A Different Kind of Wedding Photographer Bio That Goes a Little Deeper into Who I Am

(Photo by my 6-year-old daughter, Luchiana Aruna)

I was born in New York City on the Upper West Side in 1984. My family is of mixed ethnicity: my mom is Italian and Jewish from Queens, and my father is Puerto Rican, born in Puerto Rico and moved to Spanish Harlem as a child. My parents met on the Jersey Shore in a hot tub. My mother recalls the holes in my father’s shorts and being smitten by him and his alternative ways. They dated for a few years and had wild nights, with music and art and so much culture. The ’80s in NYC were a truly amazing time to be alive. They then wed at City Hall while pregnant with me in 1984. They were so ahead of their time! full circle city hall weddings are the coolest way to marry in NYC.

My life is very much colored by NYC and being raised in the grit and grind of it. So much of my inspiration is inextricably linked to my artistic and wild parents. My childhood was filled with Latin jazz parties that extended into the middle of the night, doors open across the hall, and really no lines between the two. Our walls were graced with works by some of the most talented artists, like Jorge Soto and José Morales. I think my childhood was incredibly unique and gave me a deep and profound love for creativity, weird people, and the permission to be myself.

I also recall always being enamored with the colors of our graffiti-covered city. NYC trains were literally covered, and so were all the buildings. It’s something I don’t think I’ll ever forget, and I think it’s clearly something that inspired me in the wedding work I do. I’m not just a visitor of the city; NYC is my home. I have come to realize that I also carry that nostalgia and intimate love affair with me when I work, as if every street and every corner has a personal story of mine as well. Walking around with couples sometimes feels like drifting back in time into my own history, like I'm back in my small town.

My husband is also a native New Yorker. We met 10 years ago in a BMX skater bar called "The Tender Trap" in Greenpoint, a real NYC love story. In reflection, I think one of the foundational aspects of our romance was our unique upbringings and this shared nostalgia. In addition to always being a creative and different soul, I have been equally fascinated by the human mind and human experience. At the same time I got into the wedding world in 2016, met my husband and soon-to-be father of my children, I also got accepted to NYU for a master’s in mental health counseling. My love of people is so clear to me. Growing up the way I did, with both chaos and creativity shaping me, I’ve always felt called to listen deeply and connect with others. The challenges of my life have guided me toward a path of understanding, and it has always felt natural that my journey would lead to working with people, especially creatives who crave a sense of representation and authenticity in a world that can feel sterile or disconnected.

In 2020, the reality of the pandemic brought us away from the city. After adding two little humans to our journey, we moved to the Poconos, where we currently live. Over time, I’ve developed such a deep and profound love of nature that the natural evolution for our family was always this. While NYC remains the place I work, love, and consider my hometown, living more rurally has deepened my love for nature and rural America.

A few things I love that tell more about me than words could ever: I love George Carlin; I think of him as a spiritual leader. Wu-Tang and Portishead were a huge part of my artistic awakening. I believe the Earth is a living being just like us and that all things in life are connected through water. My humor is Larry David-esque.

Ignacio Leonidas is a documentary-style photographer and filmmaker with a deep-rooted passion for storytelling. With a background in film direction and photojournalism, he seamlessly blends analog and digital formats to create work that is both timeless and personal.

His work spans striking portraiture, candid documentation, and full-length narrative films all with a shared goal: to communicate raw, emotional truth through visually compelling imagery.

Over the past 15 years, Ignacio has relied on experience as his greatest teacher. Through hands-on experimentation and dedication to craft, he has developed a distinctive, versatile style tailored to each client’s unique vision. He thrives on creative collaboration and is known for bringing complex, nuanced ideas to life with precision and soul.

As a photographer, he offers 35mm and medium format film, Polaroid, and digital photography customizing his approach to suit the story at hand. As a filmmaker, he works in both Super 8mm and 4K digital formats, building layered visual narratives that weave nostalgia with modernity and evoke deep emotional resonance.

His work has been featured in film festivals and exhibitions worldwide. Ignacio lives in New York City with his wife, drawing daily inspiration from the city’s vibrant energy, visual texture, and richly diverse community. In addition to freelancing with myself Ignacio also works with other collectives in NYC, freelances for The New York Times and teaches at The Bronx Documentary center. ( Recent videos here VIDEO A few recent Weddings PHOTO )