I’m Leah—the heart behind Thistle & Poppy Photography. I’m a Los Angeles-based wedding and elopement photographer with over a decade in the bridal industry, specializing in true-to-life imagery with a touch of glow. I blend editorial intuition with documentary soul to create photographs that feel like memories.
-leah
hi, i'm Leah
My work is rooted in noticing the moments most people overlook: the last deep breath before you walk down the aisle, the way your partner reaches for your hand, the laughter during golden hour. After years designing wedding gowns, I bring an eye for styling, fabric, and quiet emotion—those subtle details that often slip by unnoticed but say everything about your love.
Photography became personal for me when my mother was diagnosed with Huntington’s. I understood, in a way I hadn’t before, how fleeting life is—and how powerful it is to have something beautiful to hold on to. That perspective is woven into how I shoot: gently, intentionally, always looking for connection over total perfection. Your story matters—and it deserves to be remembered with honesty, care, and a touch of magic.
One remarkable mom taught me the value of memory. Her story is why I preserve yours with so much care.
Two rolls of film always waiting in my fridge, because nothing captures light, grain, and nostalgia quite like film
Always ready to wander, from courthouse vows to coastal cliffs and wildflower fields, I’ll follow wherever your story leads.
Tiny buttons, seams, and stitches. Styling thousands of gowns taught me to notice the details most people miss.
Dressing love stories before capturing them. I spent a decade immersed in bridal fashion, now I document romance from behind the lens.
10 years
