27 Years and Counting: How Creativity Has Driven Liz Banfield's Success

In 1998, when most wedding photographers were still lining up families for stiff, formal portraits, Liz Banfield was already capturing the real, unscripted moments that couples actually wanted to remember. Fast forward 27 years, and she’s built a luxury wedding photography business that’s as much about teamwork and preparation as it is about artistic vision.

What started as a side hustle while working in advertising has evolved into a career that's witnessed and shaped the entire transformation of wedding photography, from once-staged traditional shots to today's editorial storytelling approach.

The Origin Story

Liz Banfield's journey began during what she calls "a time of change in the wedding industry." She was part of the first wave of photographers moving away from traditional posed shots toward something more authentic and editorial.

"I was one of very few photographers who was looking at weddings for their artistic and storytelling potential before that approach became the industry standard," Banfield explains.

"Weddings didn’t have a very good reputation at the time. My generation, who grew up with lifestyle photography such as the J. Crew catalogue, wanted something more effortlessly candid for their wedding documentation."

The inspiration came from an unlikely source: “Martha Stewart Living expanded their brand to include a special weddings issue. They were the first to feature what became known in the industry as the ‘real wedding,’” she notes. “They showcased beautiful photography, often in black and white film, in modern layouts that told the story of the wedding through a series of pictures that evoked the feeling of the day along with the details that personalized the event.” She adds, “In fact, the personalizing details that have become so important to contemporary weddings also found their start during this same time.”

Her first clients came organically: an engaged advertising colleague told her, “I don’t want a wedding photographer. I want the kind of photos you take.” These early visionaries helped launch Banfield’s career.

"I'm a Big Believer in Teamwork"

One of Banfield's most distinctive approaches comes from an unexpected background: team sports. "I played team sports all throughout my childhood," she says.

“I like to look at the wedding vendor team like a sports team. The things that I learned as a kid growing up and playing sports are the same things that I apply to being on the vendor team on a wedding day.”

This philosophy translates into practical action on wedding days. She pays attention to when the wedding planner is overwhelmed and knows it's not the right time to ask questions. She alerts videographers to moments happening in other rooms. Most importantly, she reaches out to vendors she's never worked with before the wedding day.

"I try and reach out to vendors I've never met before the wedding day, just so that we're acquainted with each other, especially a videographer," Banfield explains.

"Some videographers are very into giving specific direction. So if that's their style, that's really good to know; my approach is usually waiting for real moments to happen, rather than directing moments."

The Six-Week Game Changer

This year, Banfield implemented something that's become a client experience game-changer: six-week pre-wedding Zoom calls that include both the couple and their wedding planner.

"We go through their questionnaire in the context of their schedule so that I can walk them through what they can expect throughout the day, our workflow, and also we can just double check that timeline is set up for success."

The impact? No more wedding day chaos. Whether a couple wants eight family photos or 38, everyone knows exactly what to expect and when.

"It’s just a great way to prevent wedding day chaos and also ensure that I’m delivering on expectations."

Cross-Training Prevents Burnout

Here's where Banfield's approach gets really interesting: she's never been "just" a wedding photographer.

"I believe in cross training. I’ve never been solely a wedding photographer because I wanted to avoid burnout by doing only one type of assignment all the time."

Throughout her career, she's shot for Target, healthcare clients, and magazines like People, Better Homes and Gardens, and Martha Stewart Living.

"As long as I'm shooting, I'm really happy. Shooting is my favorite thing to do."

But her inspiration doesn’t stop at photography. She’s an art history major who visits museums whenever she travels, follows fashion and interior design trends, and actively seeks inspiration outside the wedding world.

“Whether you are a photographer, a planner, or any other vendor, it’s easy to get stale if all you’re looking at is other weddings.”

Her favorite museums? The Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, both of which blend traditional fine art with cultural pieces from different media.

Attracting the Right Clients Through Authentic Content

In an Instagram world obsessed with metrics, Banfield takes a different approach to social media.

"It's tempting now that we get such immediate feedback with likes on Instagram and shares and saves... to post pictures that you know are going to play out well. But for me, I really put a priority on selecting photos that I feel best represent my unique brand and point of view as a photographer."

She writes all her own captions and has a pet peeve about generic content.

“I make an effort to avoid saying something that could be said about any other photo. I like to share a story or something that relates to that image specifically."

Advice for New Vendors

Banfield's advice for newcomers is refreshingly practical:

"Roll up your sleeves and show them what you can do and don't worry about getting paid."

She’s not advocating for working for free if you can’t afford it, but rather for strategic relationship-building through sample work. One of her most valuable connections came from photographing a magazine editor’s six-year-old daughter.

“In the course of the shoot, not only did I show her skills as a photographer, but also we had an informal ‘meeting.’ I ended up establishing a very good connection that made a big difference in my career.”

Liz's key takeaways for new vendors:

• Offer to help with headshots or small projects
• Ask "How can I help you?" rather than just pitching your services
• Consider styled shoots as relationship-building opportunities
• Show your skills through action, not just words
• Most people want to reciprocate when you've gone the extra effort

Embracing AI (Thoughtfully)

Banfield has found a sweet spot with AI in her editing process. She uses an AI program that she's personally trained with thousands of her images to handle certain aspects the initial editing work: exposure, color, grain, and general processing.

"Of course, it's still just a machine, so it can't totally do the job. I look at every shot that makes the final edit multiple times," she explains. This approach is especially valuable for maintaining consistency across multiple shooters on luxury weddings.

But she's clear about the boundaries: "I want to put my touch on everything."

Style Me Pretty's Role in Banfield's Journey

Banfield has been with Style Me Pretty in various forms for many years, watching the platform's trajectory from the beginning. "Style Me Pretty has always been such a beautiful interface for my work," she says. "My clients are very aesthetically driven. They're people who appreciate design and quality presentation."

"Having Style Me Pretty showcase my work has been a beautiful way to get my work out into the world."

After 27 years in the business, Liz Banfield has proven that longevity in the wedding industry isn't just about taking beautiful photos; it's about treating every wedding like a team sport, continuously learning from other creative fields, and always putting the client experience first. Her approach to vendor relationships, client communication, and creative inspiration offers a masterclass in building not just a photography business, but a lasting creative career.