Meet Lisa Stover | DFW Portrait Photographer

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

Hi Lisa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I really thought about it, I realized that my love for photography started when I got my first laptop at 14. I would sit in my room with my bright pink digital camera and take selfies in poses and from angles that I thought would stand out in the digital world of MySpace. Then I would upload them onto my laptop – an old refurbished military ToughBook with a handle that made it look more like the modern game of Battleship than a computer – and start editing them in Photoshop. I would spend HOURS playing with colors, contrast, and lighting while I listened to the lastest Panic! At The Disco or Red Jumpsuit Apparatus album on my CD player. However, like many others, my spare time quickly began to become less and less as I went through High School and was involved in all of the extra curriculars that come with wanting to graduate with Honors, so my time taking photos and editing was replaced by band practices and writing AP English papers.

Fast forward to college – I’m a music major working towards my degree to become a music educator (spoiler alert: I am currently a music teacher), but I still love taking pictures. So, I start looking into the photography program on campus and consider adding a Minor in Photography to my degree plan. Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option. You could MAJOR in photography, but it wasn’t offered as a minor. I couldn’t bring myself to change majors because 1. I knew I loved teaching and knew I loved playing music, and 2. What if I switched and decided it wasn’t for me? I couldn’t risk throwing away everything I’d worked for already for something I would potentially fail at or not enjoy.

As the world went on technology advanced and social media evolved, satiating my craving to share the world through my own eyes – or lens. I finished my degree, started my family, and began my career (not necessarily in that order). I had a great life but always felt like it was just go to work, pay bills, and be a mom. I needed something more for ME. So in November (2023) I talked to my amazing husband about how I was feeling and that I was thinking about trying to actually start up photography for real and he was 1000% on board with it. His support and confidence in me helped me have confidence in myself to get things going. So I started by offering free sessions through our local neighborhood Facebook page and had an overwhelming amount of interest. I got home from my very first shoot, finished the editing in about 24 hours because I was THAT excited, and showed them to my husband. His response: “wow. You’re actually pretty good at this. This might actually become something!” If you’re reading this and thinking “wow, he didn’t actually think she could do it – how rude!” – that’s exactly how I felt haha. But it was also an incredible confidence boost! I shared the same photos with my best friend and she reacted just about the same way. After that I did a few more and had so much fun I decided to keep going. Here we are 8 months later and I have my own branded business, Lisa Stover Photography,

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a portrait photographer with emphasis on family and personal branding. I always thought I would want to be a wedding photographer, but it turns out I really like capturing those sweet moments between family members. Must be the teacher in me!

I am really proud of myself for sticking with it through the good and the bad. As with anything in life, you’re never going to be perfect. You’re going to make mistakes. What will set you apart from others is whether or not those mistakes cause you to give up, continue to make the same mistakes, or if you’re able to learn from them and grow instead. It’s hard enough to start your own business, let alone deal with critique. What I have discovered is that if you’re passionate about what you do, willing to see the potential for growth, and motivated enough to put the work in then you will be better than ever before. Is it always easy? No. Every time I push that shutter button I worry about whether or not the captured moment is going to be good enough. Whether it will be what my client wants – whether it will be something I’m proud to show off. And I’m not going to lie, that’s only about 5-10% of the photos I take. But I can honestly say that with every session I learn something new and get a little bit better.

I am not a professional photographer. I am a music teacher. I am a mom and a wife. I am a member of your community. I am more than any title; I am someone who just happens to have a passion for the arts and have chosen to use that to enrich my life and the lives of those whose paths cross mine.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Oh man. That’s such a hard question because the DFW is such a diverse region! We would definitely hit the big spots like the Stockyards and Deep Ellum. We would eat at Snooze for brunch, and Lupe Tortilla for dinner. We’d take a drive to Lewisville to visit the London Baker and sample whatever fresh-baked treats they have in the pastry case to enjoy alongside a butter beer latte or French hot chocolate. Some of my favorite places in Dallas are the Museum of Illusions, Upstairs Circus for fun crafts and bottomless mimosas, and Louie’s Dueling Piano Bar! We’d take a day to enjoy downtown Fort Worth, visiting Sundance Square and then heading over to Magnolia for a double scoop of Salt Lick in a waffle cone at Melt ice cream shop before heading to the Stockyards to see the cattle drive and get ourselves a new pair of boots!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to start with Lindsey Hardman, owner of Lindsey Hope Co. considering she is the reason you’re reading this in the first place! Lindsey was one of my first clients back in November when I was offering free sessions to build my portfolio and test the waters of the industry before I jumped in fully. That day was the start of a great friendship! She is kind, funny, positive, and so selfless; Lindsey is just as passionate about helping the people around her succeed as she is about helping herself. Since the day we met she is constantly sharing ideas and bringing me new opportunities to help me grow my business. She gives so much while expecting so little in return, and I am so blessed to have a friend in her.

This would go without mentioning, but my husband Josh Stover is another major part of me being where I am today. His unwavering support for me and confidence in me to do whatever I set my mind to is the only reason I’m able to do all that I do. He motivates me to work harder and step outside of my comfort zone. Without him I wouldn’t have the confidence to put myself out there and chase the success I yearn for.

I have to give a shoutout to my son, Eli, who is only 7 years old but also shows his support by asking to accompany me to different photoshoots just because he enjoys seeing me in action!

And I have to shout-out to all of my friends and family that share my posts, compliment my work, and jump in to help whenever needed whether it’s to watch the kids or to join me on set as a helping hand! I seriously am SO lucky to have such an amazing support system.

Website: Work in Progress 🙂

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisastover.photo?igsh=MTlmc3p0MDF1dHYzbQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554103700565&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
Courtney Cole