We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ember Medeiros a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ember, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made?
One of the best investments I’ve made since starting this business might be surprising. Because it wasn’t a camera. It wasn’t a lens or subscription service. It wasn’t even anything having to do with money. The best investment I’ve made so far was an investment of my time. Specifically my time in Underhill, Vermont this past June for a wedding.
I’d met the couple through my parents who do volunteer work in Hawaii. I was looking for a couple who wanted to do an engagement session while I was there visiting. It turns out they were looking for a wedding photographer too. I was running a deal at the time, I’d shoot their destination wedding for free as long as my travel was covered. We were all beyond excited that we’d found each other and that we could both be a blessing to each other. They loved my work, and I was obsessed with them.
Their big day was going to be my first out of state wedding. I was willing to invest five days of my time to fully experience their wedding week and capture precious memories for them throughout.
Connecting is everything to me. Relationship is essential. Arriving so early and getting to spend time with the couple, their families, and their many incredible friends is the thing that led me to be able to do some of my best work to date.
It was more than just the photos that made it worthwhile though. In the wedding world, experience is everything, and I learned so much about the difference shooting away from what’s familiar makes. There’s no going back home at the end of the night. Flexibility is key. Rolling with the punches and going with the flow is something you just have to do. (Especially when rain shows up last minute and everything you planned goes out the window)
At the end of it all, I was able to make real relationships with the people around me. I wasn’t just another vendor. I was a friend, a guest, and I was valued. What I thought might be just a fun opportunity, turned out to be an unforgettable adventure, and I’d do it all over again if I could.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I brand myself as a documentary style wedding photographer. I focus on genuine moments, feeling rather than perfection, and film is central to my work.
Something I feel is easily lost these days is reality. Which is funny because we all live in it. But with the takeover of social media, the constant pressure to put our best foot forward, reality is sometimes hidden under it all.
My goal isn’t just to take beautiful pictures. My goal is to amplify the beauty that’s already there. Your wedding day is perfectly imperfect, and that’s the story I try to convey through my images.
I’m not everyone’s photographer. I’m not an “influencer”. But I am someone who actually cares about my clients. I care about their experience on their wedding day more than getting good photos. I care about legacy and the value every picture can hold.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
This may sound silly but the thing that has had the greatest impact on my business, my philosophy, and my mindset is my relationship with God. As a Christian we’re supposed to trust Him with all aspects of our lives, which can be difficult for a business owner because we often feel like it’s a one man show. But in all seriousness, trusting God with everything is the best thing you could ever do for your business. Of course you do your best work. You put in the hours. You even do the things you don’t like so much (don’t get me started on bookkeeping) but before all of that happens you say to him “this is your business God. Your will be done.” And everything after that is what’s meant to be. There are clients that come and go, days that don’t go as well as you hope, and seasons that feel less productive than others, but in the end it was all in service of something greater. That gives me courage to keep going, and confidence every day that I’m where I’m supposed to be.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
A lot of times we think starting a business is a massive risk. And some businesses are, but the cool thing about photography is that you don’t actually need all that much to start. You start with what you have, even if that’s just with your phone. I tend to believe photography is a skill more than it is a business. So practicing that skill comes first.
I started with my mom’s camera. Then I got my own. Then I got more lenses, and it keeps building from there. If something is important to you you’ll have no problem saving up a little here and there. The important thing to remember is to keep shooting, no matter what you’re starting with, and eventually all that fancy stuff will come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://EmberClairePhoto.com
- Instagram: EmberClairePhoto
- Facebook: EmberClairePhoto
