Leila Peterson (@dearleila) is our latest addition to the Priime Style Author roster. Her photography is clean yet impactful and emotional, and we love how she plays with soft colors and minimalism. She utilizes different influences in her photography; from her Hawai'i roots to her current city of London and all of the people she meets along the way, it's evident that her photographic work is a very personal depiction of how she perceives the world around her. Together we've created five styles by Leila that you can download on the Priime app.

We chat with Leila about her new styles, her evolution in photography, and recent projects.

How has your photography style / way you shoot and edit changed over time?

I think my style is very personal. The subjects I shoot generally change depending on where I am in my life and what I'm feeling at the time. Photos I've taken when I was in my early twenties living in Hawai'i versus photos taken last week in London are very different. Over the past few years I've been working on minimizing the physical objects I let into my life. I can be a memory pack-rat and tend to hoard things that have any type of emotional attachment to them. You'd be surprised just how much 'stuff' I accumulated! When I moved to London I threw almost everything out and told myself not to look back. My editing and photos have taken on a similar aesthetic, as I enjoy minimal colour, light, and tonal changes and am drawn to simple, everyday moments.

What inspires you to take photos?

Lately: a good book, an interesting conversation, feeling connected to a place, a memory, a moment, or music.

Are there any recent project or travels that you'd like to share?

I have a bit of travel coming up in the next few weeks, and am working on a personal project over the next few months of winter. I've also been taking piano for the past few months, and it's been a huge source of inspiration.

Tell us about the inspirations behind the latest styles you've developed for the Priime app.

I created five styles: Nostalgia, December, Hampstead, Aolani, and Hikari.

Nostalgia

I wanted to recreate a deep, reflective mood by adding to the shadows and bringing out cooler tones. This style is perfect for low light and dark colours.

December

December reminds me of the winters in London. Short days spent in dimly lit rooms with the occasional burst of sharp, white light. This style is great for adding a bit of drama to portraits and images with a lot of shadows.

Hampstead

Living in a big city makes me retreat into nature to recharge, and I find myself shooting a lot of foliage. Hampstead brings out a green that I love so much in film.

Aolani

Aolani is a soft style that is great for brightening a coastal landscape or sky, while keeping the colours muted and light. Aolani means 'heavenly cloud' in Hawaiian.

Hikari

There is something very pure about the light in Japan, which is what inspired me the most when developing this style. Hikari is perfect for interiors and portraits, and reduces the blues & yellows that often discolour whites.

We're in love with each of Leila's styles. Check out her styles on the Priime app and let us know what you think.