We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elizabeth Golden a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Elizabeth, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
As a wedding photographer in Kansas City, imposter syndrome is something you will never completely get over. There is always someone who looks more successful or who has a bigger social media following, but it really comes down to tuning out all the noise. Do your clients love you? Are you happy with your business? That’s really all that matters. I used to spend hours on social media wishing I was one of the cool kids, but the real breakthrough in my business came when I ignored everyone else and just focused on myself. If your clients love you, you must be doing something right. I deleted social media apps from my phone and turned off my “like count.” When I ignore all the noise surrounding what it means to be successful, I started feeling happier with my own business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’ve been a Kansas City wedding photographer for about a decade. After graduating from college with a degree in journalism, I realized I really loved the photo aspect. Photos capture a moment in time and convey so many more emotions than you can write.
I accidentally fell into weddings when a friend of a friend asked me to photograph her special day. I had no idea what I was doing, but quickly fell in love with all aspects of a wedding day. From the laughter to tears to heartfelt moments, there are no events quite like a wedding. My couples have become some of my closest friends and I love being part of this special season in their lives.
In addition to focusing on the candid moments of a wedding day, I fell in love with the artistic freedom. I specialize in unique lighting in order to really showcase the beauty of the day in a way your eyes might miss. From breathtaking sunsets to romantic first dances, I can capture any lighting situation.
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?
Niche yourself – one of the best decisions I made in my business was focusing on unique lighting. Most of my couples hire me because they love the way I can capture the sunset.
Show your personality – Photography is about more than pretty pictures. You are going to spend all day with your couples so you want to make sure they like who you are as a person. I try to be my authentic self in every step of the process, so they know exactly who they are working with.
Don’t be afraid to say yes – Early in my career, I said yes to every opportunity that came my way even if the situation wasn’t ideal. It’s super common in the photography world to only say yes to your ideal client, but there’s no way to get where you want if you only say yes when the situation sounds ideal. There have been several moments in my career when I thought I should say no, but the wedding ended up being one of my favorites. You never know what works until you say yes. Once you are more experienced, you can start saying no, but in the beginning of your career, accept every opportunity you are given.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
Early in my career, I felt like I needed to work 24/7. I never gave myself any time to relax. When COVID happened, I was forced to relax. I began playing video games, watching more tv, and reading more books. Now, I make sure to give myself a couple hours each day to focus on things that aren’t work-related. This really helps when I am feeling overwhelmed.
Contact Info:
- Website: egoldenmoments.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/egoldenmoments
- Facebook: facebook.com/egoldenmoments
Image Credits
egoldenmoments.com
