Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Bluitt.
Lisa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Born in Somers Point, NJ, a suburb of Atlantic City, the day before Mother’s Day, I was a petite kid and daddy’s girl through and through. My mother at the time was a housewife and my father, an Aviation Engineer. I remember a very modest house with a very big back yard where I had my favorite swing and my father would try to teach me at five years old the mechanics of flying kites. You could say I started my technical education pretty early because of him. Unfortunately, this happy home did not last. Shortly after my sister was born, my parents divorced. As smart as my father was, he was an alcoholic and did not take care of his body until he collapsed. I still remember his visit the day before on my seventh birthday. He gave me a Barbie doll and told me, “You will always be my pretty little lady.” My mother told me I was her rock because when she mustered up the courage to tell me he had passed the day after, I said, “It’s going to be OK, Mommy.” Apparently, I showed signs of strength at a very young age.
Now a single mother, she sacrificed and did all she could to make sure my younger sister and I were exposed to every opportunity she could afford. She always wanted the best for us so we would have the basic tools to turn our goals and dreams into reality. Moving to Plano in 1982 was the start of that opportunity, so we packed up and left New Jersey behind. The start of my second-grade year was the start of my anxiety because now I was surrounded by many kids that did not look like me and it was hard for me to fit in. I’m an introvert and typically very shy around people I do not know very well, so sparking up conversation even at that age was difficult. My mother decided to remarry in my third-grade year and that was the beginning of tragedy and panic for me. It was at that time someone stole my voice. I now know this was a result of the sexual abuse by my mother’s new husband. I no longer felt pretty. I no longer felt strong. That relationship was over by the end of my elementary years, but the mental damage was already done. The memories were suppressed and I continued on with life with that scar that affected all my relationships afterward. Living with the fear of feeling exposed and vulnerable.
I remember throughout elementary and middle school helping my mother with her own entrepreneur goals to be a Professional Administrative Assistant to anyone who needed her services while still holding down a full-time job. She bought our first computer, the Apple IIe! This was a dream come true for this introvert. That computer peaked my interest for everything technology based from coding in my first programming language to digital data, and I wanted every tech gadget I could get my hands on from then on — video games, pagers, phones, laptops, and of course cameras. Taking pictures was my way of capturing the happy moments and sharing the beauty I see in the world. No words were really required. During family events and activities, I took pictures of everything until the film ran out of either the Polaroid or disposable cameras my mother always bought. Most of the negatives were pictures of “stuff.” During college, my passion for photography faded, my focus was shifted to finishing school, so I could be an Engineer like my father. I started University of Cincinnati and ended up in Michigan at Lawrence Technology University for undergrad. Eventually, I received my Associates in Mechanical Engineering Technology, abandoned Engineering and started the IT curriculum, moved back to the DFW area (I’m not built for snow nine months out of the year), got married to the love of my life, had my beautiful first born baby girl, finally completed my Bachelor’s in Information Technology, had my second charismatic baby girl, and managed to secure a corporate IT job which refueled my passion for all things data and technology.
Life at this point was pretty hectic trying to juggle all the responsibility, but I still wanted to fulfill my dream of entrepreneurship mostly because I wanted to be the example for my young daughters. We desperately need many more browned skin women in STEM fields. Being able to work for yourself, doing what you love and set your own boundaries were values I wanted to instill in my children as my mother tried to do for me. ÉlanBlu was established in 2010, but the original focus was website design and development catered to other small business owners that were also starting out and needed assistance with their web presence. The following year in August and September of 2011, I lost my maternal grandmother to congestive heart failure and my mother to small intestinal cancer within nine days of each other. You have to understand these were the matriarchs of my family and my examples of grace and strength. To lose both so close to each other made me feel alone and again my passion for anything extra beyond holding down my corporate job and my immediate family responsibilities faded, so plans for my small business took another back seat.
Technology changes so quickly and for the next three years, web development jobs were few and far between. Eventually, I started to evaluate myself self-worth and why my self-esteem was not where it should be. I found my strength over the years despite the mental battles I had within from childhood that crippled my growth in certain aspects of my life and made me feel less than. What better way to hide how you feel on the inside? Start painting a pretty picture on the outside, so I started to explore makeup artistry in my self-discovery. You would be surprised how a little color on your face not only brightens your spirits but can also brighten someone else’s day because eventually more of my self-confidence started to peek through. I revisited my passion for photography, of course, starting with myself and my family and bought my first professional DSLR camera. Staying true to myself, I studied everything I could to learn how to use it. YouTube and I are really close. Not only did I research everything about photography from lighting to posing, I also kept up with plenty of makeup tutorials. I’m self-taught and would not have it any other way!
In December 2014, I officially launched ÉlanBlu Photography and have not looked back since. Even though I still currently hold a corporate job, I have a plan to make that transition and dedicate all my efforts to my business full-time with the support of my family. With the help of my husband, I have been able to figure out the source of my panic attacks and repressed memories and finally begin to heal by opening up and telling my story. The road to healing is never easy, but I am committed to carrying this torch my mother started, continuing to find inner strength and fulfill that goal of entrepreneurship. Plus, I want my young daughters to see what is possible when you pursue your passions and turn it into profit. This introvert found her passion, her voice, and her strength again and will always continue to mentor and support other brown girls and guys in STEM fields while leading by example.
“Be the inspiration you seek!”
Has it been a smooth road?
Ha! I really wish I could say this journey has been easy, but without struggle, there is no growth. My biggest challenge is time management between my business, my corporate job and making sure I have dedicated time for my husband and family who have been more than supportive with my crazy and sometimes limiting schedule. There have been many times where I have had to make the difficult decisions to choose between all three where my business has had to take a back seat. I have had to refer clients to other outstanding colleagues knowing that potential or even existing client would be in great hands and wishing I had more time to please everyone. At the end of the day, self-preservation and sanity has to take priority over all.
My next biggest challenges are networking, keeping up with the ever-changing social media applications and having the time to create engaging and consistent content to help keep my brand relevant and before the public. I’m still an introvert that struggles with putting herself out there, but I work on those fears everyday. Meeting new people and putting myself in situations out of comfort zone will always generate a great deal of anxiety within, but I push through and try to let my quirky personality shine. I will be forever grateful for the many supportive clients, friends, and family generously offering word of mouth referrals on my behalf.
If I truly had to start over, I would start with much more confidence in myself knowing what I know now. Plus, I would try to discover my voice and strength much earlier in this game. The perfectionist in me tends to beat myself up when things do not go as expected. Sometimes I think I delay my own progress because of that trait. I would lower my pride a bit more and ask for help instead of always trying to do everything by myself. Also, I would remember to strive for progress, not perfection, and just maybe that goal of full-time entrepreneurship would happen even quicker than I imagined.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with ÉlanBlu Photography – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
ÉlanBlu Photography specializes in Weddings, Events, Portraits and Fine Art. I approach all hired events with a journalistic style and capture a photographic log of the day from the people in attendance down to the smallest details. More intimate settings are preferred, but I never back down from a challenge and will travel. The passport stays ready at all times! My favorite weddings are actually elopements because they are so intimate and those couples deserve to have their special day captured professionally to share with loved ones that may have not had the opportunity to share their day.
For portraits and what sets me apart from other photogs, I can offer makeup artistry services making my studio a unique and personal experience for my clients’ sessions. I am a freelance makeup artist who has done makeup for weddings, special occasions, homecoming, prom, senior portraits and just because. This year I plan to offer makeup classes for those who want to learn the basics of application since most of my clients barely use makeup regularly at all. I get such gratification helping my clients see a beauty within they do not always see in themselves. Because I love to travel, be on the lookout for fine art pieces from my adventures because another goal is to have my artwork hanging in my clients’ homes or places of employment across the US.
Élan is defined as having energy, style, enthusiasm, and flair. I am most proud to not only present those traits of my personality to my clients when they work with me but to also conclude our session with a keepsake or special touch they were not expecting. My technology background taught me the “devil is in the details” and simple yet special influences keep clients coming back.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Even though I was not born here, Dallas is home. When I left, the one thing I missed most was that skyline. There’s nothing like it anywhere else and every time I pass through downtown, it just feels like home. Also, having lived up North where the food options are not as “flavorful” in my opinion and true Mexican food and Tex Mex is scarce, Dallas serves up that requirement all day everyday. Plus, the weather here can be a bit unpredictable, but it surely beats snow nine months out of the year.
I really cannot complain too much about Dallas, but my one complaint, since we are on the topic of weather, is we can get four seasons within a single week. This makes dress options difficult and I can never pack up a season of clothes. They all just stay in my closet which is packed full because I have no idea what the weather is going to bring me. Summertime is the only consistent season. We get hot, hotter and scorching hot, but I will not complain. It’s still better than snow and ice cold temperatures every day.
Pricing:
- Polished & Professional Package ($150) – Our most popular service combines makeup application and a 30 minute portrait session for professionals, business owners and college students close to graduation.
- Weddings start at $950 for up to 4 hours
- Engagement and Bridal sessions start at $350 each
- Events start at $350 for up to 2 hours
- Full Makeup Applications start at $40 (in studio) and $75 (on-location)
Contact Info:
- Website: elanblu.com
- Phone: 214.223.2319
- Email: lnb@elanblu.com
- Instagram: @elanbluphotography
- Facebook: facebook.com/elanbluphotography
Image Credit:
Personal Photo Credit: Symphanie Bluitt
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
