Leo Hudson

CEO, LH Multimedia

Style Observer (SO): What’s your astrological sign?

Leo Hudson (LH): I’m a Leo! How fitting is that?

SO: Describe Leo, in a few words.

LH: That’s a tough one to answer, but I’d say: Hard-working. Always chasing the next goal. I hold myself to a high standard and, honestly, I expect the same from the people around me, not because I’m a perfectionist, but because I believe in them. I’m disciplined, I like things to make sense, and I’m still learning, still growing, no matter how far I’ve come in this business.

God-fearing. My faith carries me through a lot of it. There are things you can’t control in this line of work, and I lean on God to see me through those moments.

And family runs deep for me — my daughter, mom, dad, sisters, brother, nieces, they’re everything.

Caring. I’m always the one trying to help, whatever that looks like, whether it’s my own family or the team I work with.

If I had to sum it up, I’d just say I try to show up for my family, for the work, and for anyone who needs me.

SO: What first drew you to photography?

LH: Photography wasn’t the plan at all! It kind of found me. It was actually a hobby for me during my final year of university. I had a point-and-shoot camera and I found myself always taking pictures of the speakers at different seminars. Then, my friend, who at the time, owned multimedia platform Sports Xplorer needed help to shoot some events and that kind of sealed my fate. I eventually became part-owner of that company and that was my launching pad.

SO: Was there a defining moment when you knew this would become more than a hobby?

Appleton Estate Mai Tai Appleton Estate 8 Year Old Reserve Fresh lime juice Orange Curaçao Orgeat (almond) syrupKareem Carr | LH Multimedia

LH: While I was at Sports Xplorer we had a contract to cover a competition called LIME Street Football. At the end of the competition, the PR manager complimented my photos. She shared that my photos were well-composed and told a story. So they offered me a position as their in-house photographer. That was really a defining moment for me.

SO: How has your photography style evolved over the years?

LH: If you’d told 20-something me that I’d end up chasing split-second moments for a living, I wouldn’t have believed you. While working with Flow (at the time LIME), a lot of the events were corporate. So I had to do a lot of research to make sure I knew exactly what I needed to do when I got there. I had to prioritise being punctual, open to learning, and of course adaptable and creative to do this new style well.

I’ve also learned a lot from veterans like Observer Photo Editor Bryan Cummings who taught me to push the boundaries, experiment with different techniques, approaches, angles, and to develop my own way of doing things. Since that time, I’ve had to grow as an artist and as a businessman. After I felt comfortable with photography I knew I needed to diversify my income stream. The natural next step was videography. So I taught myself how to shoot and edit videos.

Today, I’m still evolving, still studying my own craft, still hungry to get better at the art and the business of it. I don’t think that hunger ever really ends.

SO: What makes you stop and take a photograph?

Christian Louboutin Chambeliboat Boat Shoes Reversed nubuck leather — Lionne Kareem Carr | LH Multimedia

LH: I have to see something that’s unique in its own way. Something I’ve never seen before — whether it’s a new angle, some really good natural lighting, or a person or thing doing something that’s interesting and different from your everyday thing. Because, what’s the point of taking a picture if you’ve seen it before?

SO: Is there a piece of equipment you couldn’t live without?

LH: This may surprise you, but it’s not a camera, it’s my phone: iPhone 17 Pro Max. It can do almost anything I need to do on the go, including capturing some of my favourite photographs to date. It’s definitely the most versatile piece of equipment I own.

SO: What does a typical day look like for you?

LH: I’m an early riser, usually up by 6:00 am. I start my day with the newspaper to catch up on current affairs and to see whether any of my work has been featured. Then I scan my e-mail to make sure I’m on top of everything that needs attention. More often than not, I’m the first one telling my clients that their images made the media.

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Punctuality and preparation are non-negotiable for me, so I always meet with my team to review what went well, what we can improve, and to confirm that we have the exact equipment needed for the job.

Depending on the day, I make time to pick up my daughter from school and get her to her activities — track and field, swim, or dance. Once I’m home, the work continues: Batteries go on charge, files get offloaded, and I dive straight into editing. Some days, there’s travel layered on top of all of that.

In the end, that’s the job — long days, constant movement, and you don’t stop until every file is backed up and accounted for, ready to do it all again tomorrow.

SO: Where’s your favourite place in Kingston to shoot?

LH: Hope Gardens. It’s such a beautiful and diverse area. You get the views of the mountains, the sunrise and sunsets, the gardens and rustic areas. It gives you a lot to work with.

SO: Where would you take a first-time visitor to Kingston, and why?

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LH: I would take a first-time visitor for a good meal of curry goat and roti at Moby Dick downtown, then I’d take them for a tour of Water Lane — complete with a mini photo shoot, of course. They’d get to experience Jamaican culture, taste, and art, all in one go.

SO: You’re heading to the country to relax for the weekend… where would you be going and what would you be listening to?

LH: I’d probably be heading to Sandals South Coast; nothing beats the sunset from that side of the island. On the way, I’d be listening to either old-school hip hop like Tupac, Biggie, Jay-Z, or old-school dancehall from artistes like Vybz Kartel or Bounty Killer, all depends on the mood.

SO: Outside of photography, what brings you joy?

LH: My daughter. She’s beautiful, sharp as anything, and growing up faster than I can keep track of some days. I’m always amazed at her new interests and how she improves quickly at anything she sets her mind to.

Leo Hudson and his daugther Leanna (Photo Courtesy of Leo Hudson)

She enjoys running track, swimming, dancing, and she writes. There’s a notable discipline in her already that I recognise, and it makes me proud every single time I see it show up.

On my own time, I enjoy travelling to new countries. Experiencing all the different cultures and people is also something I enjoy. Going to new places definitely brings me joy.

SO: If you weren’t a photographer, what do you think you’d be doing?

LH: Probably something in investment analysis, or somewhere else in the world of mathematics. It was my first love, and I was accepted to Mico Teachers’ College, but unfortunately at the time I couldn’t afford to go.

SO: Which images are you proudest of and why?

LH: It’s hard for me to choose between my shots for the Associated Press from the set of No Time to Die, and my drone photo for the 2019 Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run.

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SO: One destination that’s at the top of your photography bucket list?

LH: Top of my bucket list is the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. There’s also Singapore with some really unique architecture that would be exciting to shoot.

On a more personal note.

SO: What are your preferred fashion labels right now?

LH: Right now it’s Christian Louboutin, Hermès, and Armani Exchange and Zara for everyday wear.

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SO: What was your last bit of retail therapy?

LH: Christian Louboutin Chambeliboat Boat Shoes Reversed nubuck leather — Lionne and the Air Jordan 1 Retro Low OG SP x Travis Scott Tropical Pink. Had to have them!

SO: Sunrise or sunset?

LH: Sunset. The myriad colours and the contrast between day and night makes it a sight worth seeing every time.

SO: Sports photography or corporate photography ?

Christian Louboutin Chambeliboat Boat Shoes Reversed nubuck leather — Lionne .

LH: Sports photography, definitely. You get to experiment more with your camera settings, like aperture and shutter speed to produce some really creative images.

SO: Loafers or sneakers?

LH: Loafers, any day. Comfort and style.

SO: Early bird or night owl?

LH: Night owl. I’m always up late working, and my brain can’t seem to turn off.

Hudson’s photo featured on The Wall Street Journal’s online platformCourtesy of Leo Hudson

SO: What’s the one fragrance you can’t leave the house without this summer?

LH: Creed Delphinus.

SO: Finally, what’s your personal credo?

LH: “Stay hungry, stay foolish.” — Steve Jobs