So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

Hi! I’m Claire Adkinson, owner of Claire Elizabeth Photography. I’m originally from Carson City, Michigan. Growing up, I moved around quite a bit, but eventually settled back in Carson City through my school years and graduated from there. After graduation, life led me to the Ionia area, where I now live and have built both my family and photography business.

I’m married to my high school sweetheart, who is a dairy farmer, and together we’re raising our children while juggling busy seasons of family life and small business ownership. Photography started as a hobby years ago and slowly grew into a full-time career. Today I specialize in lifestyle photography with a mix of posed and candid moments, capturing families, couples, newborns, seniors, and milestones.

Outside of photography, I’m passionate about community involvement, creating inclusive spaces, and documenting the moments people never want to forget.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now?

One thing I love most about living in the Ionia area is the sense of community. People truly show up for one another here. Through photography and community involvement, I’ve had the opportunity to watch families grow, celebrate milestones, and support each other through difficult seasons. There’s something really special about building a business in a place that starts to feel like extended family.

Tell us a little bit more about what your company does and how it started? How does it help your customers?

Claire Elizabeth Photography specializes in lifestyle photography with a mix of posed and candid moments. I photograph families, couples, newborns, seniors, children, and milestones—focusing on creating images that feel genuine rather than overly forced.

Photography originally started as a hobby for me years ago. I enjoyed documenting people and moments, but over time that passion slowly turned into something bigger. What began with a simple camera eventually grew into a full-time business built through years of learning, trial and error, and support from clients who trusted me with important memories.

I hope my work gives people more than photos. I want clients to have images that bring them back to a feeling, a season of life, or a moment they never want to forget. I also try to create an experience where families feel comfortable being themselves, because sometimes the most meaningful memories happen in the in-between moments.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice will help them?

My biggest advice would be to start before you feel fully ready. I think many people wait until they have everything figured out, but growth often happens while you’re doing the work.

Also, understand that building a business can feel lonely at times. There were seasons where I felt like I was the only person fully believing in my dream. Consistency matters more than perfection. Keep learning, be willing to adapt, and remember success rarely happens overnight.

Most importantly, build something that still leaves room for your family and the life you want outside of work.

What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won't forget about?

One piece of feedback that has stayed with me came from a parent who shared how comfortable and accepted their child felt during a session. After receiving their gallery, they told me they cried because the images captured moments they didn’t realize they would want to hold onto forever.

Comments like that remind me photography is more than photos—it’s preserving memories and creating an environment where people feel safe, included, and genuinely themselves. Those are the moments that make this work meaningful to me.

Where do you see your company in the future?

In the future, I hope Claire Elizabeth Photography continues to grow while staying true to what made people connect with it in the first place—genuine moments, inclusivity, and creating a comfortable experience for families.

I’d love to continue expanding ways to make my business more welcoming and accessible for all clients while also offering more community-centered events and experiences. Growth is important to me, but not at the expense of losing the personal connection that built my business.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

One of the biggest misconceptions about photography is that people only see the hour spent taking pictures. In reality, there are years of learning, planning, editing, communication, scheduling, education, equipment costs, and behind-the-scenes work that go into every gallery delivered.

Another misconception is that photography is just about taking beautiful photos. A large part of the job is helping people feel comfortable, confident, included, and seen.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business and how did you deal with it?

One of the biggest struggles was continuing to believe in my business during seasons where growth felt slow or support felt limited. Building something from the ground up can be lonely, especially when the outcome is uncertain.

I’ve also had to learn how to balance motherhood, family schedules, my husband’s farming lifestyle, and running a business. There have definitely been overwhelming seasons.

I dealt with those challenges by staying consistent, continuing to learn, adapting when needed, and reminding myself why I started in the first place. Looking back now, some of the hardest seasons were also the ones that helped me grow the most.

What was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

I’ve never been great at picking one favorite artist because I listen to a little bit of everything. Some favorites include Post Malone, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, and LANCO, but 90s country will always have a place on my playlists too.

I didn’t really have a favorite athlete growing up, but I’ve always rooted for Michigan teams—University of Michigan, the Detroit Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

I’d love to give a shout out to my husband, family, and kids for supporting me through the chaos that comes with running a small business. Between busy seasons, long editing nights, and trying to balance family life with work, their support has been huge.

I also want to thank my clients and local community. Many of you have trusted me with your memories for years, recommended me to others, and supported my dream from the beginning. Watching your families grow while growing alongside my own has been something really special. I truly wouldn’t be here without you all.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

Claire Elizabeth Photography on Facebook or Instagram @claireelizphotography or through my website:https://claireelizabethphotography14.mypixieset.com