Today we’d like to introduce you to Hailey Ligtenberg.
Hi Hailey, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in Southern California with a family that loved to travel. I definitely got my love of photography from my mom; she used to always take photos of wildflowers and nature on our vacations, and as I got older I would borrow her camera to take a few photos myself. My passion for telling stories through photography really took off when I was on the yearbook staff for my high school, but if you asked me back then, I would have told you I’d never have a photography business. When I went to college I was dead set on working in health care, but it didn’t take me long to realize that wasn’t where my heart was at. It took a ton of prayer and soul-searching, but I ended up changing my major to a business degree and diving headfirst into starting my photography business. I couldn’t have done it without help though – I had an incredible mentor, Kate of Katelyn Rose Weddings, and so many friends that helped me get my little biz off the ground. The Lord really opened up a lot of doors for me when I began my business back in 2020, and by 2021 I was photographing weddings, couples, and families full time.
In January of 2022, I made my big move out to Dallas. I’m not going to lie – transitioning my business halfway across the country wasn’t without its challenges. DFW is massive, and both with business and personal life, I kinda felt lost in the busyness of it all. But I’ve always said that two things to be true at once, and so even while navigating so much change, I look back on this season with so much joy. I was living in my travel girl era, photographing weddings all across the United States and internationally. Between 2022 and 2023, I’m pretty sure I was gone more than I was ever home, if I’m honest haha.
I learned so much through my travels, about myself, my faith, others, and the world around me – all of which I’ve brought back to the way I operate my business. An eye for the quiet moments that your heart remembers. A presence of peace to give my couples when things inevitably go awry on wedding days. A deeper love for documenting people. Over the years, John 10:10 has become a verse that anchors all of that – a reminder to the pursue a life well-lived for God’s glory, and to photograph the abundance of joy, connection, and sacred moments we were created for.
Which I guess brings us to today! I just wrapped up my busiest fall season yet, and I couldn’t be more grateful. It’s genuinely been such a joy to meet so many new faces or visit with returning clients, and to serve them all and deliver a gallery they’ll get to cherish for decades.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Honestly, 2024 was the biggest struggle. I was dealing with a lot of personal heartache while also juggling one of my busiest years in business, and it led to some major burnout. I completely lost sight of my why, and for the first time ever, picking up my camera switched from a passion to feeling like work because I placed so much of my identity in what I was doing. My heart wasn’t in it, and so even though I was still putting out quality work, I knew I wasn’t showing up at my best for my clients – something I absolutely refused to do, so I made the decision to take a huge step back. I severely limited the bookings I took on and practically went ghost on my socials (a social media manager’s worst nightmare, I know). But I had to do it.
For a large portion of 2025, I only worked on projects or with clients that I truly connected with, and spent my free time growing my community through church and dance, and filling my cup by reading, cooking, and exercising. Slowly but surely my sense of purpose and heart for my business was not only renewed, but refined. Now I’m able to find joy in my work again, fall in love with the creative process behind it, and be ready to intentionally serve my clients.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
By Hailey Nicole is a photography business that specializes in weddings, but really I’ve photographed just about everything at this point. Lifestyle and editorial portraits, nature, real estate, sports – you name it and I’ve probably done it. In the wedding realm, at least among my clients, I feel like I’ve become known for my signature cowboy boot + wedding ring detail shot. I loveee a good pair of cowboy boots, and over the years I’ve started to mess around with ways to balance the rings in the shot. I’ve had a lot of couples ask for some variation of that within their own details, and it’s been really fun to experiment with.
In a more practical sense, I would say I’m most proud of the heart behind my business. Truly, it’s not by my own strength or doing so it’s hard to take credit for it, but the Lord has given me so many gifts and opportunities to chase my dreams, and the ability to give back to others in the process. I really try to go above and beyond for clients and not be just the “photographer.” I’ll help steam dresses, set up tables, make sure my couples have a plate of food at their sweetheart table, and be their biggest advocate in the wedding process. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I genuinely love what I do (seriously, I cry at every wedding) and if I have an opportunity to make my couple’s day easier or more enjoyable, I want to serve them in whatever capacity I can. Every genuine smile, hug, and excited testimonial from clients brings me so much joy and is the best reminder of my why.
What are your plans for the future?
No big changes around here! I’m settled in Dallas and I don’t foresee myself leaving. I’ve really fallen in love with Texas and the beautiful community it’s given me, and I’m continuing to build a business rooted in purpose, presence, and the call to serve people well. Each client I photograph – whether it’s a wedding day, a maternity session, an engagement, senior grad session, or anything in between – I walk in with a renewed sense of gratitude for the lives I get to step into and the stories I am trusted to tell. Every season of life has shaped me, and I feel like I’m standing in this sweet spot of what the Lord has been preparing me for. I get to create intentional, meaningful imagery while building a life that reflects Him. It’s pretty dang special. I’m still learning and growing, but so grateful for the sense of purpose I get to walk in daily.
Pricing:
- Wedding Days – most couples invest around $2,500-4,000 for full scale weddings
- Wedding Weekends – starting at $7,500
- Standard Sessions – $500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://byhaileynicole.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byhaileynicole/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhaileynicole
Image Credits
All images belong to myself, By Hailey Nicole
