Based in San Francisco but available worldwide, Lisa Lefkowitz has been photographing weddings for the past ten years, earning international recognition for her soft, romantic and graceful lifestyle images. There’s almost an ethereal quality to her photography style, perhaps it’s because she specializes in film photography and brings a fine art sensibility to her work. All we know is that there’s a dreamy, timeless aspect to her photographs that lets you look at them for hour and hours, over and over again with a sense of wonderment and joy. It’s easy to see why Lisa’s work is highly regarded by clients and editors for their beauty as well as their emotion. She captures the warmth, intimacy and authenticity in every moment she witnesses… it’s our pleasure to introduce the lovely Lisa Lefkowitz…

{THE BRIDAL CIRCLE}:  WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GET INTO PHOTOGRAPHY?

{LISA LEFKOWITZ}:  I have been making pictures since high school, and knew at an early age that photography was what I was most passionate about. It took me some years to fall into weddings, but once I shot my first job I was elated to find such a satisfying career  – one where I could create meaningful work that would be part of someone’s family history.

WHAT THREE WORDS BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE?

Lifestyle. Airy. Natural.

HOW MANY WEDDINGS DO YOU SHOOT A YEAR?

Twenty.

HOW DO YOU MAKE THE BRIDE AND GROOM, AS WELL AS THEIR BRIDAL PARTY AND FAMILIES, FEEL COMFORTABLE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA?

I give upbeat, casual direction to all my couples, wedding parties and families to create a relaxed atmosphere in which they can be themselves. As a person who would much rather be behind the camera, I do everything I can to make my clients feel natural and un-posed.

WHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED AS YOU HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED WEDDINGS OVER THE YEARS?

That a well-crafted timeline is everything. I work closely with each clients’ wedding planner to create a timeline that gives me the time and space to do my best work.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE WEDDING THAT YOU LIKE TO CAPTURE?

I love shooting the couple’s portraits at Sunset. The light is gorgeous, they are relaxed after the ceremony and cocktail hour, and I often get the most emotional, intimate photographs at that time.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A NEWLY ENGAGED COUPLE ABOUT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY?

Find a photographer whose work speaks to you and whose personality you enjoy. For my own wedding, photography was a priority. I was willing to compromise in other areas to have my dream photographer. Those photos are among my most prized possessions, and the one tangible thing I have after my wedding (aside from my husband and rings!)

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY?

My children. My daughter is 3 years old, my son 3 months.

WHEN YOU TRAVEL, WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE THINGS TO TAKE WITH YOU?

My plastic Holga camera and my kids!

OTHER THAN YOUR CAMERA, WHAT IS YOUR MUST-HAVE PHOTOGRAPHY ACCESSORY?

My waist belt. It holds film, my light meter and other odds and ends that I need to have on-hand at a moment’s notice.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RECENT PHOTO THAT YOU’VE TAKEN, WHAT’S THE CREATION PROCESS BEHIND IT AND WHAT MOVES YOU ABOUT THE IMAGE?

I love this portrait of Kassie and Skylar. We found a patch of perfect light for them, which created a beautiful, sparkly background that is so romantic.

WHAT IS YOUR NECESSARY EXTRAVAGANCE OR GUILTY PLEASURE?

I do love my TV shows – I’m totally obsessed with Homeland and Downton Abbey!

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT BEING A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?

I love the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants nature of the job. Creating images in such a pressured environment forces me to be fully in the moment and to be my very best. It’s a thrilling way to create work as an artist!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT/WORK?

I love shooting in Napa Valley/Sonoma County in Northern California – I’m so lucky to live and work in the gorgeous San Francisco Bay Area.

IF YOU COULD SHOOT A WEDDING ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE?

The light in Italy looks pretty amazing – I’d love to shoot a wedding on the coast somewhere. Scotland looks gorgeous too, maybe a wedding in a castle?

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MANTRA OR QUOTE THAT YOU LIVE BY?

Keep it simple. I shoot a lot of my wedding work on one camera with one lens (a Contax 645 film camera with an 80mm lens).

IF NOT A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER, WHAT CAREER WOULD INTEREST YOU?

Perhaps teaching – photography.

WHAT’S NEXT ON THE HORIZON FOR LIZA LEFKOWITZ?

I’m in my 12^th year of photographing weddings and am looking forward to another season of amazing events!

After experiencing just a few of her charming images, it’s not wonder her work is regularly featured on stylish blogs and in leading wedding magazines.

Widely respected and admired by other professionals and adored by her clients, you can learn more about Lisa Lefkowitz and her wedding photography services on her lovely website. You can also stay up-to-date with all of Lisa’s photography commissions, wedding stories, workshops and studio happenings on her BLOG.

You can also read Lisa’s Top Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Photographer.