Courtesy Leslie Ann Wigon

Infinity Photography, Scarsdale, NY
Leslie Ann Wigon

by Cara Brooke Schultz

What is Infinity Photography, and who are your clients?
Infinity Photography is a company that provides full-service art packages for hotels, corporations, restaurants, spas and residential clients. We review the interior design scheme and work with the client to provide just the right photography and/or murals for the venue.

What is a typical day like for you?
On a typical slow day, I call clients to find out where we stand on pending projects, search through photography magazines and the Internet for new sources of material and put together new materials to show clients for future meetings. A busy day would include facilitating orders and rechecking print sizes to make sure things are reproduced properly. I have to fine-tune the procedures for getting things out the door in an orderly fashion; that takes a lot of time.

What is the most unusual request you’ve ever received from a client?
I got a request for images of flip-flops in the sand for a boutique hotel in Los Angeles, and I received a request for images of close-up, detail shots of oriental hardware on antique Asian furniture.

What do you think was the most helpful experience that led you to your current career?
I think there is a lot to be said for working at a big company and learning a trade because frankly, if it weren’t for my entry-level position as photo researcher and photo librarian at Sports Illustrated, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It opened a career for me that I was completely unaware of. I walked into their office looking for a job right out of college and they asked me, “Well, are you interested in photography? We need someone with an art background.” I felt like paying them for the job because it set me on a career path.

Is a photography background imperative in your line of work?
I think you have to have some understanding of the photography industry and its various facets. There are editorial photographers, fashion photographers, documentary photographers, fine-art photographers—and in order for me to succeed, it is very important to understand what the photography world is all about.

Do you have any advice for students interested in pursuing a similar career?
My advice is always that passion is 90 percent of success. I’ve been working in the industry for over 25 years and I still can’t wait to get to my desk to see what the next project is.

Courtesy Leslie Ann Wigon

Work sample: The triptych shown was selected by Infinity Photography to suit the corporate setting.