We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emily Davis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I love being an artist. The ability to create meaningful images that capture the unique memories and feelings of my clients is beyond rewarding to me, it is all I ever wanted to do. But it can also be a lonely and isolating path at times. I never fully put my work down. It follows me everywhere, even when I’m not actively creating. I am always thinking about what’s next, and what I can do to be better and accomplish more. There are moments, though, when I wonder what it would be like to have a regular job—something with structure and clear boundaries.

Sometimes, especially in the busy seasons, I see people’s posts about their weekend plans, spending time with their families, that are accessible to them because of their 9-to-5 jobs where they can clock out and be done for the day. I imagine what it would feel like to leave work behind when the day ended, not having it linger in the back of my mind, always calling me back in, sometimes keeping me awake in the night, or pulling me from sleep early in the morning. I imagine coworkers, friendships, office parties, benefits, bonuses, and comradery. Sometimes I envy what a different path might have been like.

But I also know that the pull of creation is too strong for me to let go. The thought of doing something else seems appealing in a moment of frustration, but deep down, I know I wouldn’t trade this for anything. There’s something about being immersed in the process, even if it’s solitary and relentless, that makes me feel fulfilled. So, I let the thought pass, take a deep breath, and go back to my work.

It’s a constant push and pull, but in the end, the joy of creating outweighs the longing for a more typical, structured life. I am endlessly grateful to my clients who offer me flexibility and understanding, for the schedule that I alone create for myself, and for the freedom to guide my own direction.

Emily, 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?

My name is Emily Davis, and I have spent the past 14 years raising my wonderful children with my amazing and supportive husband, while growing my photography business, Emily Davis Photography!

I wanted to be an artist all my life. Art was always my favorite subject in school, and I went on to study art as an undergraduate at CU Boulder. I have always taken pictures. My friends and I, as children, would stage elaborate photoshoots together with costume changes and set design, and use disposable film cameras and rolls and rolls of film on our rudimentary SLRs. It has always been something I enjoy.

My mother owned a Nikon SLR when I was a child, and was diligent in capturing memories of all of our birthdays, visits with friends and family, and family vacations. She would have the film developed and tuck each image into pages and pages of photo albums that I loved to flip through and reminisce about our family’s past. When I married my husband and started thinking about having a family of my own in 2009, I knew I wanted a ‘nice’ camera to capture beautiful memories of my own children. So I bought my first DSLR, the Nikon D90.

I started leaving the house early in the morning with my Nikon to just ‘poke around’ taking pictures of things I saw, and then getting off work in the golden hour and doing the same. Eventually, my friends and co workers starting asking if I could take pictures of their families for Christmas cards and marketing materials for our online platforms. Pretty soon I was registering a domain, designing a website, and Emily Davis Photography was born.

My client load slowed when I brought my first child into the world in 2011, but I spent a lot of time photographing him and his antics. I fell in love with milestone photography, and soon incorporated babies and children into my portfolio.

Over the years my tool kit grew. I attended workshops and studied online courses to advance my knowledge of lighting, posing, props and performance. My Dad, who is a phenomenal photographer, offered me tips and tricks, and his family supported my growth. I started shooting weddings, events, high school seniors, newborns, families, maternity, milestones, cake smashes, professional headshots. and boudoir. In 2014 I opened my home studio to clients for fashion, branding, and other indoor photography needs. I wanted to take as many photos as I could, and I wanted to be good at everything.

That, I feel, sets me apart from other photographers. I have a broad spectrum of specialties. I am passionate about providing images that my clients imagine, and exceeding their expectations. This sometimes means having to learn new things, push myself, and be flexible with how I am able to show up for each individual session. I am proud of how far I have come, and the compassion and integrity I bring to my business model. I want my clients to know that I care about their memories, and I am in this to provide the best quality of work that I am able.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I think a lesson that I had to unlearn was that competition is unproductive. I used to see other photographers posting about things, being busier than I was, or doing work that I wasn’t doing, and I would feel jealous. When a family chose a different photographer I would feel hurt. None of that is productive for my personal business or brand. We, as creatives, must support each other. We must lift each other up and appreciate the work of our peers.

We can learn so much from each other, and there is far more benefit in collaboration that there ever could be in competition. As a young photographer I worried there wouldn’t be a place for me, that I didn’t have what it takes, or that the real pros would see me in a negative way. None of that was ever true. There is room. Create the work that is meaningful to you, and the clients that love what you do will find you.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I want to create beautiful, timeless images that families can look back on for years to come. I want to be there for the moments that make your story rich and vibrant. I want my clients to know that I care about them, I care about their feelings and their qualms, I want to be there to provide the best quality product that I can. I am not perfect, and I am just one person, but I will try my very hardest to be accommodating, and to provide the best quality product, and the best possible experience that I am able.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://davisfamilyphoto.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilydavisphotofirestone
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyDavisPhotos
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-davis
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/emily-davis-family-photography-loveland

Image Credits

Emily Davis, Emily Davis Photography