Meet Elissa Dames

We recently connected with Elissa Dames and have shared our conversation below.

Elissa, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

Staying creative in the photography landscape is crucial to avoid burnout. It is easy to go through the motions of a wedding day, especially once you’ve gotten comfortable with it. Creativity is what sets you apart from other photographers, and it’s one of the main reasons I got into photography in the first place.

My background comes from journalistic photography. I first started taking photos for my high school yearbook and journalism publications. Through that, I found a passion for storytelling in photography. Being able to use imagery to communicate what is happening really stretched my creativity. I was always thinking of unique angles, different lighting techniques or new ways to compose a subject.

As I transitioned into wedding photography, I knew I wanted to keep some of that journalistic style in mind. This translates really well to a documentary-style approach. By capturing moments as they are, it forces me to be creative about storytelling in a wedding gallery. The unposed moments tell a wedding day a hundred times better than a scripted moment. It also adds creativity and uniqueness to a gallery since every wedding is different.

Outside of client work, I also love to host styled shoots and content opportunities. This gives me full creative control to design a wedding or elopement that fits my portfolio. I recently visited Portland, Oregon and set up a styled shoot with Keira and Malik on Cannon Beach. As I am wanting to get into more travel elopements, this was a perfect portfolio opportunity! We shot during off season and it was very windy. However, the less than ideal weather created some of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken! I loved embracing the wind and overcast for a really moody edit. I also experimented with creative cropping in post which helped me look at photos in a new way.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a wedding and elopement photographer based in Nebraska specializing in storytelling photography. It’s my goal to capture moments that truly reflects my clients individuality and vision. I also want the experience to feel authentic and stress-free.

I have been doing photography for most of my life, but have recently started pursuing it as a business. 2024 was my first official year as a wedding photographer and I got the opportunity to capture so many love stories. I have heavily invested in my business and look forward to continuing to expand my clientele and experience.

I’ve found a passion for capturing love stories that drives my business. Every relationship is so unique and personal. Being able to document such close relationships is a beautiful thing. I find myself smiling through every session because I just can’t get over how in love my clients are.

I am now booking 2025 and 2026 weddings and elopements across the country! While I am based in Nebraska, I love to travel and experience new places! I am so passionate about booking more travel opportunities and expanding my portfolio. If you or someone you know is getting married and looking for a photographer, I would love to be considered! Please check out my website at elissadamesphoto.com.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Say Yes to Opportunities
When I was first starting out, I was definitely intimidated of the wedding industry. While I knew I wanted to photograph weddings, I had no idea where to start. I quickly learned that I just needed to dive into the industry headfirst and fully commit to it. I began second shooting for other photographers and attending content retreats to gain practice and build my portfolio. Doing this gave me a huge boost in confidence and allowed me to learn from other photographers in the wedding space. Don’t be afraid to insert yourself without having prior experience. More than likely, there are people willing to give you advice!

2. Invest in Yourself
I spent a lot of money upfront to set myself up for success in my photography business. I didn’t skip out on any of the backend software I needed to run my business. I also upgraded my camera gear to a more professional setup suited for weddings. Lastly, I invested in a content retreat to Oregon to network with other photographers, learn from them, and build my portfolio with travel wedding and elopement content. I highly recommend making these investments early if you can!

3. Telling Yourself You’re Qualified
Imposter Syndrome is the absolute worst, and it’s something I always struggled with. I am constantly telling myself that I am worthy of being in this space. Reaffirming my abilities keeps me from getting stuck in comparing myself to other photographers. I also love to look back on older photos and see how much I’ve grown in the past year! This is a great way to see my growth in times when I feel like I’m still a newbie.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

My ideal client is a couple that knows who they are and what they want. They are down-to-earth and take a casual approach to weddings. Whether they are wanting to elope, or have a small wedding with their closest friends and family – they are super intentional about it. They are not interested in following trends or checking things off a list for their wedding. I love working with people who have unique ideas and want to document their love stories in a way that fits who they are. The wedding industry is quite cookie-cutter, so working with couples with new perspectives is a breath of fresh air. Collaboration is huge to me, so I love working with people who are open to ideas and have a creative outlook on their day.

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Elissa Dames

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