Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Smith.
Hi Elizabeth, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story began with a love for creativity ,people, and animals. I’ve always been drawn to storytelling—whether through images, words, or experiences—and that passion led me to start Capture Your Happily Ever After, where I combined photography and event coordination to help families and couples feel comfortable, seen, and celebrated during some of their most meaningful moments.
What started as a creative outlet slowly grew into a business built on trust, consistency, and genuine connection. Along the way, I discovered my voice as a writer and became the author of two children’s books, A Step in the Magical Woodlands and The Dancing Dinosaur and the Stinky Monkey, both rooted in kindness, imagination, and emotional growth—values that reflect both my personal life and my work.
As I became a mother, my purpose expanded even further. Wanting to create meaningful spaces for children and families led me to found Inventive Explorers Academy Preschool. What began as a small, intentional step into early childhood education has grown into a bigger vision: building a nurturing, creative, and community-focused preschool that I plan to expand into a larger establishment serving Berkeley County by 2026.
The journey hasn’t been easy. Balancing entrepreneurship, motherhood, creativity, and growth has required resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to learn as I go. I’ve leaned heavily on consistency, honest feedback, and support from my family, close friends who have become family, and a community that continues to encourage me.
Today, I’m proud to say that everything I build—whether through photography, writing, or education—is rooted in heart, purpose, and people. My story is still unfolding, but it’s grounded in creating meaningful experiences, supporting families, and leaving a positive impact wherever I can.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood and family life while building multiple ventures at the same time. Time, energy, and bandwidth are limited, and there have been many moments of exhaustion, self-doubt, and feeling pulled in too many directions.
Another challenge has been learning as I go. I didn’t have a perfect roadmap when I started. I had to figure things out through trial and error—whether it was business systems, boundaries, pricing, or learning when to pivot. There were moments where mistakes felt heavy, but they ultimately became my greatest teachers.
Financial pressure, growth decisions, and trusting myself during uncertain seasons have also been part of the journey. Stepping into larger visions—like expanding Inventive Explorers Academy—required courage, patience, and the willingness to think long-term instead of looking for quick wins.
I overcame these challenges by staying consistent, asking for help, accepting constructive criticism, and surrounding myself with people who support me but also push me to grow. The obstacles didn’t slow me down—they refined me. Each challenge strengthened my resilience, sharpened my focus, and reinforced why I started in the first place.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My career has been shaped by creativity, resilience, and a deep focus on people. I started by turning a passion for photography into a business, and over time that grew into event coordination, storytelling through writing, and eventually founding a preschool. None of it happened overnight, and it certainly wasn’t easy—but it was intentional.
What sets me apart is that I don’t just provide a service; I focus on how people feel throughout the experience. Whether I’m photographing a family, coordinating an event, or building an educational environment for children, comfort, trust, and connection always come first. That people-first mindset is what has led to long-term relationships, strong word-of-mouth growth, and consistent success.
There were many challenges along the way—balancing multiple businesses, motherhood, and personal growth while learning as I went. I overcame those challenges by staying adaptable, listening to feedback, and refusing to give up when things felt overwhelming. I learned quickly that consistency matters more than perfection and that growth often comes from discomfort.
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that success doesn’t come from doing everything alone. Asking for help, accepting constructive criticism, and surrounding yourself with people who challenge you to grow makes all the difference.
What I want the world to know about me and my brand is that everything I build is rooted in purpose, heart, and community. I believe in creating meaningful experiences, supporting families, and building businesses that truly serve others—not just today, but long term.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I believe luck plays a role, but it’s rarely the full story. I’ve experienced moments of good timing and unexpected opportunities, but those moments only mattered because I was prepared to show up and do the work. Consistency, effort, and being willing to say yes to opportunities turned what might look like “luck” into real growth.
I’ve also faced seasons that felt like bad luck—unexpected challenges, setbacks, and moments where things didn’t go as planned. Looking back, those experiences shaped me the most. They taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of trusting the process even when the outcome isn’t clear.
In business and in life, I’ve learned that luck often comes from relationships, community, and showing up with genuine intention. When you lead with heart, stay consistent, and remain open to learning, opportunities tend to find you. What matters most is what you do when those moments arrive.I just want to give a big shout-out to the people who hold me up every single day. To my husband — thank you for always being there, supporting me, believing in me, and standing beside me through every season. To my mom — your constant help, kindness, and love mean more than I could ever say. And to my children — you are my motivation, my reason to keep going, and the inspiration behind everything I work so hard for. I am so grateful for each of you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.captureyourhappilyeverafter.com
- Other: www.captureyourhappilyeverafter.com and www.inventiveexplorersacademy.com
