A Milestone Celebration - Happy 35 Years in Business!

To think I started out my business in 1990, I owned just two film camera bodies, along with a couple of lenses, one flash, a reflector, and a few other accessories, a business plan, Virginia license, and as much liability insurance I could afford at the time. I was able to build up my business little by little and here we are, 35 years later!

 Some of you have known me for the long haul, many of you have worked with me multiple times for several milestowns in your lives, and even some of you have taken several photography workshops with me. Others have worked with me for several corporate events and business brandng assignments. I'm so very grateful. For those who are just learning about me, welcome! I hope you reach out to me for all of your photography needs as well.

To know a little more about my background, my first paying assignment was in 1990 and my first wedding was in 1994.  My first published work was in the Atlantic Monthly (now known as The Atlantic) in 1996, photographing Peter Hatch at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Hatch was the Director of Gardens and Grounds there at the time and has since Retired Emeritus.  

 Some of the things I did to grow my business was to join the National Chapter of the American Society of Media Photographers and the Central Virginia ASMP Chapter. From there, I was able to meet so many other photographers and network with them. I joined their photographer's assistant list, which was such a great experience. Also, I met so many Charlottesville and Richmond photographers through my work at the professional lab Stubblefield Photo Lab, where I was also employed at the time.

Some of my greatest experiences back then, was assisting other editorial and commercial photographers, including my father Chiles T.A. Larson. In the early 90's I got into assisting and second shooting with another well-established Charlottesville, VA wedding and editorial photographer - thank you Will Kerner!  All while either working full time at the professional photo lab and then later at Pro Camera where I learned the ropes around the office (which has helped me in my own business). In 2002 I finally made the decision to go full time with it, by cutting my hours back at Pro Camera to about 20 a week. Thank you Bill Moretz, my boss at the time, for the support and encouragement. He was kind enough to encourage me to pursue it and allow for me to have a flexible schedule.

The biggest decision for me was to relocate my home and business in 2005 to another state to start fresh after a tough time in my personal life. I picked up and made the big move from Charlottesville, VA to Greensboro, NC. 20 years later I'm still living in North Carolina just north of Greensboro and I'm still very much in business at Elizabeth Larson Photography. Once I made the move here, I also picked up seasonal part time contract photography work with a studio based in coastal South Carolina and I did that until 2023, when Mark Bell sold the business. I truly miss working for him and with my colleagues. We had a great team! 

In more recent years, I've started to take on more editorial and documentary assignments again, with a focus on travel and garden photography. In 2023, I added Jon Roethling, the Director at Reynolda Gardens, as a regular client. The Brown Conservatory and Welcome Center recently underwent a total restoration and the grand reopening was on October 8, 2024.

As for my travel photography and writing outlet, since 2020, I've been contributing travel features for a quarterly local Greensboro magazine, Tamarah's Closet. You can pick it up locally for free at several coffee shops, breweries, bakeries, doctor's offices, and more and at all of the Greensboro Harris Teeters. In addition, you may order back-issues and the current one online for a minimal fee HERE and it will be shipped to you directly. 

Last, but not least, since 2011 I started teaching travel photography workshops at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Since then I've also taught in Virginia at Highlands Arts Academy and locally at Reynolda Gardens, at Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden, and private instruction. Learn more about my workshops HERE. This is something I absolutely love doing!  

 It hasn't always been easy running a business, but it sure has been rewarding in many ways. It can be difficult to stand out as a photographer at times, but I'm hopeful that potential clients will see that I have the experience, education, knowledge, and my own unique style to be THEIR photographer.  

I really have lots of things to be grateful for - and lots of things to celebrate! Wow, 35 years. Even I can't believe it!