Finding strength with Elizabeth and Talia in Phoenix
Left to right: Talia, Shelley and Elizabeth
What inspired you to become photographers?
E: My dad, grandpa, and sister all do photography, so it runs in my family. I second-shot a couple weddings with a friend after college and within a few years made photography my full-time job.
T: My dad had a digital camera that I messed around with. From there it just grew. By high school I was doing all of my friends’ senior portraits.
When would you say you officially went professional?
E: It was the first wedding that I did in August 2017. With all the work and travel I didn’t really make any money, but I did that whole wedding by myself and I was like, “I can call myself a photographer!”
T: When I started college I really dived into it and made it a full-time gig to pay my way through college. Then I got the opp to second-shoot a wedding. Just like Elizabeth, I realized I really liked that.
So interesting you were both drawn to photography by weddings. I mean the pressure!
E: There’s a chaos that I’m secretly drawn to!
T: It’s weird, it’s a sort of a calm passion. It forces you to build this relationship with this couple.
We start talking about photo shoots. Both photographers agree that the “golden hour,” those magical minutes just after sunrise or around sunset, is their favorite time to shoot. They share more about favorite settings and ways to calm their clients’ nerves.
What are your favorite spots and hidden gems around Phoenix:
E: Most engagement sessions happen on the weekends when cool spots are crowded, so I’ve been finding lots of hidden gems, like hiking trails, especially in and around the desert which is what most couples want. A current favorite of mine are the free hiking trails adjacent to the Lost Dutchman State Park.
T: I shoot a lot of urban photography. So I’ll have my clients hop in my car and we’ll drive around and see what we see. There are a couple streets downtown that don’t get too much traffic and there are a couple of neighborhoods, like 32nd street and Shea, where there are a lot of cool natural washes. And I love Watson Lake in Prescott.
E: Hole in the Rock at sunset in Papago Park is another great spot, though there will be lots of other people and I’m not going to photoshop them out. I advertise that I don’t photoshop. Canyon Lake is also beautiful. And I take a plastic bag to pick up trash during the photo shoot.
Is that to be environmentally conscious or to get the best shot?
E: Both. I’m noticing that with the increasing popularity of photography, certain places are seeing the effects of it. Like popping confetti for senior photoshoots and gender reveals. It really gets everywhere. People think they’re the only ones doing it, but as photographers we see the reality of how many people are doing it in the same spot and the long term effects.
T: Yeah, the powdery stuff is the worst for the environment.
Photo by Elizabeth in Phoenix
When you first meet a client, especially for their first photoshoot, how do you make them feel comfortable?
E: Whenever I can I meet a client before the photoshoot. We grab coffee and I pick up on their vibe. Then on the day of the shoot I show them around the location, which is often outdoors, and we just chat. And when I start the session, I let them know I’m testing my settings and they can just hangout. It’s very loose and fluid, instead of being “do this” or “do that.” We might just go for a walk, or they’ll practice their first dance, things like that. So they’re not like, “Oh, there’s someone taking my photo.”
T: I think prompts are what set photographers apart. Because it’s so awkward being in front of the camera, but if you have a great photographer, eventually you’re going to be like, “Oh, this is fine.”
E: You’re going to forget the camera is involved. Eventually you’ll stop hearing the shutter and just start interacting.
T: And when it’s a single person it’s like having a friend taking photos. You have a conversation while you’re taking those photos.
E: Sometimes I bring music. I ask them what kind of music they like. In certain scenarios you’ll hear a song playing and it will trigger a reaction. Like one couple was like, “This is our song!” That’s the moment I’ll get expressions and reactions that are nothing I could prompt on my own.
T: True. With high school seniors, anything by Lizzo works like magic right now!
And what story do you want your photos to tell?
E: I kind of decide couple-to-couple. I start to figure it out when I talk to them in-person, and then it comes during the shoot. My goal is to show the love between a couple, the cute things that only they do, like a special handhold. The story also comes out during the editing. I don’t have one style. I edit based on the mood of the couple. If they’re moody and dark then I’ll edit for that, if they’re bright and happy, it’ll be lighter. The story comes from them.
T: The spectrum is insane for me. My photos will either be super light and airy or dark and moody. They all look good, it just depends on the people I’m photographing. A lot of photographers have a very by-the-book, “this is what I do” attitude. I do to some extent, but I’m also very client-dictated.
What’s a dream photo shoot?
E: I’ve always wanted to go out to the sand dunes on the border between Arizona and California. I’m intrigued by the nothingness out there. There’s very little to get in the way of the background and it’s just the couple.
T: The sand dunes are definitely on my bucket list too. And I haven’t done a destination wedding yet. I really want to do one, maybe in Iceland.
What’s next for you?
E: I really want to branch out into travel photography, where I get sent somewhere. That’s my goal for the next 2-5 years. I’d like to make a bucket list of all the places I want to shoot and then get elopements and paid work at each place. Basically, I want to focus on traveling with great clients.
T: This year I started rebranding into personal weddings and elopements, creating a business that is what I imagine and what I love. I just want to work with love and be surrounded with love all the time.
Since our amazing afternoon at the Songbird cafe, the COVID-19 situation has evolved, affecting each of our lives in new ways. I reached out to both Elizabeth and Talia to see how they’re doing.
How is COVID-19 affecting you as a photographer and how are you handling it?
E: As a photographer I am blessed to have a lot of opportunity to grow my business and stay afloat during some turbulent times because no matter what is happening in the world, people are still getting engaged and having weddings which means there’s alway a need for a photographer. However, with COVID-19 and social distancing, I’m noticing there is more uncertainty when it comes to having weddings because of the typical high guest count that comes with the celebration. Right now I’m just trying to be flexible and remain calm and collected for all of my brides who are dealing with a high amount of stress surrounding their wedding day.We shouldn't stop living and if couples are getting engaged, I want to be there to help them celebrate! We will make it through this and I believe we will have a better understanding of ourselves and our world when the dust clears.
T: Wow the current pandemic has been very eye opening in both a good and bad way. To be blunt, managing this is hard. All of my sessions through the end of April have been cancelled or rescheduled and the rest of my sessions for the next few months are in a very grey area. But we all need to stay home. Too many people are immunocompromised, including multiple people that I love, and I refuse to risk their safety especially when those who are healthy can so easily carry it to someone else without knowing. On the bright side of things, I have enjoyed being able to spend time with my family and accomplish personal goals that I formerly didn't have extra time for. I hope that this teaches us the importance of not getting stuck in our routines and how important it is for everyone to take care of each other.