Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lisa Smith. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Lisa, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

Legacy. A word that I never even thought about until I became a mother. When I hear the word “legend,” it immediately conjures up an image of a famous person perfecting their craft and showcasing their talent. When I was little, I had a life size poster of Michael Jordan, tongue out and defying gravity with his iconic dunk, hanging on my wall. This is a true legend, or so I thought. This could be farther from the truth (not that MJ isn’t a legend because he most certainly is). You see, each person can leave a legacy, tangible and/or intangible, that can make a difference in the generations that come after them. As a photographer, I often think, “What is my legacy?” It dawned on me. My photographs will outlast me. When I’m long gone, my photographs will still be here- printed in albums, digitally shared, framed on walls, stowed in shoeboxes, tucked in baby books- you get the picture? No pun intended. So, if my photographs will outlast me, and this is the tangible legacy I speak of, then what do I make sure they speak into this world? No, it’s not trends or classic poses or anything that detracts from the subjects. My tangible legacy, my photos, needs to showcase the intangible- the genuine love between a husband and wife, the authentic connection of a family, the rawness of motherhood, the curiosity in the catchlights of child’s eyes. The work a photographer does matters immensely. Our work echoes what captures our attention and matters most to us, so those photographs we take are tiny, intentional, tangible remnants of our hearts floating freely in this world and casting our legacy.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’m Lisa Smith of LHS Photography, and I’m a family, wedding, and senior photographer in East Tennessee. I have always been obsessed with storytelling and photos and used to work as an intern in high school for my hometown newspaper- The Clinton Courier. I remember writing stories, taking the photos for the stories, and developing them in the darkroom before the digital age. Then, Santa (aka my husband) bought me my first DSLR in 2010, and my friends and their friends and their friend’s friends would book me to take their family photos. I ended up having to choose between photography and teaching high school English in 2016 after we had our first child, Harrison. Now it’s 2023, we have added our daughter Ellie Claire to the mix, and I am still focused on photography and even added a second business of custom apparel, Clinch River Marketing, too. I stay so busy thanks to my amazing friends and clients who keep me booked and busy. I love my flexible, non-traditional schedule that allows me to be a little more present for drop offs, pickups, and activities with my little ones. I know you’ve probably heard the old adage, “Find a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” This applies to photography for me. If I won the lottery, I would still be a family photographer because I’m obsessed with storytelling, capturing time standing still, and most of all- capturing families and the love they have for each other. I may have four college degrees in education and may end up using them again one day, but for now, I’m enjoying the journey of photography and all the adventures and stories it has brought me.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Here are a few lessons to live by that I wish I would have known at the start of my creative journey as a photographer: 1.) If you have a red flag about a potential client or feel something is “off” with their vision and yours, PASS on doing business with that person. They are not your client; they are meant for someone else, and if their vision stifles your creative process, then you cannot fully and wholeheartedly do your job. That’s not fair to the client or you.
2.) INVEST in education and mentorship rather than go get a baller status camera. I promise learning the exposure triangle, how to shoot in manual, and editing classes will take you farther than a crazy top of the line camera. Invest in your skill, let others invest in you once you learn that skill, and then buy that baller status equipment.
3.) Do not negotiate your pricing. Know and hold your value.
4.) Stay in your lane running your race. We often get down about being a beginner and compare ourselves to experts. This does nothing but discourage and deflate our self esteem and confidence. Get 1% better each day and do not compare yourself to others who have been working at their craft longer. Progress over perfection!

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

This may seem so simple and common sensical, but loving people first. When we love people well, no matter what career we are in, that is how we grow clientele, keep attention, and have people want to be around us. This same exact concept of loving people applied to me as a high school English teacher and it still applies to my photography business and custom apparel business. It also applies to my husband’s CrossFit gym. Love people first because when we show that we actually care, that we have empathy, and we are compassionate and serve others first, then everything else easily falls into place. We have to be more client-centric verses employee-centric.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lhsphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lhs_photo/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LHSmithPhotography

Image Credits
Profile image: Devon Adrianne Photography