We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brizzy Rose and Emma a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Brizzy Rose and Emma thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
One of the biggest risks we’ve ever taken was committing to Wedding Photography full time during a global pandemic. We had the tools and resources as creative people but we knew nothing about owning and operating a business. We were certain of three things: One, we love telling stories. Two, we love creating unique moments. Three, we’d be haunted for the rest of our lives if we didn’t give this a shot. After getting laid off by our “normal” jobs in 2020, we had no choice but to take this risk… so we started small. When it was finally safe to do so, we’d host mini family sessions. Once weddings were finally allowed to resume in 2021, we’d put our name out into the community as much as possible. Five weddings turned into ten. Ten weddings turned into twenty and by 2022, we were capped at 32 weddings for the year. It was the wildest year of our lives because we went from nothing to everything in a matter of seconds it felt like! When 2023 rolled around, we realized we had reached our goal of making 6 figures as a business. It didn’t feel real and still doesn’t. The risk jumping side effects kick in once the adrenaline wears off though because the realities of owning a small business come to light. It’s no longer just about the passion but it becomes about taxes and learning how to juggle paying yourself and paying everything and everyone that makes your business operate successfully. This has tested us most of all because like any other small business, growth and success ebbs and flows. One year, we’re making 6 figures and the next, we’re not. And it’s this constant seesaw we have to be really mindful with. Truly though, we wouldn’t trade it for the world!
Brizzy Rose and Emma, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
We are a Louisville, Kentucky based wedding, editorial and lifestyle best-friend photographer duo, open to travel anywhere! Brizzy is from California and Emma is from Montana. We had entered the photography world individually in our separate corners of the world and then joined forces after recognizing we’d work better together than alone. We are all about stepping forward, getting out of comfort zones and having fun! Brizzy brings in fresh, artsy, and vibrant vibes and Emma brings in structure, elevation, and all the solutions for troubleshooting.
Our photography approach is realistic and cinematic. We appreciate bold, “rebellious” shots and whimsical, delicate shots. Our editing style is dreamy and film-like. We want our photos to merely highlight what’s already so beautiful. Together, we work hard to capture the conscious and subconscious of whoever and whatever it is we’re photographing.
How’d you meet your business partner?
In the early days of instagram when people would search through hashtags to find people with similar interests — we stumbled upon each other. Despite living in separate parts of the country, we planned to meet up in Los Angeles for a weekend and spent our time photographing downtown. Our mutual love of photography, music and food solidified a friendship, easily. Emma moved to Louisville in 2016 after photographing a wedding on her own and months later invited Brizzy to come and live with her for a change of scenery. There was a magic in Louisville that made this all so easy and perfect! We learned pretty quickly that we’d be a dream photography duo and after lots of dreaming, scheming, and trial and error: Brizzy Rose and Emma was born!
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding thing about being an artist in the creative industry is not only getting to see our visions and dreams burst to life but getting to create visions and dreams for people and soaking up that magic with them. We work with so many different people and brands that not one single thing feels stagnant or redundant which is what art is all about!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brizzyroseandemma.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/brizzyrose
- Facebook: Brizzy Rose and Emma
- Other: Tiktok — Brizzy Rose and Emma
Image Credits
Us! All Images by Brizzy Rose and Emma