Episode 25

Episode #24 - Beauty In All Shapes And Sizes: An Interview With Elizabeth Brown

Finding others that will help you to become the best version of yourself, even when others turn the other way, is the most important part of being beautiful. In this episode, our guest, Elizabeth Brown, discusses the importance of being able to look this way not only in front of the camera, but in all facets of her personal and professional life and how she overcame those struggles. This inspirational story will help you realize that it does not matter how you feel about the types of reactions you receive. It is about moving forward and "just doing it" when it counts the most for your overall outlook in life.

Guest Bio

Liz lives in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, where she started her journey as a photographer in 2016. She is the owner and operator of BrownHaven Photography LLC. For her, it's been a slow process as she struggles with math and numbers. She received her first camera in 2016. She used to get photos taken to make her feel beautiful, but was also expensive, and realized not everyone can afford to have pictures taken. She learned to do this for others. In 2020, she learned that she has Dyscalculia, and her whole life made more sense. She struggles with confidence when it comes to work. There is a lot she may not know how to do, and struggles with imposter syndrome but says it doesn't help that there are photographers who have created a box they think photographer should stay in, and does not want to stay in that box. She creates a whole wide world of amazing and affordable photography for everyone through creative art and moments and memories for people that don't cost them an arm and a leg, which helps get past this fear that she is not enough.

Elizabeth's Facebook page

@Liz_at_Brownhaven_Photography on Instagram

Elizabeth's Website

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Visit Our Business Website: https://www.yourspeakingvoice.biz

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Intro/Outro By: Michael Dugan, Podcast Host: Voice4Chefs

Transcript
Intro:

Welcome to the podcast where relationships, confidence, and

Intro:

determination, all converge into an amazing, heartfelt experience.

Intro:

This is Speaking From The Heart.

Joshua:

Welcome back to episode number 24 of Speaking from the Heart.

Joshua:

Today we have a photographer making her very first appearance on any podcast,

Joshua:

and she is the very first photographer that I've had on the show, and I was

Joshua:

really excited to be interviewing her because she is a fantastic lady that

Joshua:

I got to know, not only on a personal level before the show, but even

Joshua:

afterwards being able to hear her story.

Joshua:

We're interviewing Elizabeth Brown.

Joshua:

She lives in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, very close to where our

Joshua:

offices are located with Speaking From The Heart, and she is the owner and operator

Joshua:

of Brown Haven Photography where she started her photography journey in 2016,

Joshua:

and although it has been a struggle and also a story worth redeeming, she has been

Joshua:

able to go through life and even going through operating a business with the

Joshua:

struggle of math and numbers, which we all have one point or another, I know my

Joshua:

fellow business owners would feel that.

Joshua:

She used to take photos to make herself feel beautiful, but she also realized

Joshua:

it was expensive to get photos done, so her mission, for her business, is

Joshua:

to provide opportunities for those that have low income situations for her

Joshua:

clients in order to provide photography.

Joshua:

In 2020, she learned that she has dyscalculia, which is about the struggle

Joshua:

with math and numbers, which we talk about in the interview for a little bit, but,

Joshua:

as somebody that has struggled personally with confidence when it comes to work

Joshua:

and being able to overcome imposter syndrome, this was one of my very first

Joshua:

guests in which I truly, truly, truly resonated with what her story has been all

Joshua:

about, and I know that for all of us, no matter what background you have, no matter

Joshua:

what struggle there is, there is something to be learned from this remarkable lady.

Joshua:

Let's go to the episode.

Joshua:

All right.

Joshua:

We have Elizabeth Brown with us.

Joshua:

Elizabeth, thanks for Speaking From The Heart with us today.

Elizabeth:

Well, thanks for having me, Josh.

Elizabeth:

I appreciate it.

Joshua:

Absolutely, and I have to say right before we hit the record

Joshua:

button, I let you know that you are setting the trend as being the first

Joshua:

photographer on Speaking From The Heart, and that is a coveted honor to have,

Joshua:

so congratulations, I'll make sure I'll get you a sticker so that we can pin

Joshua:

it onto your chest before you go today.

Elizabeth:

Oh I will wear it proudly.

Joshua:

Awesome.

Joshua:

Liz, I already let the audience know about what you do for a living, and

Joshua:

my very first question for you is, why did you get started with photography?

Joshua:

What made you interested in that?

Elizabeth:

I would go get photos taken of myself.

Elizabeth:

I love the 1950s, so I would dress pin up.

Elizabeth:

It made me feel amazing to see myself because I'm a big girl.

Elizabeth:

I've been big my whole life and put down for that and shamed for

Elizabeth:

that, but, dressing up and seeing myself just how beautiful I am, it

Elizabeth:

was just an incredible feeling and I wanted to do that for others.

Elizabeth:

I wanted to provide that self-esteem and that self-worth for other people, and

Elizabeth:

also, it's very expensive, so there's families and people in general, there's a

Elizabeth:

lot out there that can't afford to do that for themselves, and that's what really

Elizabeth:

pushed me into learning how to do this.

Elizabeth:

I wanted to provide affordable photography that would make people

Elizabeth:

feel amazing about themselves.

Joshua:

It's funny that you say that because I often see people that want

Joshua:

to charge a thousand, $5,000, $10,000 for a photo shoot that might be over a

Joshua:

weekend for those higher packages, and it's absolutely insane, because I know

Joshua:

that there are people that need those for, especially in my business, helping

Joshua:

to get their next job or make themselves feel a lot better about themselves,

Joshua:

because they're lacking self-confidence.

Joshua:

I'm curious, even with those sort of things in mind, why do

Joshua:

you do it for a discounted rate?

Joshua:

I mean, does that make you feel that it might be hard for you to do that business

Joshua:

that you're doing with photography?

Joshua:

In other words, why do you help people with giving them value that way?

Elizabeth:

I do it because I enjoy the art of it.

Elizabeth:

I have found my passion and some finally something that I'm pretty good at.

Elizabeth:

I don't consider myself top-notch photographer; there's so much that I

Elizabeth:

don't know how to do, and I know that others are gonna be better at it than

Elizabeth:

I am, but I do this because I enjoy it.

Elizabeth:

I want to do it, and I love being able to do this for people and

Elizabeth:

for me, it's not about the money.

Elizabeth:

It's providing a service that somebody who couldn't afford

Elizabeth:

it could finally afford it.

Joshua:

Walk me through this.

Joshua:

I'm wondering who has been an influence in your life to allow you to go into

Joshua:

an industry like this, because it's easy enough, and I have to say from my

Joshua:

business, I know I get this all the time: "Well, anybody can be a life coach.

Joshua:

Anybody can be a coach, period.

Joshua:

What makes you different?", and I have to explain to them that,

Joshua:

"Yeah, there are the good coaches.

Joshua:

There are the really bad coaches that don't inspire you, but there's also the

Joshua:

extremely stay away from these people because they will not help you whatsoever;

Joshua:

they will only take your money."

Joshua:

I've had some great influences in my life; who's been maybe one or two influences

Joshua:

to help you get started in photography?

Elizabeth:

My high school art teacher, Mr.

Elizabeth:

Worthing.

Elizabeth:

He was absolutely phenomenal.

Elizabeth:

He always saw through my darkness and saw that spark still inside of me

Elizabeth:

through my depression in high school.

Elizabeth:

It got to the point where I was actually in a psych ward for two weeks, and

Elizabeth:

when I came out, he was like, "You know what I love about you, Liz?

Elizabeth:

I love that life knocks you down, but you still get up and you dust yourself off."

Elizabeth:

He was always there for me no matter what.

Elizabeth:

When I graduated in 97, I gave him a Father's Day card and I thanked him for

Elizabeth:

everything that he had done for me for 24 years, I sent that man a Father's Day card

Elizabeth:

until last year, because he passed away in October of 2021, so then I couldn't

Elizabeth:

send him a Father's Day card anymore, but I started doing mini sessions.

Elizabeth:

Right before Father's Day, I give 15 minutes, and it's free, from 10:00 AM

Elizabeth:

to 2:00 PM People can sign up and I gift them family photos, and I do this in honor

Elizabeth:

of him because for 30 years he gave back to his students and I wanted to continue

Elizabeth:

that memory and honor him for that.

Elizabeth:

He was like one of the biggest things that just kept me going in

Elizabeth:

life, and as far as like finding the photography, some of the gals in the

Elizabeth:

pinup community, they were just like, "Liz, you're beautiful as you are.

Elizabeth:

It doesn't matter your size, it doesn't matter what you look like.

Elizabeth:

You are worth who you are, you're not defined by your body size,"

Elizabeth:

and so that was another thing.

Elizabeth:

I started hearing that and it started sinking in.

Elizabeth:

I'm not defined by my size.

Elizabeth:

I am a beautiful person inside and out, and that pushed me to

Elizabeth:

want to do this for other people.

Joshua:

You mentioned that you struggled with depression.

Joshua:

Without not getting too much into the weeds or if you feel comfortable about

Joshua:

it, I have been very open with many of my guests and even myself about the struggles

Joshua:

of depression, and I'm just curious, has that been a motivating factor for you

Joshua:

to get out of that situation of feeling like you have no hope or maybe have that

Joshua:

feeling of not being able to go forward, because depression for my audience, can

Joshua:

have different types of stages and can also be of different severity, and I know

Joshua:

that I've been through that myself, but I'm wondering for you, Liz, if there's

Joshua:

something that you had experienced that maybe had led you into that feeling.

Joshua:

Can you share that with us?

Elizabeth:

I think the biggest thing is that, when I finally saw it, when

Elizabeth:

I finally saw where my struggles were coming from and the pain, when I came

Elizabeth:

out of that, I realized that I don't want others to have to go through that, and

Elizabeth:

that was another push for my photography to show people that they're amazing

Elizabeth:

and they're incredible and they're beautiful, just how they are, regardless

Elizabeth:

of what society's standards are.

Elizabeth:

I think my photography, I've found my happiness in that it keeps me going.

Elizabeth:

I mean, I'm off my medication and everything, I think for about four

Elizabeth:

or five years now, and, I definitely see the difference and it's

Elizabeth:

photography has probably saved me.

Joshua:

Wow.

Joshua:

I am inspired by you just to hear that, because it often takes a big jump from

Joshua:

where you were, feeling that maybe there was no hope to I can do this.

Joshua:

I really have that opportunity to share it with others, and I'm hoping

Joshua:

in an episode after this that I will be able to share with the audience about

Joshua:

something that I did while I was under observation at a mental institution

Joshua:

for 72 hours that forever changed my perspective about what the world looks

Joshua:

like, but getting back to you, since this is helping you with photography,

Joshua:

I wonder if you could walk through with us how you make a client feel beautiful

Joshua:

when you do a photo shoot with them.

Joshua:

Can you give us kind of an idea of what your practice is and how you do

Joshua:

that, because I never have heard of anybody doing something like this,

Joshua:

and it's fascinating to me because, it is important for us to see our inner

Joshua:

beauty, and I talk about that quite a lot with some of my own clients,

Joshua:

but I'm wondering how do you do that?

Joshua:

How do you add your own little taste of inspiration to this process?

Elizabeth:

Well, as I said, I'm a big girl, so when I look through

Elizabeth:

that lens, I'm looking at the person as if it was me there.

Elizabeth:

Would I like that position?

Elizabeth:

Would I feel happy with that capture of myself?

Elizabeth:

If not, I'm usually, "No.

Elizabeth:

Let's have you just lift this just a little bit.

Elizabeth:

Turn this way a little bit."

Elizabeth:

I never make judgment.

Elizabeth:

I never say, "Oh, we've got that showing", I am always adjusting and moving people

Elizabeth:

to where if I would feel comfortable that way, then I know that they would

Elizabeth:

be comfortable that way, so it's usually that and then just cracking jokes.

Elizabeth:

I'm like, "Listen, if you're going to fall, I'm just going to put

Elizabeth:

it on sport mode and I'm going to catch it as you go downwards,

Elizabeth:

then we're going to laugh at you.

Elizabeth:

It's just stuff like that, so usually cracking the ice and just

Elizabeth:

making them feel like, you know, I'm a friend they've known for years.

Joshua:

Do you sense that in working with those sort of people that it's often

Joshua:

difficult for them to kind of loosen up?

Joshua:

I know I kind of had to make you loosen up a little bit for this and make you laugh a

Joshua:

couple times, and I know that for myself, I have to do that when I especially

Joshua:

psyching myself up for doing an interview with somebody on my podcast or working

Joshua:

with a client, getting them in the mindset of, "You got this, you can get in charge."

Joshua:

Do you do a little ritual for them or something of that nature, because I

Joshua:

think we all have our little quirks that we do when we work with our clients.

Elizabeth:

Again, just chatting with them.

Elizabeth:

I usually talk to them because I'm a mile back in the woods, so a lot of times

Elizabeth:

they're coming to me and I will tell them about the property and like where the

Elizabeth:

cabin used to be, why I have the tub and where it came from and the hunting club,

Elizabeth:

and usually I'm bringing them into my universe, my home, and sharing all of the

Elizabeth:

stories with them, like my cat, Callie, my outdoor cat, she usually shows up.

Elizabeth:

She'll end up in people's photos too.

Elizabeth:

Callie's the best thing; she's my sidekick.

Elizabeth:

It's usually just bringing them into my world and sharing, I guess, I don't know

Elizabeth:

if you've ever heard to move pebbles?

Joshua:

Yes-

Elizabeth:

Penguins like to share pebbles, and usually I'm just sharing all the

Elizabeth:

pebbles and I think that helps make them feel more comfortable and at ease.

Joshua:

I love that you bring your cat into your photography.

Joshua:

I think you and my mom would get along very well.

Joshua:

She loves her cats as well, and I grew up on a farm for over 20 years

Joshua:

before I moved out on my own, so being able to do something like that

Joshua:

with even my mom's animals, I should say, would be amazing in itself.

Joshua:

When you mentioned your sidekick, it made me think of this.

Joshua:

Is there a sidekick in your life that really helps you when you're feeling

Joshua:

maybe down about something that might be happening in your life, or maybe

Joshua:

even some of the tough times that we have as small business owners,

Joshua:

because I know for me, I need that rock myself to help me carry forward.

Joshua:

Can you mention, if you feel comfortable enough with it, the

Joshua:

person and what they do for you?

Elizabeth:

I have a couple of people, obviously, my husband:

Elizabeth:

he's a huge support, but sometimes not in the way that I need it.

Elizabeth:

I have my friend Korrinn, she is phenomenal.

Elizabeth:

She's usually the one that's getting photos I'll send her, I'm like,

Elizabeth:

"Look at this, look at this."

Elizabeth:

She's been instrumental in me learning my self worth as well and learning my

Elizabeth:

boundaries and because I am an empathic person, so normally I'm like, "yes, yes.

Elizabeth:

Give, give, give.", and she's like, "Liz, you have to give for yourself.

Elizabeth:

You can't pour from an empty cup."

Elizabeth:

I thank Korrinn, she's been amazing through this journey

Elizabeth:

and I absolutely love her.

Joshua:

I think we all need that Korrinn in our life that allows us to do that and

Joshua:

allows us to say, "Hey, I know that maybe this is probably not the top of your most

Joshua:

important things to see from me right now, but I want to share this with you.

Joshua:

Can you give me some thoughts on it?", and I have a few people like that

Joshua:

too, as I'm developing things as well.

Joshua:

When you were getting started with this business, were you

Joshua:

concerned about anything?

Joshua:

Was there any fears, aspirations that maybe you had starting out,

Joshua:

maybe some things that you were concerned but you weren't quite

Joshua:

sure how to navigate through them?

Joshua:

Could you just share any of those sort of experiences with us and can you

Joshua:

also describe how you went through them and how you got to the other side?

Joshua:

If you have gotten to the other side?

Joshua:

What I'm asking you to do is just be a little real with us right now

Joshua:

and see where you're at, because I'm really curious as to where

Joshua:

you personally stand right now.

Elizabeth:

Yeah.

Elizabeth:

I got my camera in 2016, my very first camera and with the Dyscalculia

Elizabeth:

or however it's pronounced.

Elizabeth:

I didn't know at the time that that's what I had, but I knew growing up, I

Elizabeth:

struggled with math and understanding the concepts of anything that has to

Elizabeth:

do with math, which I know sounds like, "Oh, everybody struggles with math,"

Elizabeth:

but no, it's so much more than that.

Elizabeth:

My aunt, at 18, my aunt tried teaching me how to count back change

Elizabeth:

so I could get a job as a cashier.

Elizabeth:

It took her the better part of six months for my brain to comprehend that

Elizabeth:

counting back changed and I'm 44 now so I can do it, but sometimes I still

Elizabeth:

mess up distance and I have no rhythm.

Elizabeth:

All of it is connected and trying to learn the settings on the camera was

Elizabeth:

so difficult and I'm self-taught.

Elizabeth:

I've picked up a few things here and there from people, which has been

Elizabeth:

really nice, but I struggled with the fear of, "Can I really do this?

Elizabeth:

Is this something I'm able to do?", and I would try to take pictures of people

Elizabeth:

and I felt like this isn't working.

Elizabeth:

People are so hard to capture, why isn't this working for me?

Elizabeth:

But I was doing okay with like objects and nature and animals.

Elizabeth:

I could do that.

Elizabeth:

I struggled with that confidence that, you had mentioned earlier

Elizabeth:

before we started this imposter syndrome, and I still deal with that.

Elizabeth:

I still have imposter syndrome because there's a lot that I still don't know

Elizabeth:

how to do and I can't offer people what maybe some other photographers can offer.

Elizabeth:

I can only do what I'm able to do.

Elizabeth:

If I keep having those clients and that repetition, that's

Elizabeth:

what helps stick it in my brain.

Elizabeth:

I remember how to do things, but if I go for a period of nobody, then sometimes

Elizabeth:

all that kind of slips away because it doesn't stay because of the disability.

Elizabeth:

It was up until a year ago, I actually called myself an aspiring

Elizabeth:

photographer because I was too afraid to call myself a photographer.

Elizabeth:

I now call myself one, but I cringe when people say like, "Oh, I've never

Elizabeth:

had professional photos taken.", and I'm like, "I'm not a professional.",

Elizabeth:

but then I have my friends say, "Liz, you are a professional.

Elizabeth:

You do phenomenal," and my friends and family, they tell me, "You're incredible.

Elizabeth:

Your work is incredible.

Elizabeth:

Your work is beautiful."

Elizabeth:

Actually, in 2020 when we had the shutdown, I got TikTok, and so I

Elizabeth:

slowly started posting some of my photos on TikTok and I was having

Elizabeth:

complete strangers tell me, "Liz.

Elizabeth:

This is beautiful, like you do really good.", and I'm like, "Wait a minute,

Elizabeth:

strangers are telling me this?

Elizabeth:

Maybe I can do this."

Elizabeth:

I'm still on that journey of finding myself and being proud of what I can do.

Elizabeth:

I don't want to overstep those boundaries.

Elizabeth:

I stay humble.

Elizabeth:

I don't like to gloat about what I'm able to do.

Joshua:

I've been looking at some of the photos, which is why I haven't

Joshua:

been making eye contact with you, and I have to agree with all those people.

Joshua:

I find your artwork, your photography, to be incredible with what you do,

Joshua:

and you're bringing the essence of essentially that moment alive,

Joshua:

whether that is through your lens.

Joshua:

We are similar in that nature, in that I help people bring the

Joshua:

best versions of themselves.

Joshua:

That's the mission of my business, Your Speaking Voice, that is really trying to

Joshua:

inspire not only this generation, but the next generation that's ahead for being

Joshua:

able to do that, and you do it through the visual sense, so that's incredible.

Joshua:

I know that you mentioned earlier about not only the things that you've been

Joshua:

kind of struggling with, especially with giving yourself identity, specifically

Joshua:

the aspiring photographer, instead of calling yourself a photographer.

Joshua:

Is there a reason why you have done that?

Joshua:

Is there a reason why you have kind of given yourself just that lower level for

Joshua:

the longest period of time until recently?

Joshua:

I know you kind of started to talk about it a little bit, but I was curious if

Joshua:

you wanna elaborate a little bit more.

Elizabeth:

A year ago I finally took that leap and got my LLC.

Elizabeth:

My friend Laura, she does bookings and stuff like that.

Elizabeth:

They actually own a restaurant here in Carlisle, and I was like, "Do you

Elizabeth:

think I could do this as a business woman yourself, from your perspective?

Elizabeth:

Do you think I could do this?

Elizabeth:

Could I actually get my LLC and make my business legit?", and

Elizabeth:

she was like, "Liz, absolutely.

Elizabeth:

You are phenomenal.", and she helped me with that every step of the

Elizabeth:

way with everything, with getting everything signed up with the state,

Elizabeth:

getting the licenses and applying.

Elizabeth:

She's been there and even helping me with my taxes, I tried to do it myself this

Elizabeth:

past April to pay my quarterly taxes, and I thought I had it down from the last time

Elizabeth:

we did it, and I get logged in and I'm looking at everything and I'm texting her.

Elizabeth:

I'm in tears texting Laura.

Elizabeth:

" I'm so sorry to bother you, but I don't remember how to do this.

Elizabeth:

I can't do it.

Elizabeth:

Can you please help me?", and she's like, "Liz, you're not a bother.

Elizabeth:

It's okay."

Elizabeth:

I went over and I was so close.

Elizabeth:

I actually was really close to having it, and so now I have a better diagram written

Elizabeth:

down to help me remember how to do it for July, so July 1st, it's in my phone.

Elizabeth:

She's like, "Liz, you don't have to pay it on the first."

Elizabeth:

I said, "No, no, no, it's going to get paid on July 1st."

Elizabeth:

I, so-

Joshua:

I know what you mean because I just opened up earlier this year and I had

Joshua:

to pay my quarterly taxes for the first time since I opened the small business.

Joshua:

Everything was messed up.

Joshua:

I had to get my bookkeeper involved.

Joshua:

I had to get someone else involved.

Joshua:

It was a struggle.

Joshua:

Let me tell you, Liz, high five for you for asking for help because

Joshua:

I know that I am just as stubborn sometimes, and my listeners know that

Joshua:

because I have to defeat what we just talked about earlier, that imposter

Joshua:

syndrome of being, "Yeah, I can do it.

Joshua:

I'm good enough, I can be able to do that.", so I'm proud of you.

Joshua:

Thumbs up.

Joshua:

I'm giving you a thumbs up on that.

Elizabeth:

Thank you.

Elizabeth:

I spent my entire childhood was, um, essentially I was

Elizabeth:

written off as unteachable.

Elizabeth:

I had teachers stop looking my way because they were unable to get me to

Elizabeth:

understand how to do those math formulas.

Elizabeth:

10th grade, I can remember my pre-algebra teacher, he would be like,

Elizabeth:

"Anybody have any questions?", and I'd raise my hand because I have no

Elizabeth:

clue what the heck just happened, and he didn't even look at me anymore.

Elizabeth:

When I learned about my disability in 2020, I cried for like two days because

Elizabeth:

then my entire childhood made sense, but even going into adulthood now, things make

Elizabeth:

sense, so instead of being embarrassed that I wasn't able to do it, I know that

Elizabeth:

there's reasons why I'm not able to do it, so I'm finding my strength and not being

Elizabeth:

ashamed to ask for that help and that it's okay that I need to ask for help.

Elizabeth:

I'm glad I have Laura on my side.

Joshua:

For those that have been wondering, what does Liz actually

Joshua:

talk about with that disorder?

Joshua:

We were trying to pronounce it before we hit the record button, and it has

Joshua:

been kind of a struggle for both of us, so this is what I'm going to do: I'm

Joshua:

going to try to say it once, but it's going to be in the show notes if you

Joshua:

case you want to read more about what the disorder is, but it's dyscalculia.

Joshua:

Dyscalculia, D Y S C A L C U L I A with all those that might struggle

Joshua:

with that, I'm glad that we got to talk to Liz about this today.

Joshua:

especially sharing what some of those things are.

Joshua:

Liz, I'm really curious because I've been saying to some of my

Joshua:

guests when they share testimonies like this, a couple things.

Joshua:

I say that you really have two choices in life when it comes

Joshua:

to addressing a lot of things.

Joshua:

You can either accept it, mellow in it, and not do anything about it, or you could

Joshua:

take action, grab the bull by the horns and ride it for all it's worth, knowing

Joshua:

that you got something worth sharing.

Joshua:

I want you to take a moment, and we have listeners that are inspired by your story.

Joshua:

I know they are.

Joshua:

What would you say to them that are sitting there thinking, "Man, I'm really

Joshua:

appreciative of what Liz is sharing today.

Joshua:

I just don't know how to do this."

Joshua:

What is one piece of advice that you would share with them to help them get

Joshua:

started, whether that is maybe starting a business, whether that is just getting off

Joshua:

the sofa and doing what they want to do.

Joshua:

What would you say to them that would help inspire them to take that first step?

Elizabeth:

I know that it's so scary to think about taking that leap and

Elizabeth:

honestly I still have that fear.

Elizabeth:

It's still there, but just do it, you know?

Elizabeth:

Nobody ever told me I can't do this and that's one of my fears that other

Elizabeth:

photographers are going to look at my work and be like, "Why are you doing this?

Elizabeth:

You shouldn't be doing this."

Elizabeth:

That's what's in my head all the time, but I have so many clients that have

Elizabeth:

become friends and repeat clients because they love my work, they love who I am.

Elizabeth:

Just because you have that fear, just put it aside and just give it a go.

Elizabeth:

Just do it.

Elizabeth:

Because if that's what makes you happy, life is short.

Elizabeth:

There's so much ugliness and darkness in this world.

Elizabeth:

You deserve to be happy and do it.

Elizabeth:

Just go for it.

Joshua:

Do it, and just go for it.

Joshua:

I love that, and a lot of people do struggle with that and just taking those

Joshua:

first steps so that they feel a lot more comfortable about being able to move that

Joshua:

barrier that they have erected in front of them, whether that is artificial,

Joshua:

whether that is because of other people, whether it's because of us, because I know

Joshua:

that we can be even our worst enemies.

Joshua:

Liz, I'm wondering, and this will probably be my final question because I want to

Joshua:

give you a few minutes towards the end here to share what your business is,

Joshua:

where you're located at, how people can get ahold of you, because I think it's

Joshua:

really important, especially since you do some awesome work, like I said, I

Joshua:

was checking it out as where you were talking today and those photos are

Joshua:

great things that people often need.

Joshua:

With that said, I know that everybody thinks that photography is sometimes

Joshua:

this overpriced concept, and we were just talking about this earlier with

Joshua:

one of the questions I mentioned, so ,for those people that are on the

Joshua:

fence about photography and just how the industry has been, because there

Joshua:

are just so many people that you could choose from, and there are just

Joshua:

so many options as to what they do.

Joshua:

There's all kinds of different types of photo shoots themselves.

Joshua:

What would you say is important for you when someone talks to

Joshua:

you about wanting a photo done?

Joshua:

What would you say to them is maybe some of the most important characteristics

Joshua:

that should be drawn out within a photo?

Joshua:

In other words, what is the artistic quality that you try to

Joshua:

get out of the photo with a client that you could share with us?

Elizabeth:

Well, with my photography, I offer a wide range.

Elizabeth:

Some photographers just focus on one type of, I guess, genre.

Elizabeth:

You have maternity photos, you have baby photos, you have family

Elizabeth:

photos, you have boudoir photos.

Elizabeth:

There's these different areas, but for me, I've done a little bit of everything,

Elizabeth:

because again, it goes back to being that affordable photographer for somebody.

Elizabeth:

Maybe there's a single mom who's pregnant and she can't afford a $300 photo session

Elizabeth:

to get pictures of her baby belly.

Elizabeth:

That's where I come in.

Elizabeth:

I may not focus directly on one thing and get really good at it.

Elizabeth:

I've opened that up so I can do a wide variety of things.

Elizabeth:

When somebody first reaches out to me, it depends on what they're looking for.

Elizabeth:

For example, I just did some senior photos, which was so much

Elizabeth:

fun because it was my first ones to do, they were baseball players.

Joshua:

Oh wow.

Elizabeth:

So the one, yeah, so the one, the first one I did, he was the

Elizabeth:

pitcher, but I'm guessing he also bats too, because he did bring his bat, but

Elizabeth:

we got to do photos with him and his ball and so he was tossing it up in the air.

Elizabeth:

I had him swinging the bat.

Elizabeth:

He was wearing his jersey and whatnot, so it was really cool to capture who he is.

Joshua:

I just to make sure that my listeners fully understand: this is

Joshua:

a senior, wearing baseball attire, doing a baseball shoot with you, right?

Elizabeth:

Yep.

Elizabeth:

Yeah.

Joshua:

Wow.

Elizabeth:

Yeah, he-

Joshua:

That is incredible.

Elizabeth:

I think one of my favorite shots of his where, he was wearing his

Elizabeth:

cap too, so I had him lean his head down a little, so all you saw was a smile

Elizabeth:

and he held the ball straight out in front of him, so the ball is in focus.

Elizabeth:

He's kind of blurry in the background, but I was able to put 20, 23 on

Elizabeth:

the ball to highlight that this is the year he is graduating.

Elizabeth:

Another one said game over.

Joshua:

Wow.

Elizabeth:

So, you know, fun stuff like that, and then his teammate, I guess,

Elizabeth:

well we were supposed to do his teammate as well, but mom wasn't able to to get

Elizabeth:

on the same day, and then as soon as she saw the other mom post the photo, I

Elizabeth:

immediately got an email from this mom and she's like, "I want to book you.",

Elizabeth:

and so this one, he's the catcher.

Elizabeth:

We had his mask, and I did a little message board that had his name

Elizabeth:

in grad 2023, so he was squatted down like a catcher and he's

Elizabeth:

holding a sign instead of a glove.

Elizabeth:

It was just so much fun.

Elizabeth:

The boys did great because boys are boys.

Elizabeth:

Usually guys, they don't want do photo shoots and whatnot.

Elizabeth:

This is like, "Oh, my mom wants to me to do this.

Elizabeth:

I'm going to do it for her."

Joshua:

I was one of those kids growing up, especially when I was going down

Joshua:

the hallway to get my class photo, whether that was with everybody

Joshua:

or getting the individual photos.

Joshua:

The photographer comes in, sets up his little booth and you're getting a shot.

Joshua:

Some of my photos are like, "What are you doing here?", so I know

Joshua:

exactly what you're talking about.

Elizabeth:

Yeah, and at the end though, the boys, they

Elizabeth:

were like, " Hey, thank you.

Elizabeth:

"That was a lot of fun."

Elizabeth:

They enjoyed themselves because there was joking and banter and whatnot.

Elizabeth:

The first one, he was 18, so he was able to sign his own contract and I

Elizabeth:

think he was pretty excited for that.

Elizabeth:

In my contract it states you're not going to sell your photos for profit.

Elizabeth:

I'm not going to sell 'em for profit, and mom was like, "Why

Elizabeth:

would he sell his photos for profit?

Elizabeth:

Where would he do that?"

Elizabeth:

And I'm like, "I don't know.

Elizabeth:

OnlyFans.

Elizabeth:

People like baseball players," and they died laughing.

Elizabeth:

Good.

Elizabeth:

So mom was like-

Joshua:

I was like sitting here thinking, "Yeah, how would she make

Joshua:

a profit?", and then when you said that, I was like, "Oh yeah, I guess

Joshua:

I didn't think about that one."

Elizabeth:

And then when he was finishing up signing, mom was like, " if you get

Elizabeth:

an OnlyFans account, you owe her 50%."

Joshua:

That is awesome.

Joshua:

Liz, your eyes just shot open when you were talking about that and I

Joshua:

see that passion in you about your photography, so thanks for sharing that.

Joshua:

Thanks for sharing what you have shared.

Joshua:

How could people get in touch with you or reach out to you with your business

Joshua:

if they're interested in checking out any of your photos or maybe even talking

Joshua:

to you about getting a shoot done?

Joshua:

This is your time.

Joshua:

I'll give you a few minutes.

Joshua:

Go ahead and share a little bit about how they could reach

Joshua:

out to you in your business.

Elizabeth:

Well, I actually just got a website built.

Joshua:

Ooh, I love that.

Joshua:

I'm always all about businesses with their websites because I had mine too.

Joshua:

I can't wait to go check out your website.

Joshua:

Go, go ahead, share it for everybody.

Elizabeth:

It is BrownHavenPhotographyLLC.com.

Joshua:

I'll put that in the show notes for those that want

Joshua:

to access that afterwards.

Elizabeth:

You can find me on Facebook: BrownHaven is one word.

Elizabeth:

How I came up with that too is my last name's Brown and we live a mile back

Elizabeth:

in the woods, so it's my haven, so, Brown Haven, that's how I got the name.

Elizabeth:

I'm on Facebook, I'm on Instagram, I'm on TikTok.

Elizabeth:

Mainly on Facebook because the other two are a little harder to figure out.

Elizabeth:

I have the website.

Elizabeth:

You can go there.

Elizabeth:

There's different little sample pictures and then ones for seniors,

Elizabeth:

ones for family, ones for maternity.

Elizabeth:

There's my milk baths.

Elizabeth:

If anybody has ever wanted to get into a milk bath, mine is out in the woods.

Elizabeth:

I fill it with creek water and it is such an amazing feeling to do.

Elizabeth:

I've actually done it myself.

Elizabeth:

I had a friend take the photos because I figured if I'm gonna ask people

Elizabeth:

to do this, I need to be able to do it myself, and so being a bigger

Elizabeth:

girl, I can show them, I'm 270.

Elizabeth:

Yeah.

Elizabeth:

I'm going to put my weight out there.

Elizabeth:

I am 270, so if I can get in this tub and look that good, you can too.

Joshua:

Wow.

Joshua:

You make me think that it's not just about what you look like physically, Liz.

Joshua:

It's about what you could potentially be in the inside.

Joshua:

That's what's beautiful and I love what your message is today, which I

Joshua:

wrote down as it doesn't matter who you are, it doesn't matter what those

Joshua:

struggles can be that hold you back.

Joshua:

It's just about being able to take the wording of whether it's holding

Joshua:

you back, whether you're assistant or aspiring: you are what you want to be,

Joshua:

and I heard that loud and clear and even at the end, just you sharing that

Joshua:

experience with the seniors makes me feel comfortable in knowing that you

Joshua:

are authentic person, and Liz, I want to thank you for sharing your heart with

Joshua:

us today and being part of this show.

Joshua:

It was fantastic to interview and meet you.

Elizabeth:

Thank you.

Elizabeth:

Thank you so much for having me here and let me share my story and hopefully

Elizabeth:

I can inspire at least one person out there to, you can do this, just do it.

Elizabeth:

You've got this.

Joshua:

I think that they will be inspired along with being able to

Joshua:

take that first step that you've provided to them, so thank you again.

Elizabeth:

Absolutely.

Elizabeth:

Thank you.

Joshua:

Again, I want to thank Liz for being part of Speaking From The Heart

Joshua:

with us because she was somebody that reached out to me after I solicited

Joshua:

for a lot of people to help me out with getting started with this podcast,

Joshua:

and she was one of the very first that honestly took the call of help, and

Joshua:

was able to drop everything and have a productive, thoughtful, long conversation

Joshua:

about her fears with even doing this and even being part of this show.

Joshua:

Liz, when you're listening to this, thanks so much for being part of it.

Joshua:

You did awesome.

Joshua:

Speaking of awesome, isn't it awesome that we often have people that are

Joshua:

pushing themselves to help others?

Joshua:

Aren't we really impressed when we have people that are able to provide

Joshua:

comfort and joy and inspiration simply through a photograph that can be taken

Joshua:

of each other or even of ourselves, and doing it in such an artful sort

Joshua:

of way, and I got to know her so well through this interview, speaking

Joshua:

about her friend Korrinn, and speaking about her teacher of inspiration, Mr.

Joshua:

Worthing, that I felt like this was one of those episodes that I might go

Joshua:

a little bit longer on in talking about what some of the things that she had

Joshua:

said, so bear with me folks that have been listening for a while now about

Joshua:

this awesome interview because there's so much that I really want to take away

Joshua:

about how we can change our mindsets simply by overcoming what are some of

Joshua:

the things that might be holding us back.

Joshua:

I love that Liz was not afraid of going into some of the things that held

Joshua:

her back from being a business owner.

Joshua:

I think for all of us, we have a struggle of thinking that we need to

Joshua:

have a certain amount of money, with a certain number of people, over a certain

Joshua:

amount of time, in order to do all these awesome things that we're trying to do.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

you're wrong.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

You don't need all of those things necessarily to start out.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

These are the things that often a desire or inspiration starts from, and having

Well, I'm here to tell you:

that inspiration, no matter where that comes from and where that timeframe is,

Well, I'm here to tell you:

is really important for all of us to keep carrying forward; to not lose hope

Well, I'm here to tell you:

when things typically happen, when we least expect it, and I think for Liz,

Well, I'm here to tell you:

I know that she did not want to feel like she was put in this situation.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

I think that she wanted to overcome so many different things, but having

Well, I'm here to tell you:

that role model makes a big difference in how we develop and essentially

Well, I'm here to tell you:

create the best version of ourselves.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

There's no question about it.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

It doesn't matter when that happens though, and that's what I love about

Well, I'm here to tell you:

the fact that even though she was going through school and going through some of

Well, I'm here to tell you:

the things that were being often teased in which she talked about her depression, she

Well, I'm here to tell you:

talked about the struggles with her life.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

One of the things that really stood out for me is that somebody, beyond

Well, I'm here to tell you:

it all, looked at her and said, "You are worth it," and that's all it

Well, I'm here to tell you:

takes is somebody to say something of that nature and being able to feel

Well, I'm here to tell you:

like you are worth a million dollars, no matter what stage of what you're

Well, I'm here to tell you:

feeling, whether you are struggling, whether you are having problems,

Well, I'm here to tell you:

trying to just push yourself forward.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

It's about keeping the commitment and never losing hope, and Liz's story is

Well, I'm here to tell you:

profoundly all about that, even with the things that she has questioned

Well, I'm here to tell you:

about her level of photography changing her title of aspiring photographer

Well, I'm here to tell you:

to a photographer, finding that hope through her friend Korrinn, being able

Well, I'm here to tell you:

to bounce those ideas and share in the excitement of what's this is all about.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

Working through that fear and gaining confidence is what this is all about when

Well, I'm here to tell you:

we're trying to move it to the next stage.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

Now for all of you, we know that we have heard this over and over

Well, I'm here to tell you:

and over again about all kinds of different ways in which you can

Well, I'm here to tell you:

build that confidence, and it's true.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

All of it has been true, and if this story doesn't resonate with you, I don't know

Well, I'm here to tell you:

what else might, but I have some thoughts that maybe might resonate with you.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

When you look away, and you think that what's involved with something is too

Well, I'm here to tell you:

much that you have to turn your head or you turn your cheek the other way, I know

Well, I'm here to tell you:

that it can be very difficult to then turn it back around if you really feel

Well, I'm here to tell you:

like you have something you want to share, something that you really want to pursue.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

We all have gifts and whether we believe in those gifts or not is usually

Well, I'm here to tell you:

based on what some of the things that we go through are often overcoming

Well, I'm here to tell you:

those obstacles and seeing what we are truly worth at the end of the day.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

Being able to see that happiness in ourselves, being able to see that we

Well, I'm here to tell you:

do add value to those individuals in our lives, whether that is through

Well, I'm here to tell you:

photography, or whether that is just sitting down and playing some music,

Well, I'm here to tell you:

whether that is listening to a podcast, which I hope is Speaking From The

Well, I'm here to tell you:

Heart, but I know that for all of us, we all have different tastes.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

That is why there is variety.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

Variety dictates so many opportunities for us to not only be expressive, but

Well, I'm here to tell you:

to also be able to create options for us that instead of thinking that we

Well, I'm here to tell you:

always have to stick with the same thing, because we always going to have the same

Well, I'm here to tell you:

product over and over again, that is what is reserved for other people to do.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

In other words, sometimes having those options allow us to create the

Well, I'm here to tell you:

fantasies and the inspirations for the opportunities that lie ahead.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

We're not McDonald's, we're not Burger King or Wendy's.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

We're not Popeye's.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

We're not Chick-fil-A.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

We're not these local pizza shops that do the same thing, and you know

Well, I'm here to tell you:

that there's like 5, 10, 15 of them all across the places where you live.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

I get it.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

Those are the things that we often rely on.

Well, I'm here to tell you:

Those are the things that often we find comfort in, and that's what they're

selling:

it's comfort, to add to the fact that we can have something fast,

selling:

convenient, something comfortable.

selling:

That's what the whole business model is about, and that's why they try so

selling:

desperately that no matter where you are at in the world, it all makes a big

selling:

difference in how we create some of that opportunity for us to be consistent,

selling:

and that is what those corporations do.

selling:

But Liz is not a corporation.

selling:

She's a human being.

selling:

It makes me really happy to know that as we were wrapping up our conversation

selling:

before she left, because she visited my office to do the recording, we had a long

selling:

discussion about what the importance is as it relates to having relationships

selling:

with people, building that confidence to keep going forward, and also have

selling:

determination where determination is the will to move forward and do what

selling:

is impossible, become the possible.

selling:

She mentioned about Mr.

selling:

Worthing.

selling:

She mentioned about her friend Korrinn.

selling:

She mentioned about her husband.

selling:

She mentioned about all these people that surrounded her.

selling:

While she also mentioned about the people that did surround her

selling:

to do something more negative.

selling:

I know all of us have that feeling.

selling:

We often lose energy.

selling:

We often feel like we are worth nothing.

selling:

We often sometimes feel that maybe we shouldn't be doing what we're

selling:

supposed to be doing, what our calling is in our life, because other people

selling:

have already picked up on that.

selling:

I've been there, I've been there too many times, walking down that

selling:

Boulevard of Broken Dreams, just like the famous song of Green Day has

selling:

said, but Liz decided that she didn't want to walk down that path anymore.

selling:

She decided that she wanted to create that value, not only for herself by

selling:

taking those photographs of herself and doing the things that she's doing

selling:

for her business and for others, but she's doing it for her clients.

selling:

She's envisioning what the future could be if we would be able to buck the trend.

selling:

In episode number six, I talked to someone by the name of Noah Snyder who's doing

the same thing:

bucking that trend.

the same thing:

Instead of thinking that it's all about value, let's add value by jacking up

the same thing:

the price, giving people what they truly deserve in the gym experience,

the same thing:

and he's absolutely turning the fitness industry, literally, upside down.

the same thing:

Liz is in a different place in her life, but the principle is still the same.

the same thing:

Those photographers that cost 5, 10, 15, $20,000, I get you and I hear you.

the same thing:

It might cost that much, but think of this.

the same thing:

Think of somebody like Liz who's taking that vision, that journey of

the same thing:

turning it upside down and saying, "No.

the same thing:

I want people to feel that they are content and happy, and I know that

the same thing:

they are not financially there.

the same thing:

That's why I will work with them and I will give them the same

the same thing:

level of experience just like they would get anywhere else."

the same thing:

Liz mentioned to me after the interview too, that she was feeling not confident

the same thing:

about even some of the technical skills that she has to do her business, and

the same thing:

I think that we all are very lacking when it comes to that, and it reminded

the same thing:

me of when I started my journey of becoming a small business owner about

the same thing:

the things that I was unsure about, the things that I knew that I would need to

the same thing:

seek help with and maybe even pay other people to do; but that's the purpose.

the same thing:

You find the people that you know are going to help you and surround you and

the same thing:

make you feel like you're a million dollars, while at the same time, you

the same thing:

add 10 million to their wallets by doing the things that you love, you enjoy, you

the same thing:

spend time with, and that you want to make the best version of yourself come alive.

the same thing:

That is the reason why we do this.

the same thing:

This is the why of how we can create Your Speaking Voice into a wide

the same thing:

variety of opportunity for you.

the same thing:

That is what your gift is.

the same thing:

Don't ever sacrifice that gift.

the same thing:

Don't ever let anybody say that you're not worthy.

the same thing:

Don't let anyone ever say that you can't do this.

the same thing:

Don't let anyone ever say that you deserve to be stuck in that rut that

the same thing:

you are in, because let's be honest, you are never allowing yourself

the same thing:

to be put in that rut ever again.

the same thing:

It's all about seeing what is truly inside of you, what's inside

the same thing:

your hearts, and seeing that there are people that genuinely care.

iend of mine puts it this way:

you form your tribe, the tribe of people that

iend of mine puts it this way:

you know are going to help you thick and thin of helping you throughout the variety

iend of mine puts it this way:

of different things that are happening in your life, and you know that you can

iend of mine puts it this way:

lean on them and they will also lean on you because you are part of that tribe.

iend of mine puts it this way:

I don't know who your tribe is, but sometimes it's all about seeing

iend of mine puts it this way:

and realizing what those goals can ultimately be to create the best version

iend of mine puts it this way:

of who you can potentially become, and nothing is ever off the table.

iend of mine puts it this way:

Don't ever let yourself be sold short because whatever that profession is,

iend of mine puts it this way:

whether that is a photographer, whether that is an artist, whether that is

iend of mine puts it this way:

somebody that is a journalist, whether that is somebody that is a business

iend of mine puts it this way:

owner, regardless of what it is, knock that aspiring part of it off.

iend of mine puts it this way:

You have what it takes.

iend of mine puts it this way:

I believe in you.

iend of mine puts it this way:

My other friends believe in you.

iend of mine puts it this way:

My other listeners believe in you, because I know that in your heart,

iend of mine puts it this way:

it will speak the truth just like Liz does now through her photography,

iend of mine puts it this way:

and you are definitely the Mr.

iend of mine puts it this way:

Worthing or the Korrinn that we all need in order to become the best

iend of mine puts it this way:

version of what we truly can become.

iend of mine puts it this way:

Thanks for listening to episode number 24 of Speaking From The

iend of mine puts it this way:

Heart, and I look forward to hearing from your heart very soon.

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Outro:

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Outro:

Visit us at www.yourspeakingvoice.biz for more information about potential

Outro:

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About your host

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Joshua Smith

Joshua D. Smith is the Owner and Founder of Your Speaking Voice, a life coaching, business coaching, and public speaking company based in Carlisle, PA. Serving clients across the world, Joshua got his start in personal/professional development and public speaking in April of 2012 through his extensive involvement in an educational non-profit organization called Toastmasters International.

Toastmasters International operates clubs both domestically and internationally that focus on teaching leadership, development, and public speaking skills. Joshua quickly excelled in Toastmasters International and found that he had a passion for leadership and helping others find their confidence and their true "speaking voice". Joshua has held all club officer roles and most District level positions in Toastmasters International and belongs to numerous clubs throughout the organization. Joshua has also been recognized as two-time Distinguished Toastmaster, the highest award the organization bestows for achievement in leadership and communication.

Outside of his community involvement, education is something that Joshua has always taken great pride in. His academic achievements include a number of degrees from Alvernia and Shippensburg University. He earned a Bachelor's degree in political science and communications from Alvernia in 2009, a masters of business administration from Alvernia in 2010, and later a masters in public administration from Shippensburg in 2014.

In the professional world, Joshua has held multiple positions with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for over 14 years which includes a variety of data analytics, procurement, budgeting, business process improvement (IT and non-IT), legal compliance, and working with the blind. He has applied his public speaking and development skills in the professional world to tackle numerous public speaking engagements and presentations from all levels of the organization, including executive management.

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