From the Paddock to the Lens
My Journey into Rural Photography
We love shining a spotlight on the incredible people who make up Australia’s rural and equine community. This month, we’re featuring Liss Leeson, a talented rural life photographer based in St George, QLD, who travels far and wide capturing the beauty, grit, and quiet magic of life on the land. From dusty campdraft arenas to golden paddocks at dusk, her work tells honest stories through a natural lens and it all started with a camera, a creative streak, and a love for rural life. Here’s her story.
I’ve always called the country home. I grew up rurally, working on stations and throwing myself into the travelling, contracting life of the agricultural industry. Those years were full of dust, sweat, and the kind of hard work that shapes you for life. Along the way, I picked up a camera and now I’m a mum to two beautiful boys, raising them in the same wide open spaces that shaped me.
Creativity has always been in my bones. Even while working in ag, I found myself reaching for a camera to capture the moments that made this lifestyle so unique – the quiet magic of dawn over the paddocks, the grit of a camp draft arena, the joy of kids running barefoot through the dirt. Over time, those snapshots became more than just a hobby. My passion grew, my skills sharpened, and before I knew it, photography had shifted from a side interest to my full-time career.
Now, I’m based in St George, QLD, but my work takes me across Australia. I specialise in photographing rural life, events, and the everyday moments that too often slip by unnoticed. I work with natural light and an honest approach, because I believe real moments speak louder than anything staged. My photography is for the barefoot kids, the windblown hair, the work worn hands, and the golden paddocks at dusk. Whether it’s a family gathered on the farm, a newborn nestled into mum’s chest, or the peaceful chaos of everyday life in the bush – I’m here for it all.
Life out here is raw and beautiful. My goal is to freeze those moments before they fade, creating images that feel like home every time you look at them. Juggling motherhood, rural life, and photography isn’t always easy, but it’s a privilege to live and work in the places and communities that inspire me every day.
If you’re after photos that tell your story, capture the grit and beauty of the land, and feel as real as the life you live, I’d love to work with you.
👤 Elissa Leeson
📸 Liss’s Lens Photography
📍St George, Queensland
