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

Emilyanne, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I never actually expected to pick up a camera for anything other than some photos here and there.

For most of my life, I was very focused on one dream: becoming a veterinarian. I pursued a degree in Veterinary Medicine and was passionate about additionally specializing in small animal diseases. I wanted to understand the why behind things—the root cause—and figure out how to fix them. I’ve always had a huge heart for helping animals.

Photography wasn’t in the plan… not at first.

I fell in love with film photography during college—specifically the slow, intentional process of shooting on film and developing in a darkroom. I got my first professional digital camera and started exploring abandoned homes all over Minnesota & North Dakota, captivated by the textures, stories, and the stillness. I loved finding beauty in these places that others might overlook or forget. That love for quiet beauty, rawness, and emotion became the unexpected start of something much bigger.

Then I got asked to photograph a family member’s wedding.

And suddenly, everything changed.

I realized how deeply meaningful it felt to capture something real and emotional. I wasn’t just taking pictures—I was preserving memories for couples and their families. I found myself drawn to the unnoticed details: the stolen glances, the tears sliding down a cheek, the way a grandfather watches the ceremony with a full heart, or the tissue clenched tightly in a mother’s hand as her child says her vows.

These aren’t just moments. They’re living memories, and they matter.

I realized I didn’t want to just show up on someone’s wedding day as “the photographer.” I wanted to show up as someone wholeheartedly invested in you, your story, and the people you love.

Six months before graduation, I made the boldest decision of my life: I stepped away from pursuing a PhD in Veterinary Medicine and chose to follow this new calling instead. I finished my biomedical science degree, added a business degree alongside it, and officially launched what is now EA Photo & Film LLC.

Emilyanne, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi, I’m Emilyanne, but you can call me Emily — the heart and creative behind EA Photo & Film, a Minnesota-based wedding and portrait photographer (and videographer when teamed up with my husband, Aaron). I specialize in capturing timeless, cinematic, and deeply authentic images for couples who want to feel comfortable, confident, and seen.

My journey into photography wasn’t traditional. I actually went to college with the goal of becoming a veterinarian and was passionate about specializing in disease research. I loved solving problems, finding the “why,” and helping others—especially animals. But during that time, I unexpectedly fell in love with photography through film, darkrooms, and exploring abandoned homes. I was drawn to the beauty in forgotten places, the details most people pass by, and the emotional power of an image that tells a story.

Everything changed when I photographed a family member’s wedding. I realized how much meaning there was in capturing people’s real moments—not just the posed ones, but the stolen glances, the quiet tears, the way a grandparent watches you walk down the aisle, the tissue clutched in a mother’s hand. These moments felt like legacy. I knew I couldn’t walk away from this calling. So six months before graduation, I shifted my path, finished my biomedical science degree, added a business degree, and built what’s now EA Photo & Film.

Today, I help couples document their most meaningful days in a way that feels natural, emotional, and authentic. Whether I’m photographing an intimate elopement or a big joyful celebration, I show up fully invested—in you, your story, your people. I don’t believe in cookie-cutter wedding photography. I believe in documenting moments you didn’t even realize were happening. And I’m proud to say my clients consistently tell me they felt fully comfortable, cared for, and seen.

I offer wedding photography and videography (often as a husband-wife team), engagement sessions, elopements, boudoir, maternity, family, and branding sessions. Every session is personalized, guided, and crafted with intention.

Beyond the work, I’m someone who still believes in helping however I can—especially when it comes to animals. I rescue and foster homeless cats and kittens, doing my best to give them a safe place to land while they wait for their forever homes. It’s one of the ways I continue honoring my original dream of making a difference in the lives of animals, even as my career took a different turn.

I believe in slowing down to notice the good, in building a business rooted in faith, empathy, and storytelling, and in seeing beauty where others may not.

What sets me apart? My clients say it’s how I see them. I don’t just take pretty pictures—I preserve honest emotion, the things you’ll want to remember 30 years from now. I’m proud to have built a brand that values connection over perfection, experience over trends, and real legacy over surface-level aesthetics. If you’re looking for someone to show up, invest in your story, and photograph it like it truly matters—it would be an honor to be that person.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I met my husband (and now business partner) Aaron on Facebook Dating right at the start of the pandemic in 2020. On the very first day we started talking, he asked me out. We barely knew each other—so I told him he had to wait a week. I also made it very clear where I stood by saying, “Just so you know, I have five cats.” (Translation: if this turns into anything, they’re part of the deal.) Without missing a beat, he replied, “I love cats.” From there, everything just clicked.

We got engaged a year and a half later on his birthday, and then got married three months after that—on my birthday. It was fast, intentional, and perfectly us. Today, we get to work side-by-side capturing love stories as a husband and wife team through EA Photo & Film.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes — my creative journey has always been about more than just taking beautiful photos. At the heart of it is a deep desire to help people feel seen, supported, and empowered—whether that’s couples on their wedding day, fellow photographers chasing their dreams, or animals in need of a second chance.

Building EA Photo & Film has given me the freedom to live out a mission that combines storytelling, education, and service. I get to create meaningful, emotional imagery for my clients—capturing moments that become part of their legacy. I also love mentoring and encouraging other photographers, helping them grow confident businesses rooted in purpose and sustainability. Watching others succeed in a space that once felt overwhelming is something I’ll never take for granted.

And because I’ve built a business that aligns with my values, I’m also able to give back in a way that matters deeply to me: rescuing and fostering homeless cats and kittens. It’s a full-circle moment—I started my college journey studying veterinary medicine, hoping to help animals, and even though my path shifted, that original calling still shows up in my life and business every day.

My mission is to build something that gives back—to my clients, my community, and the causes I care most about. That’s what drives me forward creatively and personally.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eaphotoandfilm.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ea.photoandfilm/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Eaphotoandfilm/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ea.photoandfilm

Image Credits

All photos are property of EA Photo & Film. :)