Leo White, a passionate aviator and photographer, founded Whites Aviation Ltd in 1945. White had already established himself as a skilled photographer in the 1920s, freelancing and working for the Weekly News. He was deeply involved in Auckland's aviation scene during the 1920s and 1930s, becoming a pioneer in aerial photography within the region. His dedication to aviation extended beyond photography, as he compiled a book titled "Wingspread, a history of New Zealand aviation" in 1941 and even served as a photographer with the RNZAF during World War II.

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White's love for his country and his combined talents for flying and photography culminated in him capturing aerial photographs of New Zealand in the early 1950s for his publication "Whites pictorial reference of New Zealand."