Life and Work with Elizabeth Weitz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Weitz.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Elizabeth. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My story has a very classic Mom story to it. 😉 After I had my daughter I wanted to take exactly one million photos of her. I was beyond frustrated with my camera I had as moments would slip by because my camera shutter was not capable of handling a toddler moving and all the different light situations. When I purchased my first DSLR, my whole world changed. I studied everything I could get my hands on as far as light goes and different techniques with my camera. My friends started noticing my growing interest in photography and became my test subjects. Very slowly, people started asking if I could take their photos…and the idea that I could make money at photography arrived. The only problem, I had NO way of reaching others outside of my friend group. So I very wisely (insert heavy sarcasm) put an ad on craigslist. GASP. I know, I did that. I will say two inquiries happened because of that. One was not in a direction I wanted to take my business and the other was of a sweet family who adored working with me and shared my name with her friends. That is what I call the snowball effect to my business. I stopped my craigslist and decided I would take my time and let word of mouth be my advertisement. And so nine years later, I am now a wedding photographer built on word of mouth and google has kicked in and decided to share my name with all the lovely clients that search for a Denver Wedding Photographer. A lot of sweat, blood and tears went into becoming who I am and clearly still working on. My Dad always told me that expertise happens in that 10000 shot. I was often frustrated in my lack of skills, lack of business, etc. But it was that advise that drove me to keep trying. It was clearly something I am passionate about. I can say I’ve moved well past that 10000 shot and my dream and goals just get bigger. But that is my advice to anyone…you can’t become successful overnight. It takes day in day out practice at whatever it is you are passionate about.

Has it been a smooth road?
Gosh, no it has not been a smooth road. I think people assume photography is one easy job. And in a sense, they might be correct. It’s easy because of how much I love it. Its easy in that I adore seeing the happiness my job allows me to be part of on a wedding day. That I get to document someone’s love story, that is an incredible honor.

 But the getting to that point… Where clients would trust me and look to hire me? That is not the easy part. It goes back to having a story to tell. Do my clients want me to be that person to tell their story? Becoming a brand that so clearly states what my work will do for your wedding day. That took so much work. Posting on Instagram, interacting on Facebook, emailing potential clients. You get told no, too expensive, etc. or I would often get people asking me to change how I edit. My answer was always no. I think being true to your vision as a brand is so important. It leads to happier clients and also, I can’t change how I view the world. As an artist, that is what lights me up inside and what makes me really great at what I do.

 My advice, find it. Find that piece of you that lights you up as a photographer. For me its weddings. If weddings are not your thing…maybe it’s an adorable newborn shoot. I photographed everything and anything I could so I could figure out what that was for me. It took years of discovering that for me. At the heart of it, what truly makes me happiest as an artist is that gorgeous emotion and beautiful natural light. I chase both of those in every session I do and its because of that that people find me. It becomes part of your brand and that becomes something easily recognizable. Which in turn, helps people want to hire you. Be you. Let your clients see you and know you and that snowball effect that I mentioned earlier will start creating the results you want. Just be patient with that and consistent.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Elizabeth Ann Photography – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I specialize in weddings. I adore everything about them. Getting to see that anticipation with your friends in getting ready. The way mom looks at her daughter trying to hold it all in…or the way Dad loses his breath seeing his little girl in a wedding dress for the first time…AHH. It’s amazing. First dances where the groom sweeps his bride off her feet or the silly dancing that happens when the lights go down and the drinks are flowing. You guys, photographing weddings are simply something I love to do. I’m known for how I approach not only the whole story of a wedding but particularly my portrait work on a wedding day. I love the way sunset creates so much gorgeous emotion and magic in an image. I often approach weddings with a more editorial style but I am constantly looking for ways to make either my clients laugh or be so still in their moment that they forget I’m there. Emotional and editorial…yes, you can have both.

 I don’t focus on what other photographers are doing if I’m being honest. I don’t know what they offer as a business. I do know what I love. What I can offer in my business and that I work 100% for every client that books with me. I have a lot of photographer friends and we often bounce ideas off of each other and that is what I love about my career. You can be driven, you can want to be successful for you but that doesn’t mean you need to worry about what the other photographers are doing. There is a client for each of us. And I absolutely only want the ones that are meant to be with me. If that makes sense. You get an idea of what your ideal client is and you chase that. And I cheer on my friends that are being successful for their business. My ideal client might not be there. Etc. So what sets me apart from others…it will always come down to me being exactly who I’m meant to be. Be You. Everyone else is taken. Its a great quote lol.

Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
I’ve always been taught to pursue anything with absolute yes I can do this. I feel like women that have a sense of purpose and a desire to be heard will absolutely rise to achieve that. I love that my career as a female photographer is 100% based on my artistic talent and not whether I’m male or female. My voice as a female has always been one of empathy. I think it allows me to be who I am as a wedding photographer. I think continuing to show the world that empathy is necessary and powerful. I don’t want to just be seen as a strong female but one that embraces my femininity. I think we have a long journey ahead of us to show that empathy does not mean weakness. I think that empathy is often one of the strongest voices I can hear in another female. If you can’t see other opinions, if you can’t understand other cultures, than how can we move forward? That is what I hope I see more opportunity for in women.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.elizabethannphotography.org/
• Phone: 719-439-8436
• Email: elizabethannphotography1@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/lizweitz
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethAnnPhotography/

Image Credit:
Chelsea Spika (image taken of myself at a wedding)

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