Whats your name

Leah Norwood

How would you describe what you do? Your practice, your craft, your cash machine?

I Spill my guts for the whole world to see like film Fixer down the drain on the first day of B&W Darkroom class in High School knowing damn well the teacher said not to and its plastered all over the walls.

Can you tell us where you are from?

Long Beach, California...Beach City with a sewer and oil refinery for a beach front. Wonderful place.

Where do you look for inspiration? A place, a person, a book, an action?

Music, my dad, whole family, Bay Area fam, LA/Long Beach Fam, OC Fam, New Orleans Fam, everyone and everything around me. Spike Lee, Billie Holiday, Sadness, Happiness, Classic horror movies. The movie The Bride of Frankenstein...really watch it and think about it.

What work are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my poetry and analytical writing that I rarely share, soon...soon. My photos are poetry as it is though.

What has been the biggest challenge on your journey?

Biggest challenge is staying focused... I get distracted and bored easily. I doubt my self everyday, I go ghost often out of feeling like no one really likes my work and its all a waste of time. However, I know thats all in my head...my work is amazing...its the real me which is beautiful, I need to stop letting people take advantage of my insecurities an break through these barriers I got so much of me to give and share. I'm a giver.

How do you define success? What are the goalposts you look out for?

I define success as feeling that feeling like you just won the lotto or just that feeling you get in your stomach when you can't believe you really just got what you've been waiting for...its a feeling I cant put into cohesive words. My main goal is to be extraordinarily happy and have people smile, laugh and cry while looking at my photos.

“I am most proud of my poetry and analytical writing that I rarely share, soon...soon. My photos are poetry as it is though.”

Who is someone that has helped you get to where you are now? How were they impactful?

My best friend Gabby and Alina, I'd bother them all the time about setting up dummy shoots so I can practice and have some content that reflected the things I'm into. Cemeteries, classic horror, old skool shit and they reflected that naturally without any direction. I never direct the people I shoot anyways, but them being here for me through all things even besides photography has helped me...I've done some dumb things, i've been hurt very badly, I've put myself in bad places and they are my 444....angels constantly surrounding me.

Favorite food in LA? Your go-to spot to get cravings satiated? (Tacos, pupusas, kbbq, sushi, thai, etc.)

"Dulan's", honestly even though they be slacking hella. They give a big portion...that mac & cheese though!!!

What are you currently listening to? What's on repeat?

"Mrs. Lynch, Your Son Is The Devil" by IDK cause I resonate...I always felt like a disappointment to my mom even to this day...I don't make the best decisions and sometimes I wonder if she's singing the chorus in her head "Nigga you gone be bad forever, forever." I was never home as a kid...street rat, I made my own family...and I'm sure that hurt her, but I didn't wanna disappoint her more with what I was doin'.

What's the last thing you bought with cash?

A Battery Pack of "Modelo" Tall Cans and a pack of Turquoise American Spirits