Today we’d like to introduce you to Lanly Le.
Hi Lanly, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I didn’t realize it till a few years ago, but my true introduction to photography was through my father – he loved photographing my mom and I. My parents were fashionistas and were so hip, so I could see why he enjoyed it. They were the original selfie king and queen but in the OG film days. He passed in 2014, but I feel his spirit with me as I continue to deepen my craft.
But unlike them, I never liked being photographed–it never felt natural to stand and smile. All of my family photos are hilarious because you see my parents looking like straight-up models, and you see a little misfit child photobombing the shot with a crazy face or pose. Some friends had mentioned that I look like I was photoshopped in. I think that is how I found my way on the other side of the camera, haha!
I was shy and quiet, not knowing exactly how to communicate verbally because I was fumbling through two languages concurrently (Vietnamese and English) — so I found my medium through images. My first camera experiences were just my father’s point-and-shoot film ones lying around, and then I eventually started experimenting with my fancy flip phone camera at the age of 13 (with a whopping 3.0 megapixels). It was fascinating – the cause and effect of what I saw and how it translated onto a screen. It allowed me to see the world in a different way when it was just a blur to me before.
I found myself inspired by fashion images and perfume commercials and started experimenting more with those kinds of shoots. In high school, instead of essays, I passed my assignments with collages and short films. It wasn’t until halfway through freshman year of college, did I switch my major from Microbiology to Film Production. My life felt like it had finally begun and I was learning something I was actually interested in. It never occurred to me to be an artist until one of my films won an international title in a short film festival. Being an artist just wasn’t an option that was discussed in my family. All of my activity was passed off as “Lanly making a mess”, hahaha.
In college, I began photographing portraits for actors, models, and artists, and I continued with more portrait work for modeling agencies and fashion companies in Phoenix and Los Angeles. It’s crazy that I have been a professional photographer for a whole decade, I feel like such a beginner– I want to do so much and have so much more to learn to improve my craft. I just opened up my first physical studio in Chandler in April 2021 and am creating more there now. My portfolio has expanded to boudoir, maternity, and family.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I consider myself a pretty decent planner, but no matter how much I prepare, new blinds spots are always revealed to me on many shoots. I have gotten very good at “going with the flow”. When something doesn’t go right, I have learned to allow the shoot to go the way it is going and just reap my wisdom for the future.
A lot of the battle also has been mental, emotional, and spiritual. Mentally, with social media, it is easy to constantly compare yourself with others and let it affect you negatively. I have to remind myself that everyone has a path, and everyone has to walk their path and grow slowly, honoring one’s journey and timing.
And then there are emotional and spiritual battles. I feel like the past five years, I have been healing and growing so much as a person that it affects how my imagery looks. That is why when creating for others, I have to learn how to create from a neutral, loving place. I also have to accept the work of who I was in that moment and allow myself to grow into whoever I am in the future. It’s confusing when you learn that “there are rules and expectations” to things, but then you also “have” to be “authentic”. That’s when I have to snap out of it and remember to just create what gives me passion and do things in my own way that allows me to just have fun.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My name is Lanly Le, the owner and photographer of Lanly Le Photography, a private studio in Chandler, Arizona. I am known for raw, timeless images with a minimal glam fashion style. My studio offers many types of portraits, specializing in boudoir, maternity/mothers, modeling/fashion. I love my work because it is such a fun adventure playing dress-up and co-creating exciting art together. My brand is all about empowerment and celebrating the beauty of life–so my biggest goals are for everyone to have fun and own imagery that reminds them of their inner strength and natural beauty.
What’s next?
In the short term…I have been feeling more colorful – so I want more color in my work. I am learning more about art (drawing, painting, 3D modeling) to be able to have more control in my imagery. In terms of big future goals — I want to have a rainforest-style venue where I can hold events and offer my photography. The desert is in need of an artistic oasis.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@lanlyle.com
- Website: www.lanlyle.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/lanlylephoto
