Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emma Manning. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Emma, thanks for joining us today. One of the toughest parts of scaling a business is maintaining quality as you grow. How have you managed to maintain quality? Any stories or advice?

I want working with me to feel like an experience and not a simple transaction. In 2021 after my move to Nashville, TN from Los Angeles, CA, my business grew very quickly and I needed to ensure my business standards and practices were set at a standard for which my clients deserve. I am a one woman company and I needed to make sure that I wasn’t overwhelming myself and ensuring that every client was getting my highest level of work.

Therefore, I needed to make a few adjustments in order to keep up with the growing demand for my business. Rebranding to fit into the luxury market is something that has helped me keep the quality and integrity of my work. Doing this has led me to be able to really give more to each customer versus over booking myself and having it impact my clients overall experience.

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?

My background in photography started as a teenager, photographing portraits and engagements for close friends and family in California. As I became older, I fell in love with capturing weddings and documenting love stories, and that is something that is now a main focus of my business. Since moving to Nashville, TN in 2020, I have also found myself back in a portrait and lifestyle driven space, working with influencers and brands to create unique content for their social media’s and businesses. This type of photography has allowed me to get a little more creative, but also has challenged me to keep my work consistent and still with my organic and candid style even while creating specific and contrived imagery.

The ability to make my clients feel comfortable in order to capture authentic and unposed moments is what I’m proud of the most in my business. My 15 year background as a professional dancer and choreographer in Los Angeles allows me to be able to help clients with natural movement that makes them feel confident and beautiful in their sessions. I am also a wife and mother and love to be able to relate to my clients in a personal way. Knowing that I understand what you are going through, and the moments you are going to be experiencing, makes working with me a relaxed and genuinely fun process.

If I could describe my work I would say that it feels intimate, timeless, and true to color. People-watching and staying aware of little moments happening around me makes you feel as though you are a part of the moment when you see my work, instead of simply just watching from the outside.

I also love to help others curate their social content and have now given the ability to elevate personal photos with a new preset collection I have recently launched called Hello There Presets! They are simple and easy to use in Lightroom Mobile and can give a really fun aesthetic to any kind of photo and any kind of content.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

I am in the business of creating and capturing memories, so spending time with my clients and getting to know them has been an essential strategy for my business growth. When people are comfortable with you being around them and their families, they are more inclined to have you there to capture all of those intimate and precious moments in the future and will most likely refer you to their friends as well. For example, with every wedding couple client, they fill out an initial questionnaire so that I can learn a little more about them and I meet with them multiple times throughout their wedding planning process. This builds trust which will only in my opinion, give you better results when it comes time to photographing such a momentous occasion and the likelihood of them recommending you to someone else is far greater.

Another way I have grown is by having wonderful photographer friends and mentors such as Laura Moll, that have helped me expand my business in Nashville through education, opportunities, and also by being a phenomenal support system. Through networking, I have also been fortunate enough to gain clients with large social outreaches which has helped me to connect with more people online, grow my audience, and give me the ability to reach more potential clients.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As a photographer, the most rewarding aspect of my job is seeing your clients share and love your work. They trusted you with their memories and vision and to see them loving your art is the greatest feeling.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.emmamanningphotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/emmamanningphoto

Image Credits
Emma Manning Photography