As the flash of her camera goes off, Liz Keenum, local photographer, adjusts her angle for the next shot while assuring her clients that they look great.
Keenum is a photographer who has made a name for herself in the Oyster River Cooperative School District (ORCSD) community and Seacoast area. She has run her photography business, Liz Keenum Photography, from her home in Madbury, NH since 2020. Expanding her business through her fresh ideas and vibrant personality, Keenum is a passionate photographer and a notable contributor to the community.
Keenum said, “When I started my business, I decided that any opportunity I have, I will say yes to.” In those early stages, that meant anything from product photography (which was decidedly not her thing), impromptu vacation photos for strangers, or her daughter’s volleyball games. After trying everything she could focus her camera on, Keenum decided her niches were senior portraits and sports photography. From her experimentation, she discovered those types of shoots suited her in both skill and personality. “I love meeting people; I love hearing about their stories and backgrounds when I work,” Keenum said.
The 2025-2026 school year marks the third consecutive year Keenum has done the ‘media day’ sports photography at ORHS. Starting with a request from the boys’ basketball team, Keenum became the school’s unofficial team photographer. Now, Keenum does individual, group, and senior sports photos for nearly every sport at ORHS.
Neely Roy (’26) recently took her senior pictures with Keenum and heavily complimented Keenum’s ability to connect with her clients. “She was so positive, and I loved her personality which just made the experience amazing.” Roy had specific parameters when looking for a photographer and said Keenum was exactly what she was looking for.
Keenum’s tendency to leave an impact on clients comes from her philosophy behind the camera. “I think everyone should have an opportunity to do professional photos because it shows their growth over time,” said Keenum. Growing up in a low-income household, Keenum said she and her family never had the opportunity to get professional photos taken together. “I do it for the memories,” she emphasized, hoping everyone gets the chance to capture moments in time with their loved ones.
Keenum creates an admirable reputation in her commitment to give back to the community. Whether it’s volunteering to take photos at a 5K, giving free images for senior banners to athletes and their families, or offering to take pictures for others when she’s out and about, Keenum enjoys and takes pride in her ability to give back. “[Photography] is my way to hopefully make a positive impact and make other people feel proud about who they are or what they do.”
Even though Keenum’s business started in 2020, her love for photography started in her teenage years. Keenum said she discovered her love for photography when she was in high school, but it was overlooked as she experienced other things in her life. Only after leaving California in 2018 and becoming a “New England transplant,” did Keenum start creating her business in 2020.
Being a stay-at-home mom in the pandemic, Keenum rediscovered her interest in photography and took the initiative to start a business. “My true passion was taking photos and capturing moments in time because after the moment is over, all you have are your memories,” she said. After realizing what her goals were, Keenum fully committed to the gig. Taking online classes, teaching herself how to use the software, learning new photography skills, researching other photographers, and more, has led Keenum to where she is now. “You can have a dream at any age and have it come true,” Keenum said, encouraging others to take the wheel with their own dreams.
“I think the key is to keep learning,” said Keenum. She said she often learns new things on the job and encourages critiques or suggestions to improve her photography. Still taking online classes and looking for ways to grow, Keenum said, “I’m a forever student.” Since officially starting the business in 2021, Keenum has learned to photograph weddings, family and senior portraits, engagements, sports, and a handful of other events.
Making her identity and experiences a core part of her profession, Keenum brings authenticity and unity to each of her shoots. As she nears the end of her 4th year as a professional photographer with admirable character and work ethic, Keenum stands only to improve her client base and skills as time passes. “If you put in the work, have a vision, and believe in yourself, you can make anything happen,” said Keenum.
-Kristina Jakobs
Mouth of the River 
Leave a Reply