Meet Lizzie Baker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lizzie Baker.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Lizzie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in North West Georgia. Both of my parents are musicians, so a love for the fine arts were always honored and fostered at my house. When I four years old, my parents enrolled me in ballet classes and for the next fifteen years, dance was my whole life.

The aisles at the grocery store, recess, the basketball court while I was supposed to be playing defense… everywhere was a chance to practice what I had learned in dance class. It was obvious when it came time to start applying to colleges that dance would be my path. It was all I really liked doing and it was all I could really see myself doing for the rest of my life. I auditioned for schools all over the South East. Eventually, I decided on Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia.

I started school and just like anything that you’re doing for 30 – 35 hours a week, dance started to feel like a full – time job. While I loved the rigor and intensity, my body and my mind were exhausted. I needed a creative outlet from my creative outlet. Photography seemed like a natural progression. I could use it to document the pieces that I choreographed and exercise a different side of my creativity!

As we neared our Senior year, my friends in the dance department started to find they needed headshots for their many upcoming auditions, so I became a popular and inexpensive option for headshots and dance photos. That was the beginning of my business! Accepting peanuts for headshots and dance photos and loving every second of it!

The plan was always to move to NYC after college to pursue a performance career, but the idea alone of moving gave me mountains of anxiety, so I resigned myself to the fact that New York wasn’t the place for me. I decided Atlanta would make a great “starter city”, but little did I know, that Atlanta would quickly have my heart and I can’t imagine my life anywhere else!

I began teaching dance at Woodstock School of Ballet, but I needed another job to help me financially. I needed something with flexible hours, but that paid pretty well. I really lucked out and found a job that wasn’t only fun, but would help me grow… a wedding photographers’ assistant! I learned so much from this job and it took me even further into my love for the art of photography! I was able to start my own lucrative wedding photography business in 2016. As much as I love being a wedding photographer, I did miss being able to work with dancers.

I started The ATL Dance Photographer about two years ago. This is a different side of my business that has allowed me to get back to my roots and work with individual dancers, studios and companies from all over the country! To date, my favorite project has been creating a series of companion pieces to Britt Whitmoyer Fishel’s (Atlanta Dance Collective) dance film series, “Distaff.”

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My biggest struggle in this journey was realizing that it’s okay to change your mind and it’s okay not to take the path that everybody else takes.

I was a dancer for 18 years. I’d spent my whole life working toward being a performer. The countless hours of classes, the ridiculous amount of money that my parents had spent were all in my mind and I thought… “Am I seriously going to throw all of that out the window”?!

I was also comparing myself to all my friends who were “one job people”. Accountants, architects, financial advisors. I felt like I was somehow childish and lost because I was working multiple jobs and still trying to find my way while they were enjoying their hefty paychecks, 401ks and their scheduled promotions (not that there is anything wrong with that at all).

I now know that I was waiting and working toward something greater for myself. I was working to be my own boss and loving what I do! It’s so hard to tear yourself away from a goal that you’ve been pursuing the majority of your life. To call the audible at 23 years old when society tells you that you’re supposed to have it all figured out by then.

Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t easy. There were a lot of months where ends were barely meeting, but ultimately, I was a happier and more fulfilled version of myself. You can’t put a price on that.

Tell us about your business. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
Lizzie Baker Photo specialized in wedding, boudoir, and portraiture. I think I am most proud of my boudoir work. In the current social climate, there is so much controversy over the way women’s bodies are being portrayed and treated. Boudoir photos are an incredible confidence boost, but they’re also a way for women to express their sexuality in a safe and encouraging environment.

The ATL Dance Photographer specializes in photographing individual dancers, companies, artistic projects and performances. Because I’m a trained dancer, I have the ability to work with dancers on a technical level as well as an artistic one.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
There are so many people who deserve credit.

Gregg & Caroline Willett are the couple who hired me to assist them with wedding photography when I moved to Atlanta. I learned so much about not only photography but how to run and organize a business and how to professionally conduct myself.

A huge amount of credit goes to my boyfriend, Gordon. He is the one who is constantly cheering me on and who is giving me the boosts of confidence that I need when the struggles of being an entrepreneur are weighing me down.

I think the biggest names to note, however, are my parents, Ruth & Andy. They have never once in my life made me feel like there was something I couldn’t accomplish if I put in the work.

Pricing:

• Lizzie Baker Photo – Wedding Collections start at $2,800
• Lizzie Baker Photo – Boudoir Sessions Begin at $300
• The ATL Dance Photographer – Sessions Begin at $200

Contact Info:

• Website: lizziebakerphoto.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @lizziebakerphoto / @theATLdancephotographer

Image Credit:
Photo of Me: Irina Korobenko, All Other Photos: Lizzie Baker Photo/The ATL Dance Photographer

Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.