Leah Starkey Photography

Leah Starkey Photography Storytelling — surrounded in artful energy. Documenting the beauty of love + family 🫶🏼 Hey friends! I want to capture it for YOU!

I love adventure, nature, and people and I think it is absolutely beautiful to bring those elements together. Email me for more details about a photography session with me, Lee!

2 of 2 2026 CHRISTMAS MINI INFO: This year’s holiday sessions are packed full of surprises!! I’ve designed two completel...
09/09/2026

2 of 2 2026 CHRISTMAS MINI INFO: This year’s holiday sessions are packed full of surprises!! I’ve designed two completely different setups:

ONE OUTDOOR AND ONE IN-STUDIO so you can choose the experience that feels most like you.

The first (previous post) is simple yet artful: an ivory canvas backdrop nestled among the end of fall colored trees, with paints and supplies at the ready for your kids to get creative, make a little mess, and embrace the adventure of it all.

The second (this post!) is a whimsical, colorful studio setup: it feels like the Christmas Eve dinner party of your dreams. Think elegant details, chain garland of every Christmas color and greenery, a multicolored backdrop of stripes, green, and ivory, and plenty of playful tinsel woven throughout.

Whichever you choose, I think you’re going to love the outcome. The two setups couldn’t be more different, but each has its own kind of magic. Both are designed to create photographs that feel unexpected, joyful, and entirely special.

LINK IN BIO!!! RUN!!!

1 of 2 2026 CHRISTMAS MINI INFO: This year’s holiday sessions are packed full of surprises!! I’ve designed two completel...
09/09/2026

1 of 2 2026 CHRISTMAS MINI INFO: This year’s holiday sessions are packed full of surprises!! I’ve designed two completely different setups:

ONE OUTDOOR AND ONE IN-STUDIO so you can choose the experience that feels most like you.

The first (this one!) is simple yet artful: an ivory canvas backdrop nestled among the end of fall colored trees, with paints and supplies at the ready for your kids to get creative, make a little mess, and embrace the adventure of it all.

The second (next post) is a whimsical, colorful studio setup: it feels like the Christmas Eve dinner party of your dreams. Think elegant details, chain garland of every Christmas color and greenery, a multicolored backdrop of stripes, green, and ivory, and plenty of playful tinsel woven throughout.

Whichever you choose, I think you’re going to love the outcome. The two setups couldn’t be more different, but each has its own kind of magic. Both are designed to create photographs that feel unexpected, joyful, and entirely special.

When you find those unbelievably special clients who call you back year after year, you know the message you’re conveyin...
08/29/2026

When you find those unbelievably special clients who call you back year after year, you know the message you’re conveying is being heard, seen, and loved dearly.

Why I love being a mom and a wife. (slide) I listened to the latest episode of What In The Dang Heck Podcast podcast on ...
08/27/2026

Why I love being a mom and a wife. (slide)

I listened to the latest episode of What In The Dang Heck Podcast podcast on my drive to a session this morning and the girls suggested to share on social media this week a reason you love being a mom and a wife. So here are several!!!

Waking up in the morning, and the first way I start my day is with the little human next to me, big blue eyes and a huge smile on her face. I don’t get up, roll over, and check my phone.

My kids are the best alarm clock I’ve EVER had and actually have been the only thing to truly consistently get me up every single morning earlier than I ever have in my entire life and move my body first thing!

My days are fuller. I go on more walks. I have no excuses to not get outside in the summer, but rather eyes of wonderment staring up at me, wanting a new adventure every day.

I love that I get to experience a busy and messy house every day and actually appreciate again what a clean house feels like! I’m never bored, like ever. I love that.

I get to be a teacher to someone so impressionable.

I love to set a table with 4 plates.

I love the constant rounds of questions being asked by my toddler and her excitement in every daily activity.

I love traveling across the country with kids (honestly. I don’t want to travel any other way for a long time)

And on a walk recently, I was pushing both girls in the double wiiiide stroller and saw another girl, maybe early 20s, running with headphones, probably having a very normal and often moment alone.

And I thought, I’m literally pushing two of my best friends in a stroller and I’m sweating more than I ever have on a run like that but I’m not alone at all right now.

Everything in my brain flashed before my eyes of what 20 years later could look like with the two girls I have in front of me at all times.

The holidays we’ll get to experience together. The laughs, the joy, the first sips of coffee together. Going out to dinners, coffee, or watching a chick flick on a Friday night.

We are not having kids just for the sake of having babies, but actually having adults surrounding us in our future. Creating your own family is one of the most magical exper

Last year, lovely details never shared.
08/25/2026

Last year, lovely details never shared.

Summer slipped away. visits to the farm barefoot everydays outdoor forts basketball one-on-ones at the park milestones p...
08/21/2026

Summer slipped away.

visits to the farm

barefoot everydays

outdoor forts

basketball one-on-ones at the park

milestones

parachute blankets

backyard gardens

rainy day artwork

courtside Chick-fil-A, Inc.

backyard picnics

new life, new parents

sweet summer weddings

chapters of life worth celebrating

daydreaming

visits to grandmas house

backyard barbecues

the early snuggles

bubble gun magic

red maryjane’s worn with every dress

Give me soft, give me real, give me romance.
08/17/2026

Give me soft, give me real, give me romance.

Film photography hasn’t just changed the way my photographs look.It’s changed the way I see a wedding day.There are wedd...
08/15/2026

Film photography hasn’t just changed the way my photographs look.

It’s changed the way I see a wedding day.

There are weddings that take your breath away.

And film has a way of slowing those moments down.

When I shoot film, I have one chance to get the image.

I don’t see it on the back of the camera.

This isn’t just some fad, either.

I wholeheartedly believe it’s made me a better photographer.

Why? Because I’m able to slow down and be a quiet observer. theFINDlab — Official

And somehow, I get to use cameras that have already documented generations of memories in my own family.

My mom’s, my grandma’s, my grandpa’s — I use all of their passed down cameras to document a new generation of memories.

Sometimes the photograph you didn’t overthink
is the one you’ll love the most.

It will turn out “just right” if you pay attention.

Let them…..

With film, I don’t get 30 options to choose from later.

So I have to slow down, pay attention,
and trust what I’m seeing.

Look longer.
Trust yourself.
Let the moment happen.
Remember that.

Had the honor of photographing a good friend of mine and her beautiful family on their homestead. Rachel (mama) hosts a ...
08/08/2026

Had the honor of photographing a good friend of mine and her beautiful family on their homestead. Rachel (mama) hosts a catholic bible study on Wednesdays and attending when I can has been a simple joy in my life as of late. Please come!!!

Thanks mama Rach 😊 Chicago Photographer

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Grand Rapids, MI

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Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm

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