Tess Leslie Photography

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Tess Leslie Photography

Tess Leslie is a wedding photographer specializing in digital and 35mm film with a documentary-style approach.

A former journalist, she brings a keen eye for storytelling and authentic moments to every wedding she photographs. With over 10 years in business, Tess has captured celebrations across Texas and the East Coast, creating timeless imagery rooted in composition, natural light, and genuine connection. She is also LGBTQ+ Inclusive Certified by Equally Wed, reflecting her commitment to serving all couples with professionalism and care.

06/03/2026

Happy Pride Month!!! 🏳️‍🌈

Many of you have already heard this story 1000x but the first weddings I ever photographed were also some of the first LGBTQ weddings held in Austin after marriage equality was passed 11 years ago. I was working as a photographer for the Daily Texan that summer and still remember all the excitement in the air as we ran around town capturing all of the celebrations.

My first experience of capturing joyful weddings intertwines with marriage equality in Texas, and it has shaped the way I feel about weddings. Weddings symbolize so much more than just choosing a life partner; they also symbolize merging two communities together and promising to love someone exactly as they are.

The LGBTQ community excels at both of those things like no other group of people. Truly, if you’re ever feeling jaded about wedding culture just go to a q***r wedding and you’ll be cured!

I cannot imagine a world where these people didn’t get to marry each other, and I hope we never have to again. 🫶

06/01/2026

May in Emoji: 📚🍹👩🏼‍🌾☕️👯‍♀️🌇🤘🏽🥗

May will be remembered as a month of gorgeous sunsets, weirdly temperate weather, and an abundant garden. I made new friends and foes (garden rabbits, I’m talking about you!!!) For once, I have photos of my face to include thanks to a headshot swap at and because is the best when we work together. 👯‍♀️ I also made work I am really proud of. 🫶

My May REPORT:

Reading | I did a tandem read of Twilight and Midnight Sun and wow what were we reading in 2005!

Eating | Lotssss of salad and pasta made with homegrown tomatoes 🥹

Photographing: My first ever engagement session at the Texas State Capitol!

Obsessing | Many things but the one that drove the craziest has been my fixation on Lena Dunham while I read Famesick 🤪

Recommending | You book yourself a photo session at 😍📸

Treating | We bought new patio furniture so I can spend even more time in my backyard ☀️

I’m really looking forward to June, which is packed with a week-long trip to Philly, quite a few weddings, and (hopefully) lots and lots of evenings reading by the pool. Can’t wait 🥰

05/27/2026

An intimate and casual wedding reception at , featuring of course 🙂‍↕️

I will forever and always love a big wedding, but these intimate celebrations also have a special place in my heart.

Photographers often stress that the best way to get creative and fun candids at your wedding is to pad your timeline with lots of space to let things happen organically. Thats why I love non-traditional celebrations — I get to truly let go of a timeline and shot list and spend a few hours talking to your friends, wandering a new venue, and making art as I see things.

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Small Austin wedding venues, Austin wedding photographer

05/25/2026

Happy Memorial Day and happy 🍷

Just some cute pics of people having a really good time at an wedding 💒

Small wedding venues in Austin, Texas
Intimate wedding in Austin, Texas

05/20/2026

Frolicking around the lawn at Commodore Perry during golden hour with these two was something else ✨🤭

Michelle brought Paige’s wildest dreams to life with a staycation at after she asked her a very important question. 😉 I’m just honored I got to play a small role in the surprise. 🫶

05/18/2026

B&W scenes from an Italian restaurant 🍷🍝🥂

Happy one year anniversary to Maddie and Matt 🖤🤍

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05/15/2026

This gallery went home yesterday so I can finally start sharing some of my favorite photos and details from Marcus and Kayla’s day 🤭 Starting with the reception decor that made my jaw drop when I first walked through the doors.

The couple asked for a quirky and whimsical wedding day, and absolutely brought that vision to life with these arrangements and tablescapes. 💚🧡💜❤️💛

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Austin wedding photographer, Austin wedding venue, Hummingbird House wedding

05/12/2026

Hey, hi, hello!!! I’m Tess, a former photojournalist turned wedding photographer. 👋🏼

Whether you just stumbled upon my account or you’ve been following along for awhile, allow me to tell you a little bit about myself. 🙆🏼‍♀️

I’ve been the Girl with a Camera since I was 13, when I was gifted my first point-and-shoot camera. Immediately, I understood that capturing a moment in time for people I love is a sacred gift. The passion that began during my days as a high school and college yearbook editor curating an archive for my classmates has now evolved into a love for documenting the most joy-filled moments for lovers everywhere.

Aside from loving my job, I also love the life I’ve created with my husband, . 🫶 We live in South Austin with our two dogs Martha and Bailey. Bryan is a local musician (s/o to and ) so our home is always filled music and art. We also spend a lot of time in Philly, where Bryan is from. (Go birds!)

When I am not at a wedding or editing away in my office, I am likely doing one of the million hobbies I have collected over the years. I love reading, tending to my garden, baking cakes for friends, living my best life on Animal Crossing/Stardew Valley, and all kinds of analog crafting. I am a certified fan girl who loves pop culture, and will yap about Taylor Swift and Gilmore Girls for hours if allowed. I’m also in one too many book clubs. 🤭

I share all of that with you because I believe that art is personal, and everything that happens behind the scenes in my life inspires my work. Good photography requires vulnerability, and I promise to always show up as my full self so you feel safe to do the same. 💘

Let me know if we have anything in common! And reach out today if you’re ready to book your wedding photographer. 🫶

05/07/2026

Hard to believe it’s been over a year since Victoria and Jesse’s wedding at . Like most of the couple’s I work with these days, these two prioritized quality time with their loved ones over a wedding day that felt like a photoshoot.

In honor of that, here are some of my favorite candids from their reception - moments of genuine connection with the people who traveled from all over to be there. 🫶

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Florist | .anfloraldesign
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05/05/2026

April in emoji: 🚀🎂☕️📸🌧️👩🏼‍🌾🍅🎶

If March’s camera roll was just a bunch of cappuccinos, April’s was literally just photos of my garden 🤗 April featured a lot of birthday cake, rain for days on end, and second shooting for my photog friends I love. I feel like I am brimming with creativity these days and it’s not lost on me it’s because I left space in my life to dream this month. 💭

My April REPORT:

Reading | I really enjoyed Yesteryear and Atmosphere!

Eating | brisket for the first time 🤌🏼

Photographing | Lots of second shooting this month!

Obsessing | SPACE and the moon 🌕🔭🪐🚀 thanks to Artemis II

Recommending | Y’all attend a dinner - I hear the next one gets announced tomorrow 👀

Treating | $100 seats behind the stage for Bruce Springsteen that ended up being one of the best views I’ve ever had at the Moody Center 🤘🏽

It feels very poetic that April ended with my first tomato harvest from the garden. Gardening reminds me often of being a business owner: You spend so much time nurturing a business and it often takes a season of rain before you can truly enjoy the fruits of your labor. 🪏🪴

Address

Austin, TX
78701–78705, 78708–78739, 78741–78742, 78744–78769

Website

https://tesslesliephotography.com/

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