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

Alright, Emily thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

I didn’t set out to start a business. I set out to survive.

I became a mom really young, and like a lot of single parents, I was suddenly looking at the world through very different eyes. Everything became about stability, flexibility, and figuring out how to be present for my son while still making enough to keep the lights on. Traditional jobs and delivering pizzas weren’t built for that kind of life. School pickups, sick days, the emotional labor of raising a tiny human on your own doesn’t fit neatly into a 9 to 5. But what I did have was a camera and this deep instinct to document the fleeting parts of life that people don’t realize they’ll miss until they’re gone.

Photography started as something personal. I was documenting my own life because it was moving so fast and I was scared (specifically because of my postpartum experience) that I wouldn’t remember it. The silly faces, sandy toes, sleepy smiles, scraped knees, the way my son fit perfectly on my hip. I realized pretty quickly that what I wanted most was to freeze time. Not the posed, polished version of life, but the real one. The in between moments that feel like memory while they’re happening.

Friends started asking me to take their senior photos, families, pregnancy announcements, weddings, you name it. I said yes at first because I needed the extra income, but also because I felt this pull toward storytelling. Every session became a reminder that everyone is living inside a moment they’ll never get back, and documenting it was actually really important work.

The turning point was when I realized this could be more than a side hustle. I didn’t just enjoy it. I was good at it. People connected with the way I saw them. They felt comfortable enough to be themselves in front of my lens, and that’s when images come alive. From a logical standpoint, it made sense too. Photography gave me something most traditional jobs couldn’t offer: control over my schedule and the ability to grow my income without sacrificing time with my kiddo. I could take on more sessions and build something sustainable that fit around my life instead of forcing my life to fit around it.

Every inquiry, every referral, every person who trusted me to document a milestone reinforced that this wasn’t just viable, it was valuable. Over time, it became clear that what I was building wasn’t just a business. It was a way to support my son while helping other people preserve the moments that make their lives meaningful.

Today, my work is rooted in the belief that your photos should feel like sunlight and nostalgia had a baby. Because life isn’t made up of perfect poses. It’s made up of belly laughs, windblown hair, quiet glances, and the chaos that makes it yours. Being trusted to document that is something I don’t take lightly, and building a business around that trust has been one of the most worthwhile endeavors of my life.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, I’m Emily. I’m a San Diego based wedding and elopement photographer, a mom to an eight year old named J, and the owner of Digital Darling Photo, a queer owned photography business built on the belief that real life is worth remembering exactly as it is.

I didn’t get into photography because everything was picture perfect. I got into it because it wasn’t. I was a young mom watching life move at lightning speed and quietly panicking that I wouldn’t remember it one day. So I picked up a camera and started documenting the messy, loud, love soaked parts of everyday life. Windblown hair. Sandy toes. Belly laughs that turn into snorts. The in between moments that feel small now but end up meaning everything later.

Now, I photograph weddings, elopements, couples, families, and creative brands who want photos that feel like memory instead of performance. Most of my clients show up telling me they’re awkward in front of the camera or that their kids “won’t behave,” and I love that. I’m not here to force anyone into stiff poses. I’m here to create a space where you can relax enough to actually be yourselves so your photos feel warm, nostalgic, and genuinely you.

What I’m most proud of is building a business that supports my family while also creating an inclusive space where all couples feel safe, seen, and celebrated. I want people to know you don’t need to know how to pose or show up perfectly to deserve beautiful photos. My job is to capture your life as it’s happening, in a way that helps you remember not just how it looked, but how it felt.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions about being a creative is that it’s all fun and no work.

From the outside, it looks like I just show up, take some cute photos, and go home. But behind every one hour session are hours of emotional labor, emails, editing, marketing, bookkeeping, and learning how to run an actual business. I’m not just making art, I’m figuring out how to turn something really personal into something that can consistently support my kid and keep the lights on.

There’s also a weird vulnerability that comes with monetizing your creativity. When someone doesn’t book, it’s not just a professional no, it can feel like a personal one too.

Being a creative business owner is basically a daily balancing act between passion and practicality. I get to do work I love, but I also have to price it, protect it, and make sure it’s sustainable. Especially as a mom, it’s always this dance between meaningful work and real life responsibility.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Hands down, referrals and social media.

A huge portion of my clients come from past clients sharing their experience with friends, fmaily, or tagging me when they post their photos. When someone trusts you enough to recommend you for something as personal as their wedding or family photos, that kind of word of mouth is incredibly powerful.

Social media, especially Instagram, has also been a big driver for me. It gives potential clients a chance to get a feel for not just my work, but my personality and approach before they ever inquire. Since so many people feel nervous about being in front of the camera, being able to connect with me online first helps build that trust early on.

I’ve found that people are more likely to book when they feel like they already know you, so showing up online and creating a good client experience that people want to talk about has been the most effective way for me to attract new work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://digitaldarling.me/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/digitaldarlingphoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitaldarlingphoto/
• Other: https://share.google/yuPvp88Ag0Ycek71C

Image Credits

@digitaldarlingphoto