Leslie Von Pless

I’m the manager of video production for Environmental Defense Fund, where I shoot, edit and produce video and photography. I’m a Part 107 licensed drone pilot and PADI certified scuba diver. Previously, I was the Multimedia Producer for Lambda Legal and the Multimedia Manager for the Women’s Media Center.

I’ve spent my entire career in the nonprofit sector, specializing in video storytelling and video strategy – developing purposeful, compelling video content with a focus on effective video distribution and promotion.

My videos have been featured in The Los Angeles Times, Fast Company, The Washington Post, Buzzfeed, Upworthy, People Magazine, Mic, Refinery 29, and other outlets. I’ve screened work at several film festivals – Fishing Smarter, a short film exploring the role of technology in putting fisheries on the path to sustainability, has screened throughout the environmental film festival circuit during 2021-2022. Flying Solo, a short documentary created for Lambda Legal, won the Grand Jury Award for Documentary Short at Outfest: The Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival. My photography chronicling Lambda Legal’s work on marriage equality is published in the book, Love Unites Us.

As a freelancer I work with local and regional nonprofits and do my own independent documentary video and nature photography. I love the outdoors, am a proud Northeasterner and care deeply about the land, water and wilderness of this region.

I live in the lower Hudson Valley and work in NYC. I received a B.S. in Digital Video Production from the State University of New York at Fredonia.