I've always been into music, arts, and expression but I actually stumbled into photography. I was in nursing school and we had a clinical assignment in Jackson, MS. I wanted a nice, easy drive down there from where i lived in Amory so I took the Natchez Trace. It was during the fall and leaves were changing. I remember thinking how serene it was and that I really should get a nice camera. I had used point and shoots before but never anything better or for anything other than snapshots. So I bought a Canon Rebel XT when I got to Jackson...my first "real camera". On the way back home, with my SLR in hand, I stopped along the Trace and snapped several shots. One particular rest stop had an area with lily pads, logs, and some moss hanging from the trees and into the water. I walked down to the water, framed up the shot, and then realized that an alligator was sitting on the log in the middle of the frame about ten feet from me. I remember the switch flipping in my head, because I didn't say "Oh crap" and run away...I said "Oh crap, I gotta get this shot!". I stayed and got the shot. When I got home and opening the pictures on my computer, I was hooked.

When I first started marketing myself and actually trying to make money I was pretty one sided. I wanted to shoot action sports. I rode dirt bikes and wanted to shoot dirt bikes. The more extreme the better. I wanted to get the dangerous shots...the ones others were afraid to make. I wanted wild. My slogan in the beginning was actually "Ley Elliott Photography....don't call me for your weddings!".....no joke!

I ended up shooting a wedding after all. I went as the 2nd shooter to help a friend with a wedding. I LOVED IT. I think it was more about the story telling than the actual photography. I was able to spin the story of their wedding day the way I wanted by taking photos. I love the whole range of emotions that goes on that day. I watch the bride and groom get annoyed that something didn't go as planned, nervous, excitement, seeing each other for the first time, knowing your almost there, the whole day being about you, laughter, pure joy and love. It's emotionally draining for everyone involved. It's like shooting an entire feature length film in one take without any do overs. That's what makes it worthwhile. I shoot every wedding like it's my own. I fall in love and get married again at every wedding I shoot. My end goal is for the couple to look back at my photos and remember the wedding like it was yesterday....smell the flowers, taste the wedding cake, hear the band, see their smiling friends. If I've done that, mission complete.

I mainly shoot weddings now though I also do senior pictures, kid sessions, and most anything else upon request. I often have artists and musicians call me wanting "something different". I love that and it's my specialty! I have an aversion to stuffy studios and shoot everything on location and mostly outdoors.

People often ask me if it's the camera, post processing, or me that make my pictures unique...the answer is "Yes".

I love photography because it's never perfect and never finished. I have never shot a perfect photograph or loved anything I've ever shot. It's my white whale. I'll always be chasing it.