Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emily Roush. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Emily, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?
So waaaaaaay back (15+ years) I wanted to be “creative” so I originally had the name “Minds Eye Photography” with an incredible cheesy logo I made using CS1 at the time. I soon found that actually attaching my name to my business gave it a more personal touch, so I switched it up and never looked back. I’ve rebranded and changed up my logo a few times since, as I keep growing in the creative space I’ll adapt but digging the vibes I have out there right now.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Well hi! I’m Emily, 36, wife to my incredibly supportive husband, mother to my darling 3-year-old girl, and cat mama. I’m British (with an accent) and I’ve lived in the US for over 17 years now. I studied film in college and after taking a few semesters of photography I found that even though both creative outlets have pros and cons photography was my calling. I actually got my commercial start working as a photography assistant in Editorial Photography at Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN. I worked with the editorial team on huge curated shoots, as Mayo shoots everything in-house and they don’t outsource their imagery. I truly learned so much in my time there, especially Photoshop, post-processing, lighting, and posing. I also got to experience the medical side of the industry in this role which up until recently I incorporated in my position as Executive Admin for the Trinity Health Oncology Program in Ann Arbor, MI. I photographed and curated several events within the program, and worked closely with marketing.
Well in 2023 I decided with the success of a roster of clients, a few stable corporate accounts, and an extent of knowledge, I took the jump and I went full-time with my photography. It’s truly been a great experience to put faith in yourself and watch it pay off! I used to photograph several weddings a year but have changed direction with my business this last year in particular and found a passion for more commercial-based work as well as coming back to my editorial roots. I think that’s the greatest part of the creative industry – you have to follow your gut calling, and hey all the years of experience, I can shoot just about anything, but having a chance to focus on the more exciting content is very rewarding.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I think this was a pivotal milestone in my career especially living in Michigan. As a white woman who grew up in a very sheltered part of England, I did not grow up in a diverse community. I learned very quickly how important it is to be inclusive and sensitive to fellow creators, models, and vendors so that all voices can be heard in this space. I offered free tickets to a curated event I was hosting for Black History Month and targeted it to POC photographers who may not have the same opportunities as other populations in the area. I did this after attending a seminar on anti-racism that gave us ideas to address racial issues, including helping mentor those within our area. This was well received for the most part but also came across as a “white savior” post and that could be implying that there are fewer success stories, especially in Detroit. I now understand the perspective of this criticism, and I understand that not everything I put out there will be well received even if I have the best intentions, and it’s important that I am sensitive to everyone’s feelings and views, especially those from marginalized communities. It’s an industry where we have a lot of competition against each other but I truly believe in industry collaboration – it’s the only way we grow. I think there’s a huge opportunity for all creators especially male and white creators to know the importance of our privilege in society. We have to be a voice of support to those who tend to be marginalized in the industry.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Being genuine, with your personality and your opinions. I think you have to be yourself in the industry so if that means people know my cultural, political, and religious stance and don’t agree with it, then they were never my client. I think after all the years I have been doing this marketing my brand to be what I want it to be, and hoping those clients want you not just for your talent but for your character. I’ve made incredible friends in the industry because of this. Don’t sell yourself short, there’s a lot of learning, growing, and cost involved in being a photographer, so find the clients you deserve.
Another way I’ve found great success in getting my name out there; I curate several large styled-shoots each year. Having the opportunity to create dope content that I’ve visualised and then capture it, plus have your fellow creatives attend is amazing! It’s an opportunity to learn from your industry peers and network with a vast market creative talent, from vendors, models and event planners. You all work together to pull off killer content!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.emilybougheyphotography.com
- Instagram: @emilybougheyphotography
- Facebook: @emilybougheyphotography
Image Credits
Jason Nguyen Lindsey Brown Mo Hoeffel Tisha Mason Sadie Hain Birdie Smith Rival Shoes Javan Whitaker Wynter Austin Naz Callum Ashley Paige Wild Wander Retreats Jada Jackson The Styled Movement Deandre McFadden Storm Styled Tisha and Brian Mason