I’m Lea Jaye, a photographer and documentarian based in Santa Cruz. Through my work, I explore curiosity, adventure, connection, and the fleeting beauty of life.

I was seven years old when my mom, a professional photographer for over 20 years, first hung her heavy camera around my neck and asked me to look through the lens and tell her what I saw. From her, I learned to see the world differently.

As I grew older, I discovered film photography and fell in love with the way it asked me to slow down. It deepened my passion and taught me to notice the beauty of a moment while I was still inside it.

That belief is what led me to prints. Every piece is produced using archival inks, museum-quality papers, and the same trusted fine art printer my mom has worked with for decades in the small beach town where I grew up, a place that continues to inspire my work.