Smashing Body Shame, One Shot at a Time – with Elizabeth Snyder
On this episode of The Breakout, we meet the unfiltered, deeply inspiring Elizabeth Snyder, an award-winning portrait photographer, confidence coach, and perspective shifter who is transforming how women see themselves. Her specialty? Helping women 35 years + step in front of the camera with confidence and leave shame behind.
Through a thoughtful, personal process, Elizabeth creates more than just photos, she creates healing. And her path to becoming the right person for this work? It’s paved with grit, hardship, and a relentless pursuit of purpose.
Meet Elizabeth Snyder
Elizabeth Snyder is a portrait artist, workshop leader, and author of Unbroken: Finding Your Purpose Beyond Trauma. With more than three decades behind the lens—starting at age eight in her family’s darkroom—she’s won awards from the Portrait Masters competition, Castellani Art Museum, and been named a Top 10 Photographer in Buffalo by Expertise.
Today, she blends photography with coaching, using her lens to lift up women who’ve spent too long hiding behind others in photos, or in life.
Breaking the Mirror: Redefining Beauty After 35
“I specialize in women’s portraiture,” Elizabeth says. “I’m very, very good at getting women comfortable in front of the camera, especially if they’re the ones hiding behind their kids in pictures.”
Elizabeth noticed that many women arrived at her studio feeling angry, anxious, or ashamed about being photographed. What changed everything? A tragic loss. When a loved one passed away without a single recent photo, Elizabeth realized just how much shame had stolen—not just confidence, but legacy.
“That was the shift,” she explains. “This is not for you, it’s for your family. The only one who cares about the extra five pounds is you.”
A Safe Space to Be Seen
Elizabeth now works almost exclusively with women 35 and up, offering a full pre-session consultation, professional styling, pampering, and a coaching approach that reframes the photo session as an act of self-celebration.
She uses tools like a “true mirror”, which shows clients what they look like to others, to help women confront and rewire how they see themselves. It’s often an emotional experience. “There are people who can’t make eye contact with themselves,” she says. “They zone in on what they hate first.”
But the process works. “I’ve never had to do a reshoot,” she says. “People leave wanting to do it again.”
A Story of Rock Bottom and Reinvention
Elizabeth’s confidence didn’t come easy. She’s survived being unhoused, single parenting, and dragging a sled through Buffalo winters to feed her kids. “I hit rock bottom,” she recalls. “And I said, I’m never doing this again.”
Winning a photo contest changed her life and reminded her that photography had always been her calling. She left her bank job, started her business, and slowly rebuilt her life doing what she loves.
“I knew I was on the right path because I was happy. Everything just fell into place.”
Purpose and Healing Through Creativity
As her career evolved, so did her sense of service. Elizabeth now offers coaching that helps women reconnect with long-lost passions, reframe limiting beliefs, and rediscover joy through creative exploration.
Her dream? A nonprofit in Niagara Falls that provides free creative workshops, childcare, laundry, and food access for women in need. “I want women to feel like they’re still worthy of having their own time. That their creativity matters.”
Inspiring Takeaways
Elizabeth’s message is as raw and real as her portraits:
- Confidence doesn’t have to start big; it just needs a spark.
- You are not too old, too broken, or too anything to be seen.
- Your purpose can be messy, small, shifting, and still powerful.
- You are allowed to say yes to what makes you happy.
And if you’re stuck? Ask yourself: “What are you afraid of?” Because it’s always fear, and fear can be faced.
Summary & Reflection
Elizabeth Snyder’s story is a powerful example of how hardship, art, and purpose can converge into something truly transformative. Through her camera, she invites women to break out of shame and step into the light, not because they’ve changed, but because they’re finally ready to be seen.
This episode of The Breakout is more than a podcast, it’s a wake-up call to stop waiting for the “right moment” to love yourself.
About The Breakout
Dive into transformative tales of personal growth with The Breakout podcast by Abbracci Group’s thought leaders, Dr. Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther. Join them bi-weekly as they chat with inspiring guests who offer practical insights on breaking boundaries, boosting confidence, and living boldly. Subscribe today to listen to our upcoming episodes filled with inspiration, motivation, and practical advice to help you unleash your full potential!
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