Meet Naomi Leih of Naomi Skye Photography in Agoura Hills

Today we’d like to introduce you to Naomi Leih.

Naomi, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My story begins with a young high school girl who thought she wasn’t really good at anything. Who thought she didn’t have a purpose. While I was in school, my biggest struggle was the thought of college and what I should become when I’m “older”.

Unfortunately, after high school ended, that fear continued, and I spent the next few years trying to figure life out. I applied for colleges, didn’t go to said colleges, moved cross-country, moved back, worked multiple jobs…but none of it seemed right. None of it was the perfect fit. It wasn’t until I looked back on the past few years that I noticed something that stayed constant through it all. A camera. An early canon rebel, to be exact. Way back in 9th grade, I acquired a camera from my dad and started taking pictures of absolutely everything. Then later on in 12th grade, I took a photography class and realized that I loved taking pictures! And not just your average selfie kind. The kind that helped you remember those beautiful moments that would slowly fade away in our minds. The kind that made your heart smile every time you looked back on them. It was then that I realized I wanted to be a photographer. I wanted to take pictures for a reason. I wanted my work to have purpose. This desire for purpose drove me to expand into what I do now, family photography. It was a long and sometimes discouraging journey, but one worth pursuing.

In 2015, I got married to a wonderful man who more than encouraged me to pursue my dreams. His encouragement pushed me to start a full-on business, even though he knew it was a pricey venture. Now, I live to give families and couples photos that can be treasured for the rest of their lives, or longer. My goal as a family photographer is to be there for my clients and to help them look back at those moments and remember the love, care, and affection in their lives. I want every single family that I come into contact with to know how loved they are and to be able to see that love throughout their photos.

So now, I am where I am, running a business, along with working another side-job, doing the best I can to positively affect those who come into contact with me, and I couldn’t have asked for a better life.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Easy has never been in my vocabulary. My whole life, I have always tried to do things the hard way. I’m not sure if I should blame it on my stubborn personality, or on the way life works, but it’s true. This business journey has been no different. I have had to overcome many obstacles along the way, while still going through some others in this very moment. The interesting thing about obstacles is that we need them to grow. For example, I have really struggled with confidence in my abilities (and honestly still do to some degree). I am not the greatest professional photographer this world has ever seen…so why would someone choose to hire me over someone else who may be better or have more experience or clientele? Over the past couple years, I have learned something crucial to overcoming this particular obstacle. I may not be the very best out there, but I am good at what I do. I make the experience one to remember and help my clients have a fun and comfortable session. I give my work and my clients my everything…I never quit to do the very best that I can. All of this makes me valuable as a photographer, and I finally see that. I whole-heartedly consider each family I meet to be people to show love to, rather than just another number or dollar amount. This can set me apart from some.

Another obstacle that I have encountered is balance. In all honesty, it’s hard to run a business, market myself to the surrounding world, flourish in my marriage, work another full-time job, and find time to relax so I don’t lose my sanity. But at the end of the day, it’s my life. I do everything that I can to make it all work out…most times I don’t even know how I do it! Even so, I am doing what I love and have a passion for, along with being able to influence the general public in a positive way. What could be better than that.

Please tell us about Naomi Skye Photography.
I am the owner and founder of Naomi Skye Photography, and for now, it is just me, myself, and I. My business revolves around love of all kinds, including families, couples in all stages of life, mommies-to-be, and children. I specialize in family photography with a twist, if you will. If my client has any particular idea, I am going to make it happen. My life has always revolved around creativity (and organization), which sets me apart in the way that everyone sees things differently. I am driven to create photos that are beautiful and full of memories, but also have something unique about them. I want my clients to feel like they are receiving a session and photos that are made specifically for them…one of a kind. I don’t have a set idea of how to do x, y, z sessions, but I wait until I meet a family or couple to decide how we are going to design their session. At the end of the session, I provide them with the photos, tailored specifically to their needs and desires. You could say that I’m all about kicking aside the generic and known for keeping it fun!

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to do it all over again…what would I do differently? I know it’s the cool kid answer to say, “I wouldn’t change a thing,” but let’s be honest. As a business owner, as I’m sure many would agree, it’s a rough start when we first decide to jump on the entrepreneur bandwagon. I would say that I honestly wish I had acquired more business knowledge before starting up, instead of doing the whole learn-as-you-go process. At the end of the day, I am where I am because of everything that I have gone through and learned, but I know it would have made life a little easier.

Pricing:

• Mommy & Me Session: $200
• Love Forever (couples) Session: $300
• Family is Forever Session: $400

Contact Info:

• Website: naomiskyephotography.com
• Phone: (818) 657-9871
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naomi_skye_photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NaomiSkyePhotography/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/naomi-skye-photography-agoura-hills
• Other: https://nextdoor.com/pages/naomi-skye-photography-agoura-hills-ca/

Image Credit:
Naomi Skye Photography

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