Today we’d like to introduce you to Summer Leggett.
Summer, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve had a camera (or a phone!) in my hand. I was always snapping pictures of myself or everyone around me, so much so that my family jokingly nicknamed me the “selfie queen.” What started out as a fun hobby slowly grew into a true love for capturing memories.
For the longest time, photography wasn’t even the plan. I actually went to school for dental assisting and was on track to apply to dental hygiene school when I met my husband in college. After I graduated assisting school, he graduated from ECU and began applying to physical therapy school. Around that same time, we found out we were expecting our first daughter, a surprise that turned out to be the biggest blessing and gift from the Lord. She changed everything for us in the best way possible.
When my husband was accepted into PT school, I knew I needed to find a way to help provide for our family since he couldn’t work while in school. I always loved photography, so I took a leap of faith and bought a little starter kit camera off Amazon. With the encouragement of friends, family, and even local photographers who cheered me on, I started capturing sessions here and there. But before long, it took off, and I found myself balancing two jobs, motherhood, and supporting my husband while his dreams were unfolding too.
By the time our second daughter was born, photography had grown into so much more than just a side gig. It became a passion, a business, and the thing that allowed me to step away from dentistry after 10 years to be both a full-time mom and a full-time photographer. Leaving dentistry was a hard choice—I truly loved the field and the people I worked with—but I knew the Lord was opening doors for me in photography, and I felt called to walk through them.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I would say the road has hasn’t been “smooth”, but has been worth it! One of the hardest things for me to accept was leaving behind the steady salary, benefits and schedule of the dental field! On top of that, learning how to manage my time and my finances as a self employed business owner was a whole new challenge! I’ve been full time for almost 3 years now and I feel like I’m finally worked through a lot of those “kinks”! I still struggle, don’t get me wrong but nothing I can’t overcome and every season of growth has made me stronger and more grateful for this path!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The name Simply Say Photography was inspired by my oldest daughter, Saylor. When I started this business, I wanted something different, and actually my child hood friend came up with “Simply Say” but also because so much of my “why” comes from her and the family we’ve built. Over the years, I’ve photographed a little bit of everything, but I’ve found my heart truly belongs to motherhood and portrait photography. I capture a lot of childhood milestones, family portraits, seniors, and kids of all ages—and yes, I also photograph weddings (usually just once a month, since I treasure my weekends with my family).
What sets me apart is the way I connect with children. People often tell me I have a gift for and while being a mom myself certainly helps me understand, it’s more than that. I genuinely love being around kids. From studio milestone sessions to outdoor family portraits, I approach every session with patience, fun, and an understanding heart. I know first hand that not every moment comes with smiles and giggles, but that’s okay sometimes the little in-betweens are just as meaningful. (I LOVE A CANDID PHOTO)
More than anything, I want people to know how passionate I am about my work and my clients. Whether it’s a wedding party, a newborn baby, or a toddler in the middle of a tantrum, I show up with care, understanding, and a commitment to capturing moments that feel real. One of my favorite things is being out in the community and hearing a little voice say, “Hey, that’s the lady who takes our pictures!” Those moments remind me why I do this and why I’ll never take for granted the trust families place in me to capture their memories.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
If I had any advice for someone just starting out, it would be this: never let anything hold you back. Only you can decide how successful you want to be! Not your best friend, not your family, and not your peers. Looking back, one thing I wish I knew when I first began was not to be so scared or timid. It can feel overwhelming knowing there are a million other people out there doing the same thing you’re trying to do, but the truth is, everyone is different. We all have our own way of running a business, our own style, and our own niche. If I could go back to when I started photography seven years ago, I would tell myself: it’s okay to be different, it’s okay if others are booking more than you, and it’s okay to grow at your own pace. You’ll get there one day, and now, here I am, living that dream.
Contact Info:
