Meet Elisabeth Reid | Wedding & Couples Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elisabeth Reid and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elisabeth, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
It’s interesting to look back and try and pinpoint what I think contributed to my success as a photographer. There are so many things that it could’ve been, but I think I can probably narrow it down to two things: seeking authentic community and having a posture of service towards my clients.

Seeking authentic community: This is a huge opportunity that I feel some people miss out on. The photography community is FULL of the neatest, kindest people I’ve ever met in my life. I’ve met amazing mentors, fostered friendships with my photographer peers, and sought out chances to be involved and pour back in to the photography community. It’s so rewarding and makes this industry that much sweeter.

Posture of service: I don’t find photography attractive because of the money, I truly love getting to meet the coolest people and share a slice of their life at these photography sessions. It continually blows my mind that these wonderful people want to pay me to be their photographer! It’s so much fun to share in the joy my clients have during our photography sessions and to just get to know them, and it warms my heart when clients keep in touch and I get the chance to continue being a part of their lives. During sessions/weddings, my #1 goal is to serve my clients as best as I can. This especially applies to weddings, but I operate not only as a photographer but also a stress reducer. If there is any errand or if I need to run interference to help my clients enjoy their experience, I will do it!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is forever evolving. I feel like with each shoot I do I learn something new about myself/my brand and the direction I want to take with my business. I’m constantly exploring how I can elevate my work, brand, and client experience. There have definitely been some tricky moments to get to where I am now, one of which I’m currently navigating is figuring out the balance between a 9-5 job on top of photography and another side gig. Experiencing the joy of a wedding day or reading a sweet review/shoutout from a client makes the moments of feeling overwhelmed with the workload just melt away. Some lessons or takeaways that I’ve learned up until now: don’t compare your work to another photographer’s, build your business little by little, be real with your clients, and listen to your mind and body when they need rest. It hasn’t been a super easy journey, it takes a lot of hard work! I would say consistency is key, keep at it and don’t give up. Try new things!

I grew up avoiding taking photos of myself, I never liked the way they turned out and just felt icky about myself. Through some personal growth and eventually working with a professional photographer for my wedding, I started to love photos of myself. My experience with my wedding photographer made me realize that photography is so much more than just taking pretty photos, it’s a chance to minister to people. Truly! I get so excited about this part. Photographers literally partake in life-altering events in other people’s lives (i.e. getting married, having kids, graduations). What an HONOR that is, and I never want to take that lightly. We as photographers have a chance to make a lasting impact/impression on people and it’s my utmost goal to make the most of that.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I can definitely name a few 🙂

Experiences:
The State Fair of Texas
Cidercade
Interskate Roller Rink
Coyote Drive-In Theatre in Fort Worth
Walk/shop around in the Bishop Arts District
The Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden

Pretty places to walk/hike/picnic:
White Rock Lake
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve
Oak Point Park & Nature Preserve
Katy Trail

Eat:
Pecan Lodge BBQ
Torchy’s Tacos
The Yard in McKinney
Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonade in Bishop Arts (AMAZING)
Mua Sushi & Grill
Tongue In Cheek Ice Cream in Richardson

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh my goodness so many people!

Megan Kay Photography: Megan and I went to high school together and she was a HUGE mentor and support at the beginning of my photography journey. She took me under her wing, taught me her favorite tips and tricks, and has continued to be a go-to resource for any questions I’ve had. Not to mention that she is just an amazing human being! Thank you Megan for everything.

KJ Education: Katelyn James is a wedding photographer based in the northeast and has some incredible educational resources available to photographers of all walks. I happened to stumble upon her resources and ended up making another mentor/peer friend here in Dallas through the KJ Community.

Molly Murphy Photography: The mentor/peer friend I met above 🙂 Molly has been awesome, she brought me on as a second shooter and has also been an amazing resource for questions and guidance.

Kaitlin Hays: I have to give Kaitlin a shoutout. I only met Kaitlin in late 2022, but she has already made an impact on my career in photography. She is one of the most authentic, passionate, go-getter photographers I’ve met. Kaitlin is SO quick to help others, give advice, share her experiences, etc. And she hosts the most amazing content days/retreats!

Website: https://www.elisabethreidphotography.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisabethreidphotography/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elisabethreidphotography

Image Credits
Elisabeth Reid Photography