Elizabeth McManus

From a very young age I started photographing everything in my world.

As an adult, after attending the Texas School of Photography convention, I started my own business.

I photographed events of all kinds. I was well-known for my candid and natural light photography. I had an eye for good light and composition and developed the ability to make the client feel comfortable one-on-one, bringing out their inner beauty and confidence.

Most notable to this career was that by the end of the session or event, I always earned their trust and respect which was affirming to me, personally.

My husband and I owned a Southern Louisiana Style Restaurant in the downtown historic seaport, Newburyport, MA.

My work began keeping tabs and performing all of the daily financial concerns from A-Z, learning directly from a local restaurant mentor. Soon that morphed into also managing the front of the house and all that entails from the ordering to the staff. It was all quite an interesting and amazing experience, one that really can never be quantified.

I worked two nights a week at the local hospital ER. I answered calls, greeted patients before triage, support for nurse and doctors in many capacities, calling doctors, locating filing and organizing patient files; anything and everything they could need at any time as the night shift is a totally different beast. Very dynamic and interesting job. I was gaining experience as I prepared for a possible education in nursing. I loved it all.

I started working at 13 at a local family owned vegetable farm where they owned about 150 acres of land that they farmed for both their own retail market as well as wholesale to other small local farmers.

They eventually expanded and added on a large green house and a bakery.

I was 17 when they made me their first manager, entrusting me while allowing their growing extended families to take a couple of days vacation together throughout the summer. I worked here seasonally until one year post grad while I took an EMT course and worked at the local ER.