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I'm the gal behind the lens, and the founder of paige elizabeth photography. 

If I'm not working you can usually find me exploring new towns, eating sushi, or cuddling with my pup and cat. Explore my blog to learn more about me, my couples, and even learn a thing or two!

Hey, there! I'm Paige.

COVID-19 + The Wedding Industry

If you’re like me, you’re absolutely sick of seeing “COVID-19” on your screen. I’m sick of seeing it, hearing it, and talking about it. More than anything, I’m sick of the absolute destruction it’s had on our entire planet. People are dying- young, old, healthy, sick. This virus takes no prisoners and leaves destruction and pain in its wake, ripping people from their family members without a last goodbye in so many cases. People who had plans for tomorrow. People who had pets who are expecting them home. People who left books on their nightstands, food in the fridge, and laundry in the basket.

Why am I saying this? You already know this. I already know this. I’m saying it for a bit of perspective for the rest of this article. I want you to remember that while reading this, I am fully aware of the privilege I currently have as a healthy person with a roof over her head. I am fully aware that the problems I am facing with my business cannot compare to the actual loss of human life that is happening every day as a result of this virus, and I hope you will keep that in mind too because, there’s a good chance if you’re reading this, the things I’m going to be explaining are having an effect on you too.

The wedding industry is one of the many casualties of this virus. It’s people like me, small business owners who have spent years working their butts off on top of full time jobs, who are suffering. It’s couples who have spent months and months planning their one wedding day who are suffering. It’s family members who were waiting to celebrate their loved ones who are suffering.

I want to explain a little bit of my side of this, how business owners in the wedding industry are currently suffering, and explain some of the measures we are having to take as a result of this. I’m hoping it will shed some light on the new polices and practices we are having to implement, and the reasons behind them.

This virus has not only obliterated the Spring 2020 wedding season, but it is currently threatening the Fall 2020 wedding season; that means it’s also threatening all of 2021 for us. Let me elaborate on this.

First, a little bit of background info: as a wedding photographer, I book weddings anywhere from a year to a year and a half in advance. That means I am currently booking into Fall of 2021 and, at present, I am over halfway booked for the amount of weddings I typically take on. I’m in the minority of wedding photographers out there in that I put a strict limit on how many weddings I book per year. This year I capped it at 18, and was not planning on increasing that for 2021- if anything, I was considering decreasing it. A lot of wedding photographers are going to be surprised about that, because many shoot 25 weddings minimum per year and some shoot well into the 30’s and 40’s. Many will shoot double or triple headers to increase their numbers, meaning they shoot weddings two or three days in a row. I physically cannot do this due to health conditions. One wedding day is extremely taxing on me physically, and shooting a wedding day two days in a row is something I have tried to avoid as much as I am trying to avoid this virus, and that is not a joke. I shoot other types of photography as well, specifically boudoir and senior photography, as well as occasional other events or editorial shoots and I like to have some weekend dates available for them. So, generally, around 30 weekends a year are devoted to photography; this doesn’t include the weekdays I am shooting as well. So you can see how the 22 weekends a year I actually get off (which usually are only during the off months, December – April) are pretty important to me. I’ve found this limit works well for my mental health, as well as some physical limitations I have. I’m able to stay healthy and happy this way, meaning I get to enjoy this career I love, have a personal life, and serve my clients to the best of my ability.

So with weddings from Spring 2020 rescheduling to Fall 2020, that means my “no double header” policy had to go. What was already a fully booked Fall for me quickly became double that. I thought the worst of my stressors was that I now had two double header weekends scheduled back to back, and was worried about the toll that was going to take on me physically and mentally. However, now that Fall 2020 weddings are starting to look at rescheduling to 2021, that is quickly being out-run on my list of stressors.

There are two big struggles (as I see it) that wedding vendors are now facing: availability and finances. For people like me who normally put a limit on how many weddings we take on, we are facing the issue of having availability for nearly an entire years’ worth of weddings, on top of a new year of weddings. We’re having to be creative in how we can schedule these added events, and we’re having to face the fact that we will likely have little to no personal life next year. You may be thinking “well, you’re getting a big break right now during quarantine.” And you’re right, that’s very true. But many of us aren’t able to be quarantined with loved ones. We’re not able to be social. Some of us live alone and face the struggles of being isolated during a pandemic, which is extremely taxing on mental health. Put that on top of facing the fact that we’ll have very little time to devote to ourselves next year, and it’s enough to send anyone into a spiral of anxiety.

“..in addition to postponing this years income, many of us are completely losing out on what would typically be new income for 2021.”

Then there’s finances. I can’t speak to other types of vendors, but many photographers don’t get paid the majority of their funds until the month before the wedding, meaning that most of them are not getting any sort of income as these weddings postpone. While this is not fully the case for me as a lot of my clients choose a payment plan system, my finances have still taken a significant hit. But here’s the kicker: in addition to postponing this years income, many of us are completely losing out on what would typically be new income for 2021. Confused? Let me explain:

In a non-pandemic world, we get paid for this year’s weddings; that contributes to this year’s salary. Then we book weddings for next year; that contributes to next year’s salary. This is literally how we make a living. This is how we put food on our tables, keep a roof over our heads, pay our bills, keep our pets and children healthy and clothed, and simply fund our lives. Not to mention keeping our businesses running, as there is an incredibly long list of fees and expenses that come with running a business on your own. So to put it very simply, we are now in the situation of losing out on a significant amount of income we would normally be making next year, due to the fact that many dates that would be going to new couples, are now having to go to couples rescheduling from this year. Meaning we’re essentially losing 50% or more of our yearly income for next year.

Shew. That’s a lot of information I’ve thrown at you, isn’t it? For a quick summary: wedding vendors are currently trying to survive a pandemic as a normal human, on top of losing most, if not all, forms of current income with little to no help from state and federal governments- on top of planning on losing a large percentage of next year’s income while actually having to work more than we normally would, meaning we’re also losing out on valuable and precious personal time.

Yeah… so what do we even do about that?

Each time a 2020 couple reschedules to a prime 2021 date, I am loosing an average of $3,000, and that includes the fact that I am charging a rescheduling fee [for prime dates].”

Some of us (like me) are forced to charge a fee for couples who reschedule to high-demand dates for next year and, let me tell you, that freaking SUCKS. It is an awful, gut-wrenching feeling to have to tell a couple needing to reschedule their wedding because of a freaking pandemic, that they are going to have to pay you more money if they choose a certain date. (If you are one of my couples considering rescheduling but haven’t reached out to me yet with that info and therefore haven’t received my policies, don’t freak out, I have worked my booty off to provide you with other options that will not come with a fee.) Because the reality is, this pandemic is not our fault, and it’s not the fault of our couples. So how do we decide how to handle it? Some businesses are choosing to eat that cost completely, and if you’re reading this and that’s the route you’ve chosen- I completely understand. However, I know my business simply cannot survive if I do not charge a fee for rescheduling to a prime date, and I have worked way too hard to not ensure this business survives. Each time a 2020 couple reschedules to a prime 2021 date, I am loosing an average of $3,000, and that includes the fact that I am charging a rescheduling fee. Just let that sink in a bit. Then multiply that lost amount by 5. Or 10. Or 15. Or even more for some vendors. My rescheduling fee is a very small fraction of the amount of money I lose every time that happens. By the time all the rescheduling is said and done, I’ll be extremely surprised if I’ve lost less than $20,000. That’s $20,000 of income for next year I simply will not have to live or run this business on (if not more, especially because I also lose money when it’s rescheduled to a non-prime date since I can’t book a new shoot on that day) and let me tell you, to someone running a small business, that. is. a. LOT. of. money.

“We are bending over backwards to provide creative options that work for us and our couples, but we all have to be flexible, vendors and clients alike.”

Why am I telling you this? It’s not for sympathy, I can promise you that. It’s not to promote my crowdfunding fundraiser, I don’t have one. It is simply to inform you of the reality of what us small business wedding vendors are facing. It’s to give you some context when your vendor tells you they only have certain dates available, or to help you understand when they tell you that if you choose a certain date, you will likely have to pay an additional fee, and a hope that you will extend them some grace and understanding. There are many, like myself, that are compromising their mental and financial health significantly with these practices they’re putting in place. We are bending over backwards to provide creative options that work for us and our couples, but we all have to be flexible, vendors and clients alike. We have to remember that these truly are unprecedented times, and we’re all going to have to rearrange our expectations of what the wedding industry looks like for the time being. Couples will need to keep in mind the compromises and sacrifices their vendors are making, and will need to be prepared to make sacrifices of their own as well. Vendors will need to keep in mind everything that our couples have on their plates when it comes to rescheduling an entire wedding day.

I’ve seen awful stories online of couples who have reacted horribly to their vendors when told they don’t have certain dates available, or that they’ll need to pay a fee, or that new policies will be put in place. Additionally, I’ve seen equally horrible stories of vendors who react awfully to their couples when they ask to reschedule, or who want to simply give up on them altogether.

“But I chose to get into this business, the business of love, and as vendors in this business we should continue to treat our clients with just that- love, understanding, and compassion during this time. And we can only hope that they treat us the same in return.”

To be clear, I am not bashing anyone who wants to exit the industry because of fear for their health with this virus, simply anyone who fully leaves their couples high and dry with no help. As someone who comes from a family with compromised immune systems, I’m not going to sit here and say that getting back to shooting weddings is only exciting because I love what I do, but it’s also terrifying because I am concerned for my health. But I chose to get into this business, the business of love, and as vendors in this business we should continue to treat our clients with just that- love, understanding, and compassion during this time. And we can only hope that they treat us the same in return.

“However, it is important for us all to keep in mind that because this is no ones fault, that neither side should be expected to eat the full cost of the ramifications.”

If you have read this far, I commend you. You’re a true champ because this was a very long post and, again, I am not looking for sympathy. I’m not saying we have it “the worst”. I’m not saying this is anyone’s fault, and I’m certainly not saying that we have it any worse than the couples we serve. None of that is true. This is no one’s fault. This is tough, challenging, and heartbreaking for us all. This is simply our new reality, and we are trying our best to navigate it the same as you. If you’re a vendor like me, you’re trying your best to navigate it with love, care, and support for your couples, reminding them that we will get through this together. However, it is important for us all to keep in mind that because this is no ones fault, that neither side should be expected to eat the full cost of the ramifications. Vendors should not be expected to give away prime dates and lose thousands of dollars without any sort of compensation, and couples should not be expected to fully bear the financial burden of all monies lost! That is where those compromises I mentioned come into play. Each business will need to decide what compromises they are comfortable with, and clearly and kindly explain that to their clients. Clients should absolutely ask questions and make sure they understand their options, while also keeping in mind the mass effect this is having on vendors as they navigate these same challenges with many of their couples.

The hope for this post is simply to shed some light on what we, as vendors, are going through over here because, before I was a business owner, I would have never understood what business owners, let alone wedding vendors, are going through. I hope this was an educational peek behind the curtain for you. If you’re a couple planning a wedding, maybe send your vendors a nice note this week letting them know you appreciate them. I promise you, it would make their day.

Praying that God sees us all through this, soon. Sending you light and love, wherever you are.

XO,

Paige

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  1. Cindy L Dayton says:

    I love and appreciate your work. Praying this is over soon , and everyone survives mentally, physically, and financially. Thank you for your post.

    • Paige Gregory says:

      Thank you so much, Cindy! I am praying for the same! And thank you for taking the time to read. 🙂

- michelle + sean

From the moment we met Paige and Sarah I knew it would be a lifelong bond! They are the kindest most genuine humans you will probably ever meet. Not only do I cherish our relationship, but it makes for incredible photos because you can be completely comfortable and your authentic self when in their hands. I have a medical condition and Paige was my #1 support (next to my husband) during our engagement shoot and entire wedding day. She takes magical photos, and on top of that acts similar to a bridesmaid - helps with your train, has snacks if you feel a crash coming LOL! I never felt stress and if I did it was short lived because she truly had our backs! Additionally, we are a “covid couple” who postponed 2x and she met that challenge with the utmost compassion, understanding, and flexibility. Paige Elizabeth Photography will be the best decision you make. Don’t walk - RUN to book! She has this incredible ability to capture the candid moments and your day exactly how it happened so the memories are stored forever. They blow any expectation of photography out of the water, and will become you and your family/friends for life to capture all the important moments.

"The best decision you make"

- emily

Paige is the absolute best photographer you could have! We took our engagement photos with her and was blown away how at ease she made us feel and how amazing the photos turned out. When she sent us our sneak peak photos from our wedding, our mouths dropped. They were better than we could have ever imagined! I still have family members talking about how much they loved her. She is also not afraid to kick everyone off a deck to get some night time pictures if they are in the way hahaha! She is truly the best. BOOK HER!

"Better than we could have ever imagined!"

- Sam + Ryan

Paige is the best! We met first when we booked her for our 2019 wedding and engagement. She was our first vendor booked and obviously our favorite. We just knew we HAD to work with her. She is incredibly understanding, warm, and always smiling. She does her best to feel like family and make your shoot full of ease. She completely understands when people feel “awkward in front of the camera”. We’ve continued to use her through the years, taking anniversary shots, mini sessions, and most recently family photos as our family grew. We have loved watching her succeed over the years and having her document our successes as well :) book her!

"Book her!"

- Sydney + andrew



"I WAS NOT READY! 

Paige, these are absolutely everything and have helped us relive the most special day. You not only captured all of the sweetest moments but somehow all of the FUNNIEST and most memorable moments that we are all still laughing about. Have no idea how you were so many places seemingly at once but we are forever grateful. 

Thank you for making us feel so comfortable and celebrated throughout the entire process. We'll be looking at these photos forever. I only wish we could do it all together again!"

"I was not ready!"

- Mackenzie

Paige has been such a gift to our family over the past 3 years since we started booking her as our photographer. From family sessions, to boudoir and maternity- Paige has always nailed our vision. I have GLADLY recommended her to friends for their weddings and beyond, and everyone has been thrilled with Paige’s work. Not only is she an amazing photographer, but an awesome person. I felt like we were fast friends which made me even more comfortable in front of the camera. If you’re looking for a photographer, look no further!!

"such a gift"

- text from makenna

"..THANK YOU is an understatement. You made our wedding, you captured EVERYTHING, and to think that you were a one woman show blows my mind. You were everywhere and captured every single detail. I knew when we booked with you that we wouldn't regret it, we are so pleased with everything. We are so happy and can't wait to share all the pictures with our whole family. I can't wait to TRY to pick our favorites and display them all over our house. Just know that you will be in our lives for a while, hopefully capturing our kiddos one day!...Thank you for being you and for sharing your talent with us! We are overwhelmed with all that you have given to us!"

"THANK YOU!"

- texts from rachel 

"OMFG"
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME"
"These are INSANE"
"Holy shit I'm dying"
"OMMMGGGG"
"I'm legit obsessed this is amazing!!!!"
"Holy f**K I cna't stop staring at them" 
"You are insane"
"WE ARE DYING OVER HERE"

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME"

- Megan

Absolutely amazing to work with!!
I've followed paige for years,admiring her work and was lucky enough to work with her this past summer for what was just a couples shoot, turning into a surprise engagement shoot. Paige and her sister were such a joy and SO easy to work with! Paige makes you feel so comfortable infront of the camera. She truly feels like a friend and we are so lucky to have her shoot our wedding in 2024. Her work is beautiful so please do yourself a favor and book with paige Elizabeth 

"Truly feels like a friend"

- Morgan

I first met Paige in 2019, she came with our wedding photographer as a second shooter. She made not only myself, but my husband and our wedding party feel instantly comfortable and like we had known each other for years. Paige then did our maternity pictures in 2020. Not only is all of her work incredible, but the smile that she has when she is behind the camera is so bright that you cannot help but myself when you are having your picture taken by her. She is great at making poses not seem staged and the way that she communicates with you while she is taking your pictures is so calming. Paige is so talented and the passion that she has for her work is truly inspiring!

"Instantly Comfortable"

- Brittany

PAIGE PAIGE PAIGE! I'm crying! These are gorgeous! Thank you so much for these - we always love your work. Can't wait to schedule our next session with you! 

"Can't wait to schedule our next session.."

- Lindsey + emmit

Thank you thank you thank you. You are honestly incredible. You are the best third wheel ever!

"Best third wheel ever!"

- makenna + andrew

Paige, you are INCREDIBLE! You have such a gift, you are so good at what you do. Thank you for these pictures. I can not stop drooling over them. I can’t wait to share them! Thank you so much!! 

"INCREDIBLE"

- Melissa + max

So completely blown away, I can't wait to share more!" 

"Completely blown away"

- samantha + ryan

"These are the most beautiful pictures I have ever seen in my life. You are a wizard (yes the HP kind) with a camera - it was meant to be in your sweet perfect hands. Thank you so much for yesterday and for everything. We are so so lucky to get to have you and your talents capture the best day of Ryan’s and I’s lives"

"You Are a Wizard"

- HALEY + BRANDON

"OH MY GOD PAIGE YOU F*@%KING KILLED IT...Thank you so much for capturing everything. We are so grateful for you!"

"OH MY GOD"

- Krista, 2020 PEP Senior rep

"Paige is one of the kindest people I've ever met! When it comes to senior pictures, I'm so glad I chose her. She was quick with our photos, always gave us sneak peeks, and hyped us up during our whole shoot! Wish I could be a PEP Senior Rep forever!" 

"I'm so glad I chose her"

- Kelsey + gavin

"Paige made our engagement and wedding photo experience unforgettable. She was professional, fun, and did an amazing job capturing our personalities in our photographs. Great turn around time. I cannot say enough great things about this woman!!!"

"Unforgettable"

- jen and shane

"PAIGE! I just got a chance to completely look through all of the photos. They are absolutely stunning!!! Thank you so much, you captured everything perfectly!"

"Captured Perfectly"

- courtney, 2020 PEP Senior rep

"I genuinely could not be happier with the experience Paige provided me with this year. I was super nervous to be in front of the camera, but my shoots with Paige literally felt like hanging out with your best friend while simultaneously taking photos. Paige sincerely cares about each and every one of her clients, and that is made so evident by the hard work she puts into her craft. I’ve learned so much from watching Paige run her business and I am in awe of how much she loves what she does- and how incredibly talented she is at what she does. Not only did I gain breathtaking photos of my Senior year that I will keep close to my heart forever, I also gained a friend, and to me that is priceless. If you’re thinking about booking a shoot with Paige, do it now- you’ll wonder where she’s been all your life. 💕"

"Could not be happier"

- Gabby + Kyle

"Literally sitting here crying because your pictures are so amazing. I’m absolutely in love they are perfect. I love your style of candid and how you get the perfect shot...The hardest thing for me to choose was our wedding photographer, it took me the longest time. And we 1000% made the right choice. You did amazing. Thank you so much!"

"Absolutely in love"

- Baby, 2020 PEP Senior rep

"You're literally the best at what you do...I love them all!"

"The best"

- Tori + aaron

"BEST. PHOTOGRAPHER. EVER...Don't know what we would have done without you!"

"BEST. PHOTOGRAPHER. EVER"

- hannah + ross

"Paige is phenomenal. From the very first meet up, I knew that she was going to do everything in her ability to make our day something special. She is so easy to work with, and really plays to the strengths of the couple. My husband and I are awkward and we laugh at everything, and she let us be ourselves and really captured our personalities in the pictures. She truly went the extra mile and brought so much energy to our day."

"Phenomenal."

- Chelsea + seth

"We had a blast with Paige, and have the most amazing photos to show from it. We are blessed beyond belief that we met this wonderful human and that she provided us with photos that will adorn our home for years to come. Through grateful tears, THANK YOU for your work. We are so happy to have a friend in you."

"The very best day."

- Keeley, 2020 PEP Senior rep

"Paige is one of the most kindest, hardworking, selfless, people I know. I’m am not a confident person at all, but when I did my shoots with Paige she would make me laugh and feel confident. One of my favorite parts of my senior year was being able to get to know her, and do my senior casuals with her. She is not only a great photographer but a great person💕"

"She would make me laugh and feel CONFIDENT"

- Alicia + Justin

"From personal experience, I can say that Paige is incredible to work with. She was the best photographer we could have asked for! We highly recommend her!" 

"Highly Recommend"

- Tori + otto

“Paige is an outstanding professional with AMAZING photography skills. My husband and I LOVE her, and we were so delighted with our experience using her services on our special wedding day. Paige has a way of making you feel so comfortable in front of the camera and the photography she creates is absolutely top notch. Thank you Paige!”

"So Comfortable"

- morgan + skye

“Paige is just the best. She (sometimes literally) bent over backwards to make our day and everything before our day go absolutely perfect. There aren't enough words to explain how thankful we are for her AND her beautiful work. I can't imagine our wedding day without her and will most definitely be recommending her to everyone in the future.”

"Aren't Enough Words"

love notes.