meet

PAIGE ELIZABETH photography 

Hey, you. Thanks so much for being here. Writing about myself is so weird for me, but I'll give it a go. To start, I want to share with you how I got here. Rewind to 2015 or so. I was graduating college (only 2 years late thanks to taking a year off and changing my major a billion times) when I started a little side hustle called "A Little Rusty Shop". I was renting out vintage furniture/decor and styling weddings. Did it all start because my partner at the time called me a hoarder and I said "well you can't call me a hoarder if I rent it out"? Yes....but did it also lead me to this career that I love and feel so grateful and blessed to do? Also yes. Anyways, I did that for awhile before realizing that to market myself better, I needed better photos. Christmas of 2016 I got my first camera and by summer 2017 I was ~a photographer~. Let's all have a little chuckle at that, but seriously, it wasn't long before I realized that having a camera in my hand made me happier than anything I'd ever done before. And especially happier than lifting a bunch of heavy furniture all by myself. Thanks to a truly incredible friend (looking at you, Layma) who pushed me to pursue this newfound dream even though I was terrified, by the end of 2018 I was able to quit my HR day job and pursue photography full time. And it's been my full time job ever since. 2020 and the aftermath was super hard on the wedding industry, just like it was for most, and I definitely went through a burnout period like a lot of us did. However, 2023 was the year I fell head over heels in love with my job again. Not only because I felt like my business was financially starting to recover, but I myself was too. 2023 was a year of huge personal growth and it allowed me room to dive back into my work in a way that I really hadn't been able to from 2020-2022. It was also the year I fell in love with and married my husband. We'd known each other for a long time (high school, college, technically we even played band together in middle school but we don't remember each other) and we knew on our first date that this was it. It was, truly, the most incredible thing I've ever experienced. Even working in this industry as long as I have, I always thought people were exaggerating when they said "when you know, you know". Because I'd always had a nagging feeling in my gut with past partners. But with John, I knew. Immediately. And we went from our first date to married in just 6 months, and it's the most wonderful, healthy, safest, wholesome love I've ever experienced. That's why I say on the home page of this website "for the lovers whose home, is each other", because that's how I feel with John. He's my home. And all I want as a photographer, is to get the opportunity to capture photos that showcase your love, your home, in a way that represents you. Photos don't need to be scary. You don't need to feel awkward. All you need to do is show up and be yourselves. Focus on each other. Love on each other. Laugh, play, rest together. Certainly, I'm here for guidance and suggestions. But the best photos come about when my couples show up ready to genuinely be themselves, the way you are at home. Because here's the thing, I don't need to tell you how to love each other. You're obviously good at that, right? All I ask is that you come to your session, or show up on your wedding day, wholeheartedly ready to do exactly that. And let me capture the rest. 🖤

paige