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

Alright, Emily thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

I’ve always believed that presence is the most generous thing we can offer each other. If there’s a legacy in our work, I hope it’s that people felt truly seen, that they felt calm in our presence, and connected to themselves in the images we made.

Lately, I’ve found myself drawn not only to the moments, but to the spaces that hold them. There’s a quiet richness in photographing well-designed environments—their texture, their stillness, the way they shape a sense of place. For me, it’s all part of the same pursuit: honoring what’s real, thoughtful, and deeply felt.

I’m interested in how emotion lives in both people and the spaces around them. That intersection​ of memory, setting, and presence​ is where I feel most creatively alive right now.

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?

Alp & Isle is the creative partnership between myself and my husband, Zach. We’ve spent the last 16 years refining our photography in a way that is both intentional and deeply collaborative. Our work is known for its tonal consistency, quiet confidence, and sense of emotional truth. We’re based in the American West, but our work often takes us to private estates, multi-day destination events, and luxury celebrations​ where our clients value both discretion and artistry in equal measure.

Our process centers on trust, intuition, and atmosphere—because those are the things that allow people to fully show up. Our presence is intentional, anchoring rather than adding to the noise.

We’re most often hired by planners and clients who understand that true luxury lies in the experience behind the image. That it’s not just what an image looks like, but how it was made—how supported someone felt, how much trust was in the room.

What sets us apart isn’t just our aesthetic, but our way of working. We listen more than we direct. We honor the stillness within the celebration. And we show up with both reverence and ease.

Though our images often live on the pages of Vogue, Martha Stewart Weddings, or Town & Country, our deepest pride comes from how our clients see our work​ and ​remember how the day felt.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The undercurrent that has always steered my work is twofold. First, a desire to give my clients an experience that reflects the hallmarks of a true luxury celebration: care at every touchpoint, intentionality in every detail, and a space where they feel recognized and reflected. And second, a creative drive to define and shape essence and memory.

When hiring a photographer, you’re not just hiring expertise and technique. You’re choosing someone to help write your autobiography for this chapter of your life. Does their work echo the way you want to feel when you look back? Can you see yourself in it? Does it feel like a familiar book or film to you?

My creative perspective has been shaped over years of studying movement, light, stillness, and story. I refill my creative well constantly with inspiration from classic cinema, literature, sculpture, and especially the natural world. The way a season shifts, the breeze bends the grasses, or light lingers just a moment longer at a certain hour—I use all of it to inform the pacing, composition, and emotional tone of my work.

I’m not just documenting an event, I’m creating an environment where something authentic and intentional can unfold. When people feel at ease, when the energy reflects who they are, that’s when I’m able to capture the kind of honest, editorial portraiture I’m known for. It’s less about being a fly on the wall, and more about holding space for my clients as they move through a full spectrum of emotion on one of the most meaningful days of their lives.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I’ve built my reputation by showing up with honesty, alignment, and an intuitive respect for the spaces I’m invited into. I meet people where they are. I don’t just listen, I observe. Often, it’s the quietest cues that speak the loudest. I take pride in reading a room, understanding the energy of a couple, and joining them on the journey.

Much of my business has grown through relationships with planners who understand that true luxury is quiet, thoughtful, and emotionally attuned. We work closely to create an atmosphere where the couple feels supported, relaxed, and truly seen. That kind of collaboration makes space for ease and trust, and it’s through that trust that legacy and reputation are built.

In this market, reputation isn’t built on traditional marketing, it’s built on discretion, taste, and how you made someone feel. Over time, that becomes your signature. For me, it’s less about being known widely, and more about being trusted deeply.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alpandisle.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alpandisle
• Linkedin: \www.linkedin.com/in/emilydorman-director

Image Credits

©2025 Alp & Isle