The impeccable mind of Amy Lee, or better known as Le3ay, goes above and beyond when it comes to organizing and capturing her breathtaking photographs. This visionary artist has an outstanding eye and as a result seizes the most innovative shots.
Amy discovered her talents behind the lens while in high school by taking casual portraits of her close friends. She began picking up on techniques, and expanded her skills by enrolling in college to study film production. After graduating, Amy picked up on more of the technical side of the camera through practice shooting and more experienced-based learning. Now at 23-years-old, Amy is making major moves in the city of Los Angeles by working endlessly to exploit her exceptional talents as the remarkable photographer she is.
Sheesh Magazine chatted with this gifted artist, who spoke to us about future aspirations, favourite photoshoots, cameras and more.
What are some of your favourite photographs/photoshoots you have done in the past?
AMY: “I have a lot of favorites. To be honest, I only showcase my favorite work on social media. But if a person who has never seen my work asks to see my photography, the first picture I would show this person would probably be this one.”
How do you come up with the creative process of directing these photoshoots?
AMY: “I often get inspired by stories, life events, film, novels, colors, sometimes even a scene in my dream. Most of the shoots I creative directed deliver a story/message.
As a P.O.C. woman, I try to spread awareness and positivity through my work, such as self-love and awareness, self-reflection, body positive, anti-gender norms, showing vulnerabilities, etc. Photography to me is way more than just serving looks or aesthetics.
My mind is prepared before I enter a set. I ask myself, ‘what do I wanna express through the pictures?’ and ‘what do I want people to take away from my pictures?’”
What is your favourite camera to use?
AMY: “So far my 120 film camera Fujifilm GA645 pro is my go-to camera. I use my Canon 6Dii for commercial or client shoots.”
Do you ever find yourself on the other side of the camera?
AMY: “Yes, I like to get my pictures taken whenever I feel presentable. I like to take pictures with my friends too, just for fun, and it helps with boosting my confidence.”
What future aspirations do you have for your career as a photographer?
AMY: “I would like to experiment and combine different art forms into photography, such as graphic design, set design and illustration.”
Do you do anything else other than photography?
AMY: “I do videography and editing, currently teaching myself painting and illustrating.”
What other photographers inspire you and your work?
AMY: “My favorite photographer is Zeng Wu. He is very much a ground breaker of digital art and photography. I also get inspiration from Jin Jiaji and Zhong Lin.”
How would you say this last year has changed you and your photography?
AMY: “2020 treated my photography career pretty well. I got a medium format camera and a film scanner during quarantine, so I started to do 120 film, which was life changing. The quality was immaculate.
I started to advertise my own work through social media, starting to have more audience, more clients, more collaboration, etc. I feel more prepared, mentally, to be a full-time freelance photographer.”
Where do you hope to be in a year from now?
AMY: “I manifested this for New Year’s Eve: being the artist everyone knows if they are interested in conceptual/fine art/creative photography.”
Facing obstacles that stand in the way of letting you fully pursue your dreams happens to the best of us. When it came to Amy’s dreams, she didn’t let go of her vision, worked hard and as a result found success. What advice does she share to help those struggling to keep persevering? “Consistency is truly the key. Focus on whatever that works for you personally.”
Keep up with Amy’s latest projects through her Instagram and subscribe to her YouTube channel for tips and tricks on all-things-photography.
