Meet Trailblazer Elizabeth Marie

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

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Have you ever just had that one thing that you try for the first time and it has a familiarity to it even though it was brand new to you? For me, photography was one of the first things that I put my hand to that I truly felt successful at, it just clicked, no pun intended. Everything else in traditional academics had been a struggle and math was the biggest nemesis of them all. I wanted so desperately to be “smart” like my friends who excelled at their education. Little did my 16-year-old self, realize that my drive to push myself to be better, smarter, go to college and to “catch up” to my peers would be the very thing that landed me in the position I find myself in today as a Business Owner/Entrepreneur.

I started my business while I was still in collage photographing weddings and senior portraits. I had every intention of continuing that once I finished school but had no real grasp of what being self-employed was really going to look like. I had bitten off way more than I could chew and was far too stubborn to ask for help; I wanted to do it all on my own.

After graduating college with a BA in Photography and a Minor in Special Education, I tried on a hand full of jobs. Exploring the Mental Health Field and the service industry in an effort to support me while trying to run a side hustle. Fast forward eight years post grad and I finally made the leap to working for myself full-time. Over those eight years, I learned to ask for help, higher my weakness and change my mindset. My focus and vision changed many times as did my style and genera of photography. I continued to educate myself online, in the classroom and with workshops. I learned from and worked for other working photographers which have aided me in evolving into what I am today.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Following your dreams is never a “smooth road”, anyone who says otherwise is selling something. When you make the decision to follow your passion, you begin a process of growing a thick skin and learning to take criticism and others opinions with a grain of salt. It is so easy to get beat down by the negative opinions around you, as well as your own mental mind games. Creating a brand and business is personal and vulnerable. When you are so close to something you have created, it is easy to get discouraged.

In the past, I have found myself questioning whether or not I was good enough, smart enough, creative enough and a few times, I came very close to giving up completely. I found ways to dig deep and keep at it because this is what I was meant to do. I came to see that the beauty is in the process.

A few things I wish that someone had told me when I was younger:

1. Done is better than perfect. Your brand will evolve with you. Don’t wait for “perfect” to tell the world what you do and who you are.
2. You will never “arrive.” Be in the mindset that there is always something more to learn.
3. Be aware and careful of who you surround yourself with. Always ask yourself, are they propelling me forward or keeping me static?
4. Ask for help! It never hurts to ask it only hurts to stay quiet.
5. My personal fav, it’s not the destination, it’s the journey.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about It’s Elizabeth Marie – what should we know?
I am a Branding Photographer. Brand awareness is vital to a thriving business, and great looking professional photographs are an important piece of the puzzle.

I love creating photos that visually represent my client’s brand. It is so important not only to highlight the product and or service but also to show the face behind the brand. That is where I come in. We all want to invest in brands that we can trust. This type of service allows me to combine my love of working with people and the intricacy of working with products.

Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
When you are looking for a mentor, it is important to understand that you as the mentee need to have something to bring to the table. The best intern or mentee is one who before ever asking for anything is able to offer their skills. Be in the mindset of what value you can add to the person you are speaking with. Learn how to give before you ask. As for picking the right fit, you just have to get out there and connect with the kind of people that are doing what you want to be doing.

The same applies to networking. Going out and meeting others in your industry or similar industries is not about what product or service you provide. It is about building relationships with people and finding ways to make them feel valued as a human first and then as a business owner. Keep at it, networking can feel very discouraging and uncomfortable. The more you keep doing it, the easier it gets.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.itselizabethmarie.com
• Phone: 602-370-7315
• Email: elizabeth@itselizabethmarie.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itselizabeth.marie/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EMPPhoenix

Image Credit:
Elizabeth Marie Photography

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