About Ellen

Ellen LeRoy specializes in the art of island and beach photography on Emerald Isle, NC and the surrounding area.  Ellen's unique understanding of the island and its lighting and weather patterns enables her to capture the island and her subjects in the best possible way.  Ellen times her photo sessions to coincide with the perfect light, producing high quality images and her signature style. To further ensure superior results, Ellen limits the number of clients per week to only two, guaranteeing the personal attention her fine art photography requires.

Ellen's Qualifications:

Among other national and state awards, Ellen received the prestigious Kodak Gallery Award and the Professional Photographers of North Carolina President's Award for the highest scoring new artist in print competition.  In 2011, Ellen received her Master of Photography degree from the Professional Photographers of America for her acheivements in international print competition.  Her photography has been featured on the covers of magazines and newspapers.  Ellen has a fine art degree from Tulane University and studied figure drawing at Oxford University in England. 
 

A Personal Message from Ellen About Her Photography:

Who I am:
 

I tend to have a very spiritual view of my life, and I see photography as a God-given gift that I'm meant to share with those He matches me with.  I pray before each session that God will give that client something to treasure--something that will capture what He wants you to see.  For some, it may be hidden beauty that you didn't know you had.  For others, it may be the joy that you feel on your wedding day.   Many times it is a connection between family members.  It may even be a quirky face your child makes when he's concentrating--one that he may not make forever.  Whatever it is that God wants me to see, I pray that He will show it to me so that the client can treasure that memory, that moment, forever.  That is the gift of photography--letting you savor a moment or a feeling forever.
 

On the practical side, I am consummate learner.  I am driven to always grow and to push myself to the next level.  I spend a lot of money on learning from the photographers I most admire--several thousand dollars a year.  In return, I believe that I am a better photographer today than I was two years ago.  Hopefully, I'll have grown two years from now.  Each year, I pick a skill that I want to develop.  Then, I focus on classes, webinars, and workshops to get me there.  I want to provide the best pictures possible to my clients.
 

I am a former teacher and the mother of two wild boys--which has helped me develop patience and calmness in chaotic situations.  I'm prepared to work with all types of children!
 

I prefer working by myself as an artist, though I would make more money growing my business with a team of support staff that could help me produce more.  I am a bit of a control freak about my work and don't know how anyone but me could know the vision I have for my images.  I want to be the one to handle them every step of the way.  I also like being the one to interact with my clients throughout the creative process.
 

I am the typical woman who doesn't feel comfortable in front of a camera, so I spend a lot of time learning posing to make my clients look their best.  I believe it is the photographer's job to understand lighting and posing so that they can flatter every figure and age group.  It is a skill set that some photographers have neglected, but I think it's critically important to the client's experience and satisfaction.

My ideal client:
 

I want to work for someone who loves photography as much as I do.  If you can't tell a difference between my images and someone else's, then you are probably wasting your money hiring me.  On the other hand, if you have an emotional response to my images and would love to see yourself or your family in the same style, then I really want to work with you.  If you look at my prices and immediately dismiss me, then you probably aren't my client--but, if you look at my prices, even if you can't afford them, and you reach out to me saying, "I really respond to your photography but I can't find a way to make it work financially," then I will bend over backwards to find a way to work with you.  I'd rather work a low-budget wedding for a photography-loving bride than sell my top package to someone who is hiring a photographer because they just want some coverage of their event. 

This is not something I share with everyone, because I have to protect my business income and provide for my family.  But, if you have read all of this, then chances are you do really care about photography.  I hope we can work together.


Give me a call at 252-725-3262 or email me at eleroy@ec.rr.com.