Local StoriesDecember 2, 2021

Community Highlights: Meet Elizabeth Kirby of Elizabeth Kirby Photography

Local Stories

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

Elizabeth, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always enjoyed photography. In college, I saved up to buy an expensive-to-me camera, and the day I bought it is one I’ll never forget! I loved taking photos of my friends. In 2018, one of those friends asked me to photograph her wedding. I felt very unqualified and really wanted to tell her, no, but she insisted that I’d do fine and told me that if it wasn’t me, it would just be some family member on their smartphone.

This set the bar pretty low and made me feel confident enough to handle the task. I ended up really loving the experience and went on to photograph weddings for three other friends shortly after. I had my first “real” customer in 2019, and I’ve been growing my business ever since!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
My first big struggle was upgrading my camera. I wasn’t shooting full-frame for those first few weddings, and it showed. Once I finally decided that this was something I wanted to pursue, I bought my first full-frame camera and a nice lens. Upgrading my tools make such a difference!

A more recent struggle has been breaking into the local market. With so many weddings being canceled or postponed because of COVID-19, I think a lot of brides are waiting until closer to their wedding dates to book vendors. Just this fall, I’ve had three couples book me with less than three months to go before their big day.

I’m happy to work with them of course, but I would really like to start booking further out, too. It’s been interesting coming into the market during a pandemic, that’s for sure.

As you know, we’re big fans of Elizabeth Kirby Photography. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Elizabeth Kirby Photography is currently my side hustle, but it’s also my passion that I’m working to turn into my full-time job. One of the things that makes me unique is my editing style. I strive for a true-to-life look that doesn’t feel over-edited or stylized. I prefer a more timeless look!

I offer all kinds of lifestyle photography, including weddings, engagements, couples, families, children, and headshots. I like to be able to offer lots of different services to my clients, so that I can work with them throughout all of life’s moments, both big and small.

Pricing:

My wedding packages start at $1,500
Most of my other session types start at $100

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Elizabeth Kirby Photography

Suggest a Story: KnoxvilleVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.