Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Fortenberry.
Hi Elizabeth, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have loved photography for as long as I can remember. When I was about 5 or 6, I remember using a disposable camera to take pictures of my stuffed animals in a couple of car seats, after my mom brought them into the house upon returning from a long road trip. I owned a couple of simple digital cameras as the years went on that continued to fuel my love of capturing images.
Then, my sophomore year of college I took a photography class. One of the requirements for the class was a DSLR camera and my cousin gave me her old-school Olympus camera to use. That class ignited a passion for me to make photography into a career someday. For my next birthday, my parents gifted me my first “nice” DSLR camera, a Nikon D40, and I started doing photoshoots for my friends and family. I even took an additional college class on coding and designed my first website! As the years went on, I refined my skills, upgraded my equipment, and gained more clientele.
After getting married in 2019, I renamed my business to make it a true brand, rather than just my name, since Elizabeth Fortenberry Photography is a bit of a mouthful. My college sorority had a ladybug “mascot”, I loved ladybugs growing up, and my husband calls me his ladybug, so Ladybug Photography was born!
I have always been drawn to capturing families, especially for my clients that return year after year, and I’m able to see how their children have grown and changed. I also enjoy shooting senior sessions, as graduation is not only a milestone for students, but also their parents!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have definitely been obstacles along the way, as there can be with any small business. Between the cost of upgrading my equipment and software, the ups and downs of the economy affecting consistent bookings, and learning the administrative side of running a small business, I’m so thankful for all I have learned and continue to learn.
In the past 3 years, I have had to learn how to manage a true work-life balance now that I have my own little one. I am so grateful for a supportive husband and family that allow me to continue running a business that I love, while also staying home with my sweet son!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a portrait photographer who specializes in outdoor, natural light images, mainly of families and graduating seniors. I am most proud of the evolution of my images and finding my rhythm in a shooting style. I feel set apart from other photographers between the long-lasting relationships that I form with my clients and my true-to-color editing style in creating timeless images for years to come.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
I think my biggest lesson has been that you aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. There is a photography style out there for everyone and the right clients will come to you!
Pricing:
- My seasonal minis range from $135 to $175
- My 30-minute sessions range from $150 to $225
- My full sessions range from $275 to $400
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ladybugpic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladybugphototx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LadybugPhotoHouston
Image Credits
Mary Beth Photography
