Chantele Leatherwood’s earliest memory behind a camera was at 11 years old with a disposable one at a dolphin show, where she filled the whole roll. “I got the film developed and the pictures were horrible,” she recalls. Instead of tossing the photos, she spent time critiquing them, figuring out she needed to get closer to do better next time.
When she took on shooting for her high school’s yearbook, Leatherwood’s mother bought her a camera. She later learned to develop the photos and started working in a darkroom. It was a modest beginning to Leatherwood’s eventual career as a professional photographer, starting her business Moonstone Images in 2009 and being voted Best Wedding Photographer by North Coast Journal readers four years running.
In the late 1990s, Leatherwood says, “I really thought that I’d be doing something with photography but I wasn’t sure what. Then I had four children with my husband.” She laughs and rattles off her detours in the travel industry and forest service, all of which she enjoyed. But in 2008, she says, she took some family portrait photos for a friend, followed by a wedding. They were favors between friends, but she had a wonderful time. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I could do this every day.’”
When her youngest started kindergarten, Leatherwood tested the waters with an architectural shoot at no charge to see how it suited her. Those images got into Fine Home Building magazine and won an editor’s award. The architect for whom she was shooting hired her for more work and she was officially a professional. While she has a knack for capturing the lines and structure of a building, she found herself gravitating to more emotional subjects, to humanity and, eventually, to weddings.
“There’s something about skin, the eyes, wrinkles — things that I really enjoy about photography,” she explains. “And being able to see the emotion through faces, and you get a lot of that in weddings.”
A scroll through the Moonstone Images Instagram page reveals Leatherwood’s eye for human elements and the particular humans before her. “I don’t want to be capturing my story, I want to be capturing their story,” she says, whether that shows in visible nerves, an adoring look or a tattoo. No two couples are alike in her portfolio, “and I think that has to do with love; love is really diverse,” she says with some wonder.
Those planning destination weddings from out of town, Leatherwood says, tend to get in touch and start talking about plans a year in advance. Locals are more relaxed, getting in touch a few months ahead. She advises couples to book their wedding or event photographer, caterer and venue first, as spots on their schedules can disappear quickly.
Surprise proposal photos, on the other hand, are sometimes scheduled with lots of lead time or as little as a week. Sometimes, Leatherwood says, the person being asked the big question knows they are going to be having a photo shoot of some kind, but sometimes they have no idea. If the proposer doesn’t have a particular spot in mind, especially if they’re from out of town, she’ll talk with them about what they picture in the background — the ocean, the redwoods — and settle on a spot, sometimes marked with an X, to bring their soon-to-be-betrothed to. “I call those my Scooby-Doo sessions because I’m hiding behind a rock or behind a tree,” she says. “These are like the ultimate romantics, like this is their gig.” So far, everyone has said yes.
Handpicking locations is important to Leatherwood, who maintains a catalog of places and their corresponding seasons and times for the best lighting. Some locals have very specific requests or a couple areas they’re thinking about, and she wants to make the most of the views while keeping everyone safe and happy. For family portraits, that means considering where a toddler won’t tumble or grow overtired getting there. “Or maybe a bride wants to do this really great [high location], but what kind of shoes do you want to wear?” she asks.
People don’t get lost in the majestic scenery of Leatherwood’s photos, which is saying something, given the rugged vistas of our coast and the breathtaking scale of our trees. It’s the people that draw the eye in her images. “I see a story now,” she says, “they just happen to be in this magnificent location.” And since it’s about people for her, less epic backgrounds still make for compelling shots. Along with clifftops and remote trails, she’s shot at the courthouse, too. In fact, it’s where her son tied the knot.
When choosing a photographer, Leatherwood suggests going beyond looking at their work. “Ask if they provide prints, or if they can make a photo album or an online gallery to share with family and friends, or if you can order prints, what’s allowed within the contract,” so there are no surprises. It’s important to see how you and the photographer vibe together, too. Experience might not be as crucial as whether their work speaks to you, and you’ll need to be comfortable with them.
Leatherwood prefers not to bombard people with too much flash, though there are times and places for it, as it can be jarring. And while not required for great wedding photos, she recommends an engagement party shoot as a trial run. “If we show up at the wedding as friends, we already know how we are with the camera between us,” she says.
Once the ice is broken, observing how everyone interacts at a wedding — not only the happy couple but kids, stepparents and cousins — helps Leatherwood find the emotions and stories that will come through in her photos. “I’m totally in love with love,” she says. “I believe in love and I think that’s the key to success. You have to be able to see it.”
This article appears in 2026 Wedding Guide.
