First, since I know you’re wondering, my name is pronounced just like “Lisa.”
Leise Jones, Owner
That’s right – regular ol’ Lisa. Just spelled with a few extra vowels. I love to photograph real life. Not a posed, dramatically lit, and over-edited version of real life. Actual real life.
Oh, and I love laughter.
Genuine mouth-open, shoulders-rocking, breathless laughter is what I look for when I am photographing weddings, families and events. I love it. I believe laughter makes the most authentic, joyful, and compelling photos of any occasion or interaction.
Some other things that I really love include my wife, Steph; our twins, Kellam & Evie; my gray hair (which I swear I’ll never cover up); family-style meals (they’re just so much more efficient), coffee with lots of cream (half coffee, half cream to be exact); and public radio (it’s pretty much the only radio I listen to.)
Now for the serious stuff.
Since 2009, I've been helping couples who are planning super-fun wedding celebrations get the beautiful photos they want by encouraging them to just be themselves, have fun, and focus on each other. I also support couples as they work hard to counter the pervasive white, straight, cis-gendered wedding culture that perpetuates gender stereotypes and harmful expectations for people getting married.
I also work with families, small businesses, and non-profit organizations of all kinds who are looking for photographs to tell their story, commemorate their important days, and communicate their missions. (All of that work lives on a different website, so if you're curious to see it, click here!)
Clients have described me as an excellent coach; honest, caring, professional and unobtrusive. I have received the Couples’ Choice Award from The Wedding Wire every year since 2015 and have unanimous five star reviews ***** on both The Wedding Wire and Yelp. I am a member of the Professional Photographers of America, have a B.A. from Mount Holyoke College, and a Certificate in Professional Photography from the New England School of Photography. I live in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston with my amazing wife, hilarious twins, and lazy housecats. I love Boston, and I travel throughout New England to work with my awesome clients. I can't wait to hear from you to get started making beautiful and authentic photographs.
My approach to wedding photography: an emphasis on authenticity mixed with a healthy amount of skepticism.
Two things are important to me in wedding photography: Authenticity and Skepticism.
First, authenticity.
I really want you to relax and be yourself, so that you can just…laugh. Or cry. Or smirk. Or check yourself out in the mirror. Or just close your eyes and take it all in. I want you to enjoy the moments in front of you, not worry about things happening behind the scenes. I want you to feel comfortable and confident, not overly worried about how you look. I want you to almost forget that you’re being photographed, so that the real, joyful you can shine through. I help couples get the photos they want by encouraging them to be themselves, have fun, and focus on each other.
Of course that is easier said than done. Most people aren’t automatically comfortable and authentic in front of the camera and most couples aren’t automatically relaxed on their wedding day when surrounded by hundreds of family members and guests.
I totally get it! And yet I truly believe that when you are comfortable in front of the camera, beautiful, authentic photos will be the result.
To help, I have developed a highly personalized and collaborative approach to wedding and portrait photography. We get to know each other. We talk about what kinds of photos you’re looking for, what photos you want to look back on in ten years, and what photos you’re most excited about. We make lists and timelines and Pinterest boards. My goal is to not only be your photographer, but also your teammate. I've been known to bustle dresses, pin on boutonnieres, and even sew on a lost button. I do what it takes to support you through the experience of being photographed so that the resulting photos are effortless, beautiful gorgeous, and most importantly, authentic.
Second, skepticism.
I maintain a healthy skepticism of the Wedding Industrial Complex that wants you to be skinnier, richer and more beautiful; that wants you to fit better into the gender binary; that force feeds you the misguided notion that your wedding must be "The Best Day of Your Life;" and that insists all weddings must be equal parts beautiful, romantic, and perfect if they are to lead to successful marriages. I don't perpetuate any of those myths in talk or in action. Instead I look for real joyful moments, I encourage genuine interactions, and I insist that couples blaze their own path in planning their wedding celebration. No cookie-cutter photos, here. No reenactments of dramatic moments for the camera's sake and definitely no taking you out of your celebration to stage an overly posed and dramatically lit version of reality.
These two words, authenticity and skepticism, lead me to always remind couples, “Just be yourself, and I’ll do the rest.”
Please get in touch today so we can get started making beautiful and authentic wedding photos that reflect YOU.