With so many photographers in the event industry, it’s hard to find the ones who really stand out from the crowd, but Leslie Dumke does. Leslie and her team produce such great work, you’ll be in love after flipping through just a few images. She is so much fun to hang out with and just a really cool, down to earth person. She has a knack for putting couples at ease and her energy is unbelievable. Leslie Dumke Studio has been featured in loads of publications from Brides (both national and local editions) to Grace Ormonde’s Wedding Style to The New York Times. Here’s a little Q&A with THE Leslie Dumke herself.
[Phone]: 203.458.0545
[Website]: www.lesliedumkestudio.com
[Blog]: www.lesliedumkestudio.blogspot.com
[Tweet]: www.twitter.com/rydergirl
What Inspired you to becoming a Wedding Photographer?
Photography has always been a passion for me. Family life has always been a passion for me. Growing up in a family of 5 with 4 cousins down the street, we had such chaos — a whirlwind of fun going on all the time. In the midst of that chaos, I became the “observer.” I was always looking at things from different angles and I was always very aware of people’s feelings & expressions. In college, I studied psychology and I use what I learned on every shoot. I began shooting at age 15 with my new Canon AE:1. To learn the business of photography, I first went into the commercial world of advertising in New York. Though the training was something I really valued, I realized the advertising world was not for me. Everything was just too planned and too perfect. (Fake backdrops, 3 hours of hair and makeup, pressed clothing & the perfect hands holding the perfect product.)
So, having always delighted in a person’s unique personality, I began working with kids and covering weddings. This is about 12 years ago. I’ve never looked back. Each subject or event is so different and I love that. I start with a blank canvas and paint their portrait/story. My aim is to give my clients a story of their celebration that is beyond their expectations. I feel honored to be there on such a special occasion. I want my brides, who become friends, to RAVE about their images and treasure their story for generations. When a client is thrilled, I am thrilled and that inspires me always to keep doing what I am doing. I do what I love and love what I do. It’s a true gift.
How would you describe your shooting style:
Natural, whimsical, documentary. Fashion-like, with energy & motion. Surprising, searching & sensitive. Classic, creative & genuine.
Favorite places to shoot:
AM I LUCKY OR WHAT!? Visualize these: Gracious stone mansions with sweeping meadows, sunken gardens & 100 year old trees in the distance. Ocean front venues with beaches nearby, feet in the sand & golden sunsets. Country barns with meadows, horses & old wooden fences. Quiet vineyards that stretch a hilltop with rolling stone walls. Crisp, cool lakes with antique, sleek wooden boats humming by. Swanky city lofts & brownstones with the busy city streets moving fast ‘round us.
What’s one thing couples should know to make their images better on their wedding day?
Hire someone they really click with. You want to have the same vision, the right energy and amount of involvement and thoughtfulness. I’d want to know that you can count on your photographer to be there for them from start to finish – during all the planning – go for a team that can “detox” with you when it all gets too darn stressful. I’ve seen over 250 weddings and have seen everything go down. I can help with vendor choices, creative art direction and really lend a shoulder if my brides need it. We’re buddies. I remember the years when I was shooting more than 30 weddings per year and I was miserable because I felt I couldn’t give each wedding as much time (before and after their event) as I wanted to. Since I love what I do and want to keeping covering weddings for years to come, I’d never want to become a wedding, “factory” photographer who shows up just to execute the day and who thinks of it as a job, i.e. “get in and get out” because they have a ten hour wedding the next day or because they are so tired from shooting a fourteen hour day the day before. I show up with three days energy and spend it all!
Favorite Memory From A Wedding:
This is a hard question. I have so many wonderful memories. I won’t list beautiful venues but rather emotions and energy. My first thought is of “children, children, children,” because I love it when there are little flower girls and ring bearers running around us throughout the day.. I was actually playing “army” with the two ring bearers last weekend. The boys ran from vineyards to trees to this gorgeous stonewall, hiding from my weapon which was my 70-200mm long lens. My second thought is of my brides who really “wear” that dress and feel confidant on their wedding day. They “work it” and move the dress ‘round. You can hear the swishing sound, can’t you? We do more of a fashion shoot than plain old portraits and it’s super fab. Third, it’s rare that we see a bride and groom who can BOTH dance really well. Well, this couple I’m thinking of met at a dance competition. I remember clearly how they took over that dance floor. I wanted it to go on forever. As soon as they made their first move everyone’s mouth dropped wide open in disbelief. I shot regular flash and was sure to throw in a few images using a “rear curtain sync” technique where the couple comes out in clear focus yet the background blurs making it super dreamy. Finally, I loved covering a wedding in the Hamptons, one at a California vineyard, one on Martha’s Vineyard and one on Block Island where I was storytelling throughout the entire weekend. Three days of fun. My team and I were able to cover the rehearsal dinner, the wedding day and the super casual brunch on Sunday. We became a part of the fabric of the family’s lives, “rode the wave” of celebration for three days and the stories were gorgeous. There’s something about being their for the whole weekend that adds such depth, besides the amount of photos, it’s about becoming a part of the family, connecting with the guests – it’s emotional and the images show it all!
If you could be anything else in the world, what would you be?
A writer, a storyteller. I loved my creative writing courses and doing “morning pages” for the cool book, “The Artist Way.” Currently I’m thinking about teaching 18-22 year olds the business of doing what you love and being an artist. I have learned so much over the last decade and have a lot to share. I see so many artists flailing and flopping around, unsure of how to make a living through their art/creative services. I’d love to help them out. My years in advertising, before I began my photography really helped me out when I started my own biz.
Favorite Drink:
Not much of a drinker but….My fave “celebration” drink, I call, “shampoo,” is Veuve Clicquot: Tete de Cuvee. Crisp & Dry. My fave “party drink” is a margarita with Cointreau and three FRESH LIME slices. A sipper. My fave sober drink: Orangina or those other fancy Italian spritzers. Water, water, water.
