Today we’d like to introduce you to Addie Bonner.
Hi Addie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey into photography actually started as a hobby while my husband was deployed to Afghanistan during his time in the United States Marine Corps. It was something I enjoyed, but I never imagined it would eventually become such a big part of my life.
After my husband got out of the military and we welcomed our first child, life got busy, and my camera took a backseat for a while.
Then, I lost my sister to suicide, and everything changed.
She was supposed to get married just a few months after she passed away. When I eventually picked my camera back up, I found myself drawn to wedding photography. Looking back, I think a part of me was chasing a dream she never got to live out. But somewhere along the way, I fell completely in love with the idea of freezing time.
Losing my sister taught me something I don’t think I could have ever fully understood otherwise. Photographs aren’t just pictures. They’re memories, they’re stories, and sometimes they’re all we have left of a moment or a person we love.
That’s also where the name Addie Leigh Photography holds such a special meaning. Leigh is my middle name, but it was also my sister’s. Keeping that name as part of my business was my way of carrying a little piece of her with me into something I was building.
What started as a hobby during a military deployment eventually grew into a passion I never saw coming. Today, I get to document some of the most meaningful moments in people’s lives, especially weddings. And while I love everything about a beautiful wedding day, it’s the moments that can’t be recreated that mean the most to me.
The happy tears, the hugs, the laughter, the little moments that might otherwise go unnoticed. Those are the things I want my clients to be able to look back on years from now.
I may have found my way into wedding photography because of a dream my sister never got to experience, but I stayed because I fell in love with preserving memories for everyone else.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh goodness, I wish I could say it’s been a smooth road, but it definitely hasn’t!
One of my biggest challenges has been finding a balance between being a mom, a wife, and a business owner. When I first started, I had one child, and now I’m a mom of three little girls. Between school, extracurricular activities, everyday life, and running a photography business, there are days when I feel like I’m being pulled in a hundred different directions. My husband also has a very unpredictable work schedule, so a lot of times we’re just figuring things out as we go. Some days I feel like I’ve got it all together, and other days I’m just trying to survive the chaos!
Another challenge has been the emotional side of why I started. Losing my sister was one of the hardest things I’ve ever experienced, and in a way, photography became something I poured a lot of those emotions into. I think for a long time I was chasing a dream that she never got to experience. While that gave my work so much meaning, it also came with emotions I was still learning how to navigate.
And then there’s the photography industry itself. It is incredibly competitive and, honestly, oversaturated. There are so many talented photographers out there, and it can be hard not to compare yourself to everyone else. There have definitely been moments of self-doubt, slow seasons, and times when I’ve questioned whether I’m doing enough. Running a creative business isn’t just showing up with a camera. You’re the photographer, editor, marketer, accountant, social media manager, and everything in between.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you have to keep showing up, even when things aren’t going exactly how you planned. I’ve had to learn to give myself grace, stop comparing my journey to someone else’s, and remember why I started in the first place.
At the end of the day, I’m not trying to be the biggest or most popular photographer out there. I just want to be a good mom, build something I’m proud of, and give my clients photographs that will mean just as much to them years from now as they do today.
It hasn’t always been easy, but I wouldn’t trade what I’ve built or the lessons I’ve learned along the way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m the owner and photographer behind Addie Leigh Photography, based in Charleston, South Carolina. I specialize in wedding photography, but I also photograph families, couples, seniors, and other special moments throughout the Lowcountry and surrounding areas.
My photography style is very natural and true to life. I love clean, timeless images with beautiful colors, but more than anything, I love capturing genuine emotions. Don’t get me wrong, I love a beautiful posed portrait, but some of my favorite images are the ones nobody even realizes I’m taking. The happy tears, the uncontrollable laughter, the little glances between two people, and all those in-between moments that tell the real story.
I think what sets me apart is how personally I approach what I do. I don’t want my clients to feel like they’re just another date on my calendar. I want them to feel comfortable, have fun, and genuinely enjoy their experience with me. Especially on wedding days, I know how overwhelming everything can be, and I want to be someone my couples can count on, not just to take beautiful pictures, but to help make their day a little easier.
One of the things I’m most proud of is simply the business I’ve built. I didn’t start photography with some big business plan or dream of becoming a wedding photographer. It started as a hobby, grew out of a very personal experience, and somehow turned into something I get to call my career. Being able to build that while raising my three girls is something I’m incredibly proud of.
At the end of the day, I don’t want people to look at my photographs and just see a pretty picture. I want them to feel something. I want them to remember exactly how that moment felt, even 20 or 30 years down the road. Because one day, those photographs might mean more to someone than we could ever imagine.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Charleston will always have a special place in my heart because it’s home. What I love most is the history and charm that make this city so unique. From the cobblestone streets and historic homes to the beautiful churches, oak trees, and waterfront views, there’s just something about Charleston that you can’t find anywhere else. As a photographer, I feel incredibly lucky to have so much history and beauty right in my backyard.
Now, what do I like least? THE CROWDS! Haha! Charleston has grown so much over the years, and while I love that so many people have discovered how special our city is, I definitely miss the days when it didn’t feel quite so overcrowded. The traffic alone can test your patience!
But no matter how much Charleston changes or grows, it’ll always be home to me. There’s just something about the Lowcountry that you can’t replace.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.addieleighphoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/addie_leigh_photo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AddieLeighPhoto
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/addie-bonner-68790622a
