Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth O. Baker.
Elizabeth, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started a lifestyle blog called Bonjour + Hola back in 2011 while working at a fashion magazine in NYC. After being surrounded by all things editorial, I was motivated to create a blog and have a site housing all of my favorite things in the hopes of inspiring others. Since I had absolutely no idea on how to create a blog {or a social media presence at that time}, I decided to take blogging classes after work to learn the ropes of the blogosphere, and slowly {but surely!} launched B+H.
Born and raised in Nashville, the tagline grew into Trends. Travel. Taste…Through the Eyes of a Southern Belle.
After years of writing and posting on Bonjour + Hola, the light bulb finally went off that photography was my true passion after capturing all of the photos housed within the site. I love showing creativity and telling a story behind a camera lens. I can’t begin to express the amazing things that can happen when you truly love what you’re doing!
If it had not been for the passion behind Bonjour + Hola, I would not be in my current job as an LA-based lifestyle photographer. I mainly help lifestyle brands curate content for their social media channels, in addition to shooting events and consulting on client’s Instagram presence.
Each day brings a new opportunity, and although my story is still being written, the excitement of new adventures, risks and opportunities keep this girl smiling wide.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I firmly believe that everything truly happens for a reason: my background in fashion helped me gain a creative eye behind the lens; my lifestyle blog showed me how to maintain a hardworking, yet always innovative mindset while working long hours from home; my Southern social skills have helped set me apart from other photographers to not only make new clients but to also make them feel comfortable and lively in front of the camera. I still use all three of these previously learned skillsets on a daily basis to help grow my business.
As a self-taught photographer, I’m always facing new challenges, while learning something entirely new every day, which honestly, makes my job even more fun and exciting.
Most recently, I was approached to do product photography shots for a wine company. In the past, I’ve thrived mainly through lifestyle and travel photography, but this Southern Belle is always open to a new challenge. So, I accepted the job and hightailed it on over to Samy’s Camera Shop. I bought a white backdrop, rented a background stand kit, and switched the lighting around my dining room table while watching a few YouTube videos on exactly how wine bottles should be captured for future site use.
Long story short, I took the time and gained more patience through the first few failed attempts, but maintained the dedication to learn something entirely new that day to help increase my competitive advantage and diverse photography skills. The client was incredibly thrilled with responses like “these are fantastic!” + “how incredible are the shots!” – Now, I’ve opened up an entirely new division in my company devoted to brand product photography.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Elizabeth O. Baker Photography story. Tell us more about it.
While I’ve been fine-tuning my photography skills since 2011 through my blog, I officially started my lifestyle photography business back in February 2019. Since then, I’ve been given the opportunity to help clients such as Sant and Abel, Dawn McCoy Media, Honeydrop, Monica Mahoney, Humboldt Brothers, The Supper Club, My Soulmats, Trove CBD, etc. and curate content for their social media channels. I’ve flown around the globe shooting for Azaria Travel. I’ve captured moments for Gina Wade Creative through their strategic events for brands such as Hulu, Drybar, Burberry, 1 Hotel, Showtime, Codex Beauty, Netflix’s Stranger Things… just to name a few. It’s been so inspiring to see my work on sites like WSJ.com and Vogue.com from the hard work and hours I’ve put into my business and to build my reputation.
My main passion while shooting behind the lens is to capture the true life and personality of the subject. I love creating a forever moment post-click, and I’m so incredibly grateful that my job allows me to consistently maintain innovation while inspiring future viewers to see what I saw behind the lens that particular day or night.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Before I was even in the photography world, I was a huge fan of celebrity photographer, Timothy White, who is known for his gorgeous shots of Elizabeth Hurley to Julia Roberts to Brad Pitt… you name it. And luckily, while waiting in the valet line of the Sunset Marquis Hotel, post-shooting in their NightBird recording studio earlier this year, I just happened to walk into the Morrison Hotel Gallery to check out their latest collection.
Immediately mesmerized by the creative work of various photographers showcased, I started asking the gallery’s representative questions about their upcoming events. She pointed me in the direction of a man who was standing across the gallery and said, “You know, the person you should really be talking to right now is that man over there. He actually owns the gallery, and the majority of his work is featured around this hotel!” I said thank you so much and walked in his direction. We became immediate friends. Little did I know, it turned out to be the legend himself, Timothy White.
Since then, Timothy has become my main mentor and go-to for any questions I have regarding my work, future work or my camera. Had I not been shooting in the hotel’s music studio, I would have never come across that lifelong friend who I consistently admire and look up to so very much. It was pure luck I met him that day.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethobaker/
Image Credit:
Images shot for Sant and Abel – Hulu’s “The Shrill” Event, Monica Mahoney – Aqualillies – Trove CBD
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