Lydia Leclair

Owner / Photographer

www.lydialeclairphotography.com

5+ years

I’m based on Cape Cod, and my photography studio is located in Harwich Port, MA! I actually grew up in Western Mass and would visit my grandparents every summer on the Cape. Their historical home and barn, which was a working cranberry bog, is still in the family. I never thought I would end up on the Cape, and actually moved to California for graduate school thinking I would stay on the west coast forever. From there I moved to Colorado, and then back to MA full time about 11 years ago. I travel all over the Cape and MA/ New England for family, senior and branding sessions.

I picked up my first camera when I was five years old- it was my dad’s Canon film camera (and I’m still a Canon girl). Throughout middle school and high school I took Black & White film classes and learned to develop film and print my own photographs. In college I minored in photography, and also went on a study abroad trip every year (camera in tow); I visited England, Costa Rica, Tanzania, Antarctica, and China. In undergraduate and graduate school I studied Environmental Science, so I always had a passion for both art/ photography and science. When my first daughter was born I decided to pursue photography full time– no backup plan, and no plan B. I jumped into my business with no parachute and just a knowing that I could make it work. I was focused and driven and opened my studio on Cape Cod less than a year after moving here. Since then my business has continued to grow! My studio sessions include head shot, branding and product, empowerment, high school senior, and goddess sessions. My outdoor/ on-location sessions include family, multi-generational and extended family, high school senior, branding, pet, and surprise marriage proposal sessions.

To me success is having a vision (life or personal) and working on getting there. The path is always changing, and being fine tuned, however, I believe it’s about following your heart and intuition on the journey. Of course starting and running a profitable and sustainable business is a success, but also showing up as a mom and partner every day, and making time for self-care.

Growing up I was incredibly shy and introverted. Starting and running a business really helped me grow personally. I used to get very nervous and slightly panicked to talk on the phone, I never went to networking events, and I was shy being on camera. However, to be in my business and grow it, I had to work on all of those things. And as I continued to grow personally, it was reflected back in my business.

Early on, one of my biggest challenges was having the confidence to raise my prices. However, knowing my numbers, and having a vision for my business and life has really helped me price my art and services appropriately.

My outlook is to see everything as a learning experience, and even if there are struggles or hard days I remind myself that they will pass. I’ve gotten through so many hard days in my life, that I know I can keep going. What helps me as well is to put things into perspective, and try to look at problems or struggles in another way. I’m also able to reach out to my personal and business support systems– friends and family, and business and photography masterminds and Facebook groups.

I just love the community and connection! I love being able to meet and chat with others in the group, on Zoom, and at in-person events. With every meeting and connection I learn something new and am so inspired.

I’m most proud of opening my studio in 2014! After starting my business in California, restarting it in Colorado, and finally restarting on Cape Cod, it was a dream to have a studio! I took a little bit of a leap signing the lease, but everything was lining up to get it. The day I signed the lease I found a four-leaf clover, so I took that as a sign of good fortune, luck, and prosperity. Over the last 10 years the space has been my office and meeting place, a fine art gallery and shop with my nature and landscape photography, and a full studio with lighting and backdrops. Currently at the studio I photograph headshot and branding/product sessions, as well as families, kids, high school seniors, and pets.

My two life passions have been art/ photography, and science. My background is in Environmental Science, but I’ve had a camera in hand the whole time. In college I got to go on 5 study abroad trips (England, Antarctica, Tanzania, Costa Rica, and China) and study science, wildlife conservation, and ecology. I also love giving back, and have donated my time, and money to local organizations focused on helping the environment and wildlife: Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, Wild Care, Harwich Conservation Trust. In my free time I love hiking, reading, and traveling.

I have infinite patience, and on my website it reads ‘Patience is my superpower.’ For each session I bring patience, as well as presence and kindness. Besides stunning portraits, I make sure the interactions and experience is also exceptional.

I'm mainly on Instagram-- https://www.instagram.com/lydialeclairphoto/