see what your babies looked like when they were first born. To me, that is the magic of photography.

Want to know a little bit about me? I love to eat. Seriously. Especially little Amaretto cookies from Vaccaro’s in Baltimore. I feel like I should advertise for them…oh wait, I just did! My dance moves are what legends are made of….good or bad, the jury is still out. Even living on the west coast I remain an avid Broad Street Bullies fan. GO FLYERS! After four years of college ball, I still play soccer. Albeit, much slower these days. I am a third generation Italian-American who is still working on perfecting my version of the family’s signature summer dish, spaghetti and crabs.

If you like my style, I'd love to talk with you about your big day!

www.leahvalentine.com

leah@leahvalentine.com

805-364-0204

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Frequently asked questions

Which of the following are included in the starting price?

2nd Shooter
Engagement Shoot
One Event / Day
Digital Files

Which of the following are included in the price of your most popular wedding package?

2nd Shooter
Engagement Shoot
High-Res Images
One Event / Day
Albums
Digital Files
Flush Mount

What primary photographic style do you identify with?

Contemporary
Photojournalism

What photography items do you offer?

Albums
Digital Files
Flush Mount
Proofs

Reviews of Leah Valentine Photography

E
Elizabeth Sent on 07/28/2015
5 out of 5 rating
Leah was simply amazing! I found her at a wedding convention and I just fell in love with all the examples she had at her booth! She was very easy to work with and I am so glad she was there to capture our engagement photos, while being very pregnant, and our wedding! I highly recommend Leah to everyone and I will definitely continue to book her for our future photos!
H
Houkje Sent on 02/08/2015
5 out of 5 rating
Leah was WONDERFUL!!! She was always professional, kind, and personable, and she was so very patient with me when I was emotional the day of. The photos are BEAUTIFUL and exceeded my expectations. We found Leah through a referral from a relative after my original photographer didn't work out. She made us feel so comfortable and the end product was amazing!
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User1980950 Sent on 12/22/2014
5 out of 5 rating
Leah was amazing. She is incredibly professional and took great photos. Her end product speaks for itself.

I have been to a number of weddings for friends and family and absolutely hated their photographers, so i dreaded this part of planning our wedding. Off the bat though, it was clear that Leah was one of the top photographers in the area. I highly recommend her.
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User1931196 Sent on 11/19/2014
5 out of 5 rating
Leah Valentine photography was one of my favorite vendor partners during the special day. So professional on every detail and just so wonderfully artistic, and of course a dream to work with. So happy I met her and am so honored that she was with us on that day.
M
Mary Sent on 08/27/2014
5 out of 5 rating
We worked with Leah on our wedding this summer and we honestly could not run out of good things to say about her. Spoiler alert: Leah knocked it out of the park in all areas.
Leah’s pictures are STUNNING. After reviewing both our engagement photo shoot and our wedding day gallery, we were blown away by how amazing the pictures turned out, and what a large selection of them we wanted printed in some form or another (we ordered an engagement album and will be ordering a companion wedding album, as well as some individual photos). Neither my husband nor I feel like we’re really “photo” people, but we were really struck with how comfortable we look in all of our pictures. Leah’s style is incredible versatile, as well. Leah’s end product is amazing, and the photos are the most important part of the wedding, right?
Leah is a blast to be around. Not only is she fun and funny, she really channels the spirit of the wedding at any given moment. She knew when to lead me and my husband off for quiet, couple-y pictures; when to encourage my brother-in-law to photobomb a family portrait (which ended up being one of the funniest photos of the night); and she knew exactly how to round up and organize our family members and guests for the pictures we knew we wanted/needed.
My husband and I like to joke that we didn’t end up needing a wedding planner because Leah was so knowledgeable and thorough. Leah really helped us through what were unfamiliar with in the wedding planning process, including drafting a timeline based on what we wanted to do on the day and how long she imagined it would take. She also gave me a couple of great recommendations for vendors that I had not yet booked, which was totally reassuring and worked out very well.
Leah is a fantastic photographer, and I would recommend her to anyone I know getting married in the area (though she travels, too!). She did an amazing job with our wedding, and we are so lucky to have found her!
A
Allie Sent on 08/26/2014
5 out of 5 rating
Leah was amazing! So easy to work with! And the pictures turned out great!!!
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User1764528 Sent on 08/14/2014
5 out of 5 rating
My husband and I will be forever grateful to Leah for the fantastic job she did as our wedding photographer! She flew to Bermuda to capture our intimate wedding on the beach, and she truly captured the moments, the beauty, the spirit, everything! She is talented, dedicated, creative, patient, flexible, and friendly. Her passion for photography and for her clients shines through her work!

I am really 'camera shy' and Leah did a wonderful job making me feel comfortable during the portraits! She has a great eye, and two good ears, so she was able to suggest picture locations, poses, etc. that both worked beautifully and matched our tastes. She took gorgeous and dynamic shots of the ceremony itself. Then she seamlessly organized all of the group pictures that we wanted (no easy feat with 25 people, including many kids, but she made it fast and fun!) and also suggested other meaningful group photos that we're so glad to have but that we may have overlooked ourselves because of the frenzy of the day. She also got the BEST candid shots of our beloved friends and family celebrating. We TREASURE the photographs from our wedding!
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Becky Sent on 08/11/2014
5 out of 5 rating
Leah shot beautiful, artistic photos for our intimate beach house wedding. Her photos are unique in her attention to details and focus on capturing flattering and gorgeous lighting. Leah's professionalism, effortlessness and wonderful personality helped us to enjoy the day and maximize time with our families. As people who are a bit introverted and shy, my husband and I felt comfortable during portrait sessions thanks to Leah's helpful coaching and pleasant demeanor. She was also very patient with our family members who wanted to take many pictures for their own memories. One of the highlights of our reception dinner was showing the wedding picture slideshow that Leah had already created in less than an hour. All the guests fell silent, except for the collective "oohs" & "aahs," and we all clapped at the end. The day following the wedding, Leah had already sent us a 45 photo "sneak peek" gallery to share with our families while we were still on vacation at the beach house and we haven't stopped looking at it!

Becky & Danny
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Ivan Sent on 07/18/2014
5 out of 5 rating
We immediately felt at ease when we first met Leah. Her sweet nature, calmness, and ability to bring out the details of our day was amazing! We felt so comfortable with her, which allowed us to just relax and soak up our wedding day. Leah captured the most beautiful moments and we can't say enough good things about her. She is amazing at what she does, a true professional and was the perfect fit for capturing our wedding day memories. She was prompt with our photos and engaging from beginning to end. We just received our album and recalled Leah's beautiful words to us, "Your family will have this heirloom for years to come". Thank you Leah for being passionate about this in your profession! It's beautiful!
B
Brandy Sent on 07/14/2014
5 out of 5 rating
Leah shot our wedding in Cabo, Mexico. She was 100% professional yet, still so fun and laid back. She corresponded super promptly before, during and even after the wedding. She was able to answer any questions we had and was wonderful at giving tips and direction during the shoot. Leah was loaded down with camera gear but, that certainly did not stop her from moving quick to get all of the amazing sunset photos! Every detail was captured so beautifully, from close up shots of our rings to the group photos, right down to the table settings at the reception. I even saw pics of a few desserts at our reception that I missed out on eating! : ) My husband and I highly recommend Leah to capture any of your special events and we will absolutely be using her for all of ours.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

20
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner

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Leah Valentine Photography frequently asked questions

Leah Valentine Photography includes the following photography services in the starting price:
  • 2nd Shooter
  • Engagement Shoot
  • One Event / Day
  • Digital Files
Leah Valentine Photography includes the following photography services in their most popular wedding package:
  • 2nd Shooter
  • Engagement Shoot
  • High-Res Images
  • One Event / Day
  • Albums
  • Digital Files
  • Flush Mount
Leah Valentine Photography offers the following photography styles:
  • Contemporary
  • Photojournalism
Leah Valentine Photography offers the following photography materials for weddings:
  • Albums
  • Digital Files
  • Flush Mount
  • Proofs
Leah Valentine Photography is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.

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