Out with 2017 and on to 2018

Posted on January 2, 2018January 4, 2018 by Elizabeth

New Year 2018 | Elizabeth Jane Photography

Another year has come and gone and when I sit and look back at the last year I can't help but think of how much I have grown. I have grown as a business owner, as a photographer, and as a person. As always, 2017 brought some unexpected turns, but they only make me stronger in the end.

2017 was my first year as a full time photographer and I have to admit that it definitely tested me. I learned that sometimes you need to cry, and sometimes you need to put on your big girl pants and deal with it. If I said I did those two things at all right right "times" I would be lying. More times than not I just cried.

In 2017 I photographed my 100th wedding as a photographer. After about 10 years in the industry, I feel like I hit a major turning point in my business. It has definitely been so rewarding and I have SOO many people to thank for that!

It seems like every year I say goodbye to more friends, and it never seems to get any easier. I said goodbye to two friends this year. One from college and one from my post-college years. Both of them were 26, and its moments like that that make you realize how short life really can be.

I said one really tough goodbye this year to my fur-niece. We had to put Nina down this year and it was so tough to go through that, but to see her in pain was so much harder than the pain we have dealt with since then. Nina was the dog that taught me to love dogs and the dog that protected me and got me through some really tough times. It has definitely been tough getting through the last few months without her (and her stinky breath and farts) by my side.

In 2017 I continued to following my traveling heart.

In January I went on a girls trip with some friends to New Orleans and LOVED it! Everyone has told us all these scary stories about New Orleans, but we had zero bad experiences while we were there! It was so much fun and I fell in love with the food and the music! We stuck around Bourbon Street and the French Quarter for the most part but did adventure over the Mississippi on a Ferry and took a bus ride to the swamp and did a tour there. They told us it was one of the coldest weekends of the year for them, but being from Colorado, it was nothing for us! I definitely want to go back sometime!

I took a trip to Chicago this December. It was a quick 72 hour trip, of which I spent about 23 of those hours in the hotel room sick with the stomach flu. From the time I did have there, I loved it, but I will go back and have a flu-free adventure with lots of good food!

The First Year is Complete | Fort Collins Photographer

Posted on June 29, 2017June 30, 2017 by Elizabeth

Eight years ago, almost to the date, I began the process of starting my own business. I had just graduated high school and had been photographing “professionally” for about 3 years at that point. I knew from that moment that I wanted to be a photographer and nothing else. I was set to go to University of Northern Colorado in the fall and begin the adventures to get my degree in photography and graphic design. Now fast forward 8 years and here I am; living my dream.

July 1, 2016 will always hold a spot near and dear to my heart. That was my first day as a full time, self-employed photographer. I had been doing photography on the side for years and in July of 2015 I cut my hours at my “real” job and built my business part time. July 1st 2016 was the first day I got to make my own schedule and control what I did. Along with the freedom came the lack of benefits, the inconsistency of paychecks, and many MANY stressful days and sleepless nights. I knew those would come, but there are a few things I wish people would have warned me (or maybe, things I should have let sink in a little more) before I took the jump..

1) You’re going to cry. A LOT. Probably more than you’ve cried over any boy in the past 15 years. And eventually you’ll just get used to it.

2) As one of my mentors, Jay, says, “You’re not going to win them all, and that’s OK. There are plenty of clients to go around, you just have to find the ones that are right for you.” (except he probably says it with a few more tasteful words)

3) Giving up coffee during your first 6 months is NOT the best idea…

4) Sometimes things aren’t going to go the way you’d like and you have to accept that and change your plan to keep things rolling.

5) No matter what happens, you will always have your family and friends there to support you. Sometimes that means more than any “bottom line” ever could.

I could NEVER be where I am without the support of my family, friends, and faithful clients. It has been a long, scary, and stressful year, but if I could talk to the 18 year old writing a business plan for the 4-H project, I would tell her to never give up on her dreams, because even though it’s been tough, it’s been worth every one of the 31,536,000 seconds.

So here is a thank you to you, whether you have supported me as a client, a family member encouraging me to follow my dreams, or a friend listening to my struggles or, sometimes, still loving me even in my silence as I think of what I’m going to do next.

I can’t wait to see what the next 365 days bring for me and my business and I hope you stick with me through the journey!

How to Pick Out Your Photoshoot Outfit | Fort Collins Photographer

Posted on June 12, 2017June 12, 2017 by Elizabeth

I often get texts from my clients that go a little like this, "WHAT ON EARTH SHOULD WE WEAR??"

Don't worry, you're not alone! I had to get some new headshots a while back and spent HOURS trying to figure out what to wear for my shoot, and that was just me! I didn't have to worry about coordinating with other people!

In my family of five, two of us are photographers. So when everyone was home for Christmas a few years ago we decided that we need to take an updated family photo. Since everyone in our family always complains that they don't have anything to wear, my sister (the other photographer of the family) and I decided to do a "Plaid Family Photo" since everyone in our family owned plaid. I will be the first to admit that, as photographers, we are not the best example of what to wear. So, when it comes time for your family photos my first suggestion is that you should NOT all wear plaid!

2- Don't be afraid to add a pop of color

Your outfits don't have to be boring, muted colors, but just be conscious of what bright colors you add. I love wearing the color peach, but I have a shirt that is a little too far towards the neon scale, and it tends to reflect on my arms and other people when I stand out in the sunlight. That is something that we don't want in a photo.

In this photo, "Mackers" is wearing a pink shirt and headband which ads some color, while the rest of the family is in darker colors. It's the perfect pop without being over the top.

3- Be Comfortable

This is BY FAR the most important advice I can give you when it comes to picking out your outfits for your photoshoot. When we are comfortable in what we are wearing we are confident, and confidence is something that shows in photos. If you are worried about your bra straps falling down or your pants getting saggy or popping a button on your shirt you are not going to be comfortable.

I'll be honest about some of my weaknesses when it comes to photos. There are 3 main things I am concerned about in my photos. 1) Is my muffin top obvious? 2) Am I showing too much cleavage? 3) Do my arms look too big?

So when it comes to choosing an outfit for me those are a few of the things that I focus on minimizing. If you find the "perfect" outfit but it still requires some pinning and pulling then maybe that's not the best. Dress in something that makes you comfortable and the confidence will follow.

Out with 2017 and on to 2018

Out with 2017

On to 2018

Jarrett Lee "Kansas" Bellendir

Michael Reuben Martinez