Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Benne.
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?
Well, I started photography in April 2022. The reason I am in the photography/wedding industry is all because of my amazing older (step) sister. She took a leap from Chemistry and went to full time wedding photography. When she did this, she asked if I wanted to learn alongside her and I couldn’t jump on it fast enough.
I have always had fun hobby cameras growing up. Always given as gifts to me from my parents, because they knew how much I loved taking photos. I was later given my first professional camera from my step sister, Rebecca and did my first wedding with her as a second photographer. From there it took off. I spent all summer doing weddings with her and really learned the ropes of the wedding industry.
In 2022, I was a 19 year old college student entering the crazy world of professional photography. However, I realized what a crazy opportunity I had while I was in school at Mizzou. I started doing senior photos of Mizzou grads and that really took off. I was so lucky to be booked every fall and spring and still going weddings back in STL on weekends.
Eventually I graduated from Mizzou in 2025 and now I am very very lucky to be so beyond busy with my photography business and taking on so many kinds of sessions all across Missouri.
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?
Honestly, the road has had some bumps. Starting a business at 19 while studying at a large university getting a degree, 2 minors, and a certificate was not easy. Keeping up with school and running the business, meant sacrificing things throughout my college career. Whether it was skipping a Halloween to do a wedding or up late editing and then switching to homework, I always made it work but I missed out on some fun for sure.
Another thing that I don’t think a lot of people think about is how you are perceived at certain ages. The wedding industry, especially photo, can be competitive and it’s hard to be a teenager or in your early 20s and taking on a world that people have been in for a very long time. It’s easy to compare yourself, feel small, or feel lesser than. The hardest was walking, into a wedding day and the bride and groom being much older than you (they never judged, they were amazing) but feeling like how can they be trusting me a college kid with their most prized photos of their lives. These photos will live in their lives and many others lives forever, which is an amazing thing but also terrifying at times lol.
I also had to learn how to budget for my business. Getting into photography and becoming decent at takes money. As I always say “it takes money to make money” which is so true but really scary when I am just trying to pay my way through school at the time and now I am trying to pay my bills now and save up for a house. But photography is not an inexpensive job. Saving up for cameras is one thing, but saving up for lenses and systems for editing, culling, delivery, CRMS, and so many more it adds up. It was definitely a learning curve along the way, but I have gotten everything pretty down-pat at this point (thankfully lol).
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a wedding and lifestyle photographer! I specialize in many avenues, but my main focus has always been weddings, couples, seniors, maternity, and families. However, I have now expanded a bit into fashion photography for a couple of companies.
I am most proud of how far I have come and how much my business has grown since 2022. I can’t thank all of the clients I have ever had and will soon work with enough for entrusting me with such special memories.
I feel like something that sets me apart is the focus on storytelling throughout a session. I LOVE those in between moments when people think I’m not paying attention. The candid moments sometimes (most of the time) tell a bigger story than the posed ones and that’s why I focus on making a session feel more natural to the client(s), so we can see who they are and their story in the photos.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
There are many ways people can work with me! I have my website https://elizabethalicephotography.square.site or my instagram and Facebook @elizabethalice.photography. From there they can either contact me directly or they can book with me directly!
For collaboration, I am always open to trading services with other service providers or working with other photographers for weddings!
People can support me by recommending me to others if they enjoyed working with me or leaving me a review on my Facebook page or even by just telling me they love their photos after I have sent them! The last one really keeps me motivated to keep working hard for my clients.
Pricing:
- * Mini-Session * 15-20 edited photos * 15-20 minutes * $150 * 1 location and no outfit change * This is great for portraits, headshots, *engagements*, and animals. * **Cap & gown sessions only. No full grad sessions.**
- * Classic * 50-90 edited photos * Most common package * 45 minutes-1 hour * $330 * 1-2 locations with 1 outfit change. * This is great for graduations, portraits, engagements, and couples.
- * Deluxe * 100-150 edited photos * 1 hour – 1 hour 30-minute session * $400 * 2-3 locations and 2 outfit changes. * This is great for graduations, maternity, engagements, couples, and families.
- * Luxury * 150-200 edited photos * 1-3 hours * $485 * 3+ locations and 2 outfit changes * This is great for engagements, maternity, couples, graduations, and families.
- Weddings, please inquire directly for pricing and more information!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://elizabethalicephotography.square.site
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethalice.photography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabethalice.photos
- Other: email is elizabethalice.photos@gmail.com
