Meet Elizabeth Messina

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

Hi Elizabeth, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started doing photography as a requirement for the newspaper in high school. My sister’s senior year, I took a shot at taking her senior photos and then I started using my family and friends for practice and have been shooting ever since. I got started with wedding photography my junior year of college. I had no real clue what I was doing but after asking advice from friends also into photography and watching a lot of YouTube videos and someone giving me the opportunity, I went for it, now I book on average 15 weddings a year! So truly, I wouldn’t be here without a lot of practice and trust from those who have been with me from the early days and continued support when things get overwhelming.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We live in Missouri, there are no smooth roads. There are times you can’t prepare or prevent things from happening, you have to learn to adapt and admit to mistakes. You never want to let anyone down. The thing about running your own business is you let yourself down the most when you make mistakes, wondering how you missed it. You can’t dwell on the what ifs instead you work to do better on the what will be’s and what can be’s. Work-life balance is one of the biggest struggles running a small business, especially while still working full time for the corporate world. There is a lot of sacrifice and missing events or cutting vacations short, etc. At the end of the day, those who support you and truly want you to succeed will be there and it’s finding that group of people who are cheering you on that make it all worth it.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a lifestyle photographer in the KC area, born and raised in the Northland. I come from a large extended family, my continued passion is with weddings and families. If you would of asked me in middle school, I would of told you I would have been on the planning side of weddings. I still love the planning aspects of weddings and events and love when couples ask for my advice and help on planning. Becoming part of someone’s family for that day is something not a lot of people get to experience. You can find me running around receptions getting candids of those mingling. The place I feel most at home is on the dance floor dancing or singing out of tune with the rest of the guests, staying until the very end, not to miss a minute. My goal isn’t to be a wedding photographer but a lifelong photographer.

I love when kids get to be themselves and I get to capture that stage they are at in their lives. It’s even more special with the repeat clients as I watch the family grow and the kids grow up and graduate! Makes me feel old but grateful as I get to watch these kids become young adults and their own individuals.

What’s next?
Long term, I would love to take on photography full time and grow my business by taking on projects and shoots to push my creativity and to always want to do better. And if it’s in the books to book destination weddings!

Short term plan is to get a better work-life balance and to continue photographing and fine-tuning my style. No big changes for now, 2021 and 2022 are looking to be very busy. So just continuing to be a source of understanding, flexible and supportive for clients and other vendors.

Contact Info:

• Email: eamphotogblog@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.eamphotography.com
• Instagram: @EAMPhotog
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EAMPhotog