Tess Elizabeth
Photographer / Stylist / Creative Director
Los Angeles, CA
www.tesselizabeth.com
instagram @tesselizabethw
Q What do you do?
“I am a film photographer & stylist in the realm of portraiture, fashion, editorial, brand imagery, and more. I aim to capture real moments – a little raw and full of beauty.”
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I grew up in Los Angeles. I took photos all throughout middle and high school and into my 20s. I took some photography classes in school, and over time I’ve combined technical knowledge with learning on my own. After high school, I bounced around between Washington State and New York. When I was in New York, I made my first coherent photo series. Since 2015, I’ve been in Los Angeles.
When I got back to LA, I got a job in a vintage store. The owner restored Victorian wedding dresses and moved a lot of vintage from all eras. In addition to managing the shop, I shot the clothes on models (some models were brought in, some were just friends who would visit me in the shop) for the website and social media. During this time I felt a lot of elements I love coming together and photographing in this way felt very right. Each little shoot felt like a story.
In October of 2018, I ran into an old friend at a cafe. We talked for a while and she asked if I would take her photo for her professional website. It was pretty amazing that she asked because I had never titled myself a photographer. I said yes, and in the process of organizing and then doing that shoot it dawned on me that I wanted to really pursue photography. I haven’t looked back since that day - I’ve been taking freelance work ever since.
Through shooting, the vintage shop (the one I worked for, and now my own that I started in 2022), and assisting stylists, I got a feel for styling. Photography and styling have always felt like part of the same world to me.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I tend towards work on the textured, unpolished side. This lends itself more to feeling which is always what I’m chasing.
I love the experience of making images with people. I am genuinely fascinated by what comes through - hopefully in the photos, but also on a personal level, when people really feel allowed to be themselves. I always aim to make authentic imagery that taps into the subject’s internal landscape, as well as my own.
Q What are you working on right now?
I’m currently editing a bunch of imagery for my vintage shop’s e-comm.
I’m also in the middle of editing for a family (two parents and a one and a half year old) who asked me to take abstract photographs of them, capturing movement and documenting the small moments of their daily routine. It was my first family shoot - I loved it!
Q What’s your style?
I do like to think of my work as a place where whimsy and a bit of gloom meet. Duality is a big thing for me. Nostalgia is also embedded. I love to add texture and detail via my curated vintage and antique fashion & objects collection to my shoots.
I feel as though all photographic work is a study of time, in many ways. The ways beauty is, and the ways it is not, timeless. And how important that makes an image.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I would love it if I could allot some time to learning more in the world of videography, and getting better at sewing.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
A constant frustration is - I need more hours in the day for all the projects I am inspired to do!
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Oh my goodness, someone to help me transport/lug equipment, wardrobe, etc. to shoots and back.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I would tell my younger self that it’s okay that I don't have all the answers (& I never will!) - that you can ask questions, and experiment boldly. The world doesn’t need or care about perfection, at least in art.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
Cinematography. History.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
Editorials, portraits, brand content, fashion, etc. I’m open to almost any type of project, and always looking to collaborate on interesting and unique creative direction.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
Artists, independent brands & publications are the most ideal, but I truly love shooting with anybody. Portraiture with individuals, documenting life moments, anything!
Q: What is your rate?
I tailor my rates to each client’s needs, and the specific project variables. Baseline portrait sessions typically start at $350, however it really depends on the scope, the hours & logistics. With more details, I can get specific on budget. Email me!
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
To inquire or book, use the inquiry form www.tesselizabeth.com book or email me tess@tesselizabeth.com.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Mali Rezai @itsweirdfriends — She is an AMAZING graphic designer. I am in the middle of working with her on the new branding for my vintage shop, and it has been unreal. She is able to translate things into reality I thought could only exist in my head.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Time & space. Follow your instincts.
This member profile was originally published in May 2025.