the girl behind the camera
i love love // JESUS // my family + friends // 80s movies // SUSHI // my dog // harry potter // indie music // CHAI LATTES // creative writing // traveling // the month of may // LAKE DAYS // film // doing yoga // photography // READING
i'm elizabeth ~
But most people call me Liz.
I’m based in Iowa, but I’m from all over the country. I grew up surrounded by the sweet smell of Georgia pines, the sticky warmth of Alabama summers, the towering saguaros in Tucson, and the piles of lake effect snow from Lake Erie in PA. I spent my summers roaming freely on my bike with my siblings, and spent my winters skiing, sledding, and having neighborhood wide snowball fights.
Maybe that’s why I see the world the way I do—wide, remarkable, and full of great people. Photography, to me, is a way of holding onto all of it. The fleeting, the quiet, the in-between. I’m drawn to cinematic colors, film-like textures, and moments that feel like they belong in a novel.
Because we deserve a way back to the moments that make us who we are.
"To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life."
~ The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (& life Magazine)
MY WHY
Some photos just feel different. Like your grandparents' film prints from a road trip, found in an old shoebox — sun-faded but full of life. Those edge-worn black and whites of your parents and their old friends, dancing, tipsy, happy, tucked away in their wedding album. The framed photo of your happy niece, crawling for the first time in her backyard, on your brother’s wall.
This is the feeling I chase with my camera. Nostalgia, warmth, intimacy, longing, comfortable familiarity. It’s reading your favorite book for the fifth time, or rewatching your comfort movie for the tenth. It's the tenderness of an old love letter tucked between book pages, the way some old country songs takes you back to your carefree summer self.
A photograph is more than an image: it’s a memory, held tight. It’s proof that you were here, that you lived, that you loved.
bucket list locations
i love to travel!
If your wedding or session happens to be in any of the following locations, I'll give you a SWEET discount on your package price!
* If your desired location isn't on my list, but you're planning an adventure somewhere else, please still reach out --- your location might qualify! I'm always adding new spots.
Utah, oregon, savannah, ga, hawaii, Grand Tetons, Mackinac Island, italy, iceland, NYC
testimonials
grace
senior session
"I actually cannot describe how much I love my photos. I picked Liz because I liked how each of her shoots told different stories, so I really shouldn’t be surprised. Seeing some of my own photos and thinking, “Yeah that’s so me” was amazing. Girl can capture the vibe you are going for if you let her! She’s also just so fun and makes you feel very comfortable during your shoot. Not only do I love my photos, but taking them was a great experience in itself. Oh and she literally hiked a hay bale that was probably taller than her for a picture I wanted. That’s commitment! Thanks Liz!"
testimonials
brooke + blake
couple's session
"We absolutely loved having Liz take our photos—she made the whole experience so seamless and genuinely fun! Her energy helped put us instantly at ease, and nothing ever felt forced or awkward. She has a special way of capturing natural moments that truly reflect who we are, and we’re so grateful for her talent and the beautiful memories she helped create!"
testimonials
jackson + liz
proposal + engagement Session
"OUR PHOTOS ARE AMAZING!! We are so grateful to Liz for capturing our proposal in such a special way. She had us laughing the entire time and I was shocked when Jackson got down on one knee!! We will definitely be reaching back out to her!"
testimonials
alexandra + ross
wedding
"I found Elizabeth rather randomly on a FaceBook vendor page, and knew almost immediately after I saw her work that I had found my wedding photographer. She has a real talent for capturing candid moments and making her photos look real and lived in. That’s what I wanted for my wedding day, and to say she delivered is an understatement. My wedding photos are gorgeous documentary style photos. They make you feel like you were there with us and my family agrees with me that they turned out beautifully. Thank you, Liz, for capturing our special day so perfectly. If you’re looking for real beautiful photos of you and your loved ones, look no further than Elizabeth Ro Photo. I’m an extremely happy client!"
testimonials
alaina
senior session
"Liz is by far the BEST photographer I’ve ever worked with. She was so welcoming and made sure I felt comfortable throughout the whole shoot. She always has the best ideas for poses/locations and has the artistic eye to know exactly how to execute her visions. I strongly encourage everyone to book her!! :)"
testimonials
