Some photographs invite you in. They don’t just show a space — they make you feel it.
That’s the magic of Portland-based photographers Luke and Mallory Leasure, whose work seamlessly blends intentional composition with the beauty of the unscripted.
After 15 years in wedding photography, the duo found themselves drawn toward interiors and commercial lifestyle work, gradually shifting their focus. But the transition wasn’t without a learning curve; adapting to the slower, more meticulous rhythm of interiors required a shift in mindset.
Whether it's the serenity of a space or the drama of light spilling through a window, they let the environment guide them, favoring natural light and long exposures over excessive manipulation. Yet, the reality behind the lens is rarely as effortless as the final image suggests. Tight spaces, tripods balanced at impossible angles and the slow, painstaking process of perfecting a frame are all part of the job.
Join us as we step behind the lens with Luke and Mallory, exploring their creative process, the challenges of interior photography and the ever-present hunt for that perfect, unscripted moment.
Your photography has a very intentional yet natural feel. Have you ever captured an unexpected, unplanned detail in a space that completely changed the way you saw it? Most everything is pretty well planned these days, but sometimes a ray of light streams into the room just right, and it captures our imagination. Which we have to indulge, of course!
What inspired your transition from wedding photography to interior and commercial lifestyle photography? After 15 years in weddings, we have nothing but gratitude for all the amazing people and the memories we shared. We had been shooting interiors and doing campaign work for brands all along, but as time went on, we found ourselves getting more and more excited about shifting our focus entirely toward the commercial side of things.
Back in 2017, we started with the larger-scale productions and sort of became addicted to set life and the feeling of making art with teams of highly talented people. It's also pretty great not to be flying all over the country and wondering what our friends are up to on the weekends haha.
Interior photography often requires a balance between artistic vision and commercial needs. How do you navigate this balance when working with brands, designers and publications? We do our very best to tailor our efforts to capture each space in a style that matches the vision of the designer or architect who brought us on. We almost always collaborate on a shot list ahead of time so we know all of the must-have items, and then we go from there. We try to leave a little extra space for anything that might spark our imaginations as well.
Your photos capture more than just a space; they tell a story. How do you approach composition, lighting and styling to evoke emotion and narrative in your work? Our goal is to capture the feeling of being there, whether it's the serenity of the environment or the dramatic light spilling into the room through the windows. Frames always come together by moving in and around a place as we notice where the magic already is. We find that natural light and long exposures are the best way to collect that feeling without trying to synthesize or manipulate it.
Have you ever walked into a space, set up your shot and then realized you couldn’t quite capture what you envisioned? How do you handle moments when a space doesn’t translate the way you expected? Oh yeah. Compromises have to be made here and there. Sometimes we get excited about a thing, but it's just not reading and we have to pivot. Sometimes, there simply isn't enough physical space to allow for a natural-looking image. Adaptability is key, and we always try to find a solution.
What are some of the biggest challenges you face in interior photography that differ from wedding photography? Any unexpected lessons learned along the way? At first, it was the pace of the day. With weddings, we had to get used to running all day long and being incredibly decisive in moments that required a documentarian-type skill set. It was kind of like pulling a rabbit out of a hat over and over. If you're really good at wedding photography, everything else will come as a bit of a relief, to be honest. The biggest challenge for us has been the mindset shift and not being so self-reliant.
So much of interior photography is about perfection — the right angles, the perfect light, the ideal styling. Is there something about the behind-the-scenes reality of these spaces that you wish people saw more of? Tripods in tight spaces. Holding very still for long exposures in absolute darkness. All the mess we move behind the sofa. How long it takes to make tiny adjustments to the framing and styling feel just right. Last but not least, the 20 years of learning all the wonderful things you can do in Photoshop.
For photographers looking to break into interiors and commercial lifestyle work, what advice would you give them? Start looking at magazines and figuring out why you are drawn to certain images and what makes them stand out.
What gear, lighting techniques or post-production processes play a key role in achieving the mood and depth of your interior images? A great high-resolution camera (medium format if you can swing it), sturdy tripod with a geared head, laptop for tethering and a bag of tricks to alter the light when necessary. I'd also highly recommend experimenting with focus bracketing, compositing in Photoshop and multiple exposures. Knowing how to shoot with the post process in mind is kind of the whole thing.
As creative partners, how do you navigate working together — both in terms of creative collaboration and balancing personal and professional life? We have developed designated roles over the years that align with our unique skill sets and interests. We have grown up in this industry together, and we have a deep trust for each other's intuitions and abilities.
Have you ever disagreed on a creative decision while working together? How do you navigate moments when your perspectives on a shot or edit differ? Never…just kidding — always! But the magic for us has always been in the blend between us.
Beyond photography, what inspires you both on a personal level? Are there particular places, experiences or daily rituals that fuel your creativity? Firstly, our friends and family who bring out the best in us. We love working on projects around the house and in the garden. We try to take in as much music and art as we can and, of course, our two cats.
Budget, access or time constraints aside, what dream interior would you love to shoot? These days, maybe somewhere in Chamonix — you know, because we'd LOVE to ski those mountains. Honestly, anywhere with epic scenery would be dreamy.