We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emma Deese. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emma below.
Alright, Emma thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.
It’s no surprise photography sessions are a bit pricey. And rightfully so! There is a lot of time and effort that goes into each session, and the artists behind the lens really work hard to perfect their craft and show their creativity. Not to mention the equipment, editing programs, and props/environment factors to account for. It is a business after all. However, I personally have a different approach.
Photos are precious. They are an embodiment of a memory that while sometimes may be forgotten, they will never be lost. How many times do we look back and wish we were able to get a photo of a beautiful moment? When you look back on your wedding and wish you had someone take more photos that day while you were celebrating. Parents wishing they got pictures of their babies when they were little, now that they are growing faster than you can keep up. Your sweet childhood dog at the end of his days, and you want to recreate that photo of him in your arms the first day he came into your life. Or, when we lose someone important, and there is no time left to create memories. The only thing we can do is look back. I believe that no one should miss out on looking back on their lives, for something as simple as a price change.
That is why I made a promise to myself when I started doing photography, that I would keep my prices low income friendly, and sometimes free. Sure it takes longer to pay off the equipment I use, but to me it doesn’t matter. I grew up not so fortunate in the income department, so I know what it’s like to miss out due to finances. And moments photographed, that can’t be recreated, aren’t worth losing out on.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hey y’all! My name is Emma and I’m the face behind Emma Layne Photography. I started my hobby back in childhood – finding an old nikon camera in the home’s junk closet. I practiced with everything: my pets, the plants outside, my family (who thankfully were very supportive and patient with me), even the weather! I would beg my parents to drive around the neighborhood so I could capture something. It’s a hobby I’ve loved for so long and one I feel I can be most creative with. It has also changed my life. My brain is a little funky, as I have grown up with OCD. This makes my thought process a little different from others, and in my personal experience, makes it harder to find solace. But when I’m spending time in photography, I am at peace. It is less of a job, more so a passion.
I photograph families, couples, pets, weddings, engagements, graduations, birthdays, parties, sports – you name it! I look at the craft as an ever growing learning opportunity. So if I haven’t done a session type yet, I certainly would love to try! I don’t see myself abandoning clients and photographing their memories any time soon. People are too cool. I love the stories I hear, the friendships I make, and the smiles we create. However, my biggest goal in the field would be to make it as a wildlife photographer. Animals just speak to my soul! National Geographic stays calling my name! I’d love to travel the world and get pictures of all of God’s creation. Living at the beach is a blessing, as you can find the coolest creatures everywhere. And thankfully, I am blessed with the best furry friend ever, MJ, who is my practice model for everything. She is pretty much my mascot by now!
Referring earlier to my OCD, I know what it feels like to be overstimulated easily, especially in situations like being photographed. Because of this, I don’t like to keep my clients there longer than they want to be! Regular sessions typically last under an hour, with as many breaks as you’d like. In that time frame, we work efficiently. By the time you get your online album, you will have all the photos you’d like! I typically deliver 100+ photos for a session. I do not believe in shorting people based on the time we were together. So, if we got great pictures, you’re getting them all!
Check out my instagram (emmalaynephotography) if you’re interested in what you’ve read so far! And if you’re not… well you can still go to see MJ!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.emmalaynephotography.com
- Instagram: @emmalaynephotography
- Facebook: Emma Layne Photography
Image Credits
Emma Layne Photography