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

Emma , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I started off as I’m sure most photographers do, with an iPhone in hand taking pictures of every sunset and pretty flower I came across. It wasn’t until high school that I realized I was interested in pursuing photography more seriously so I picked up a camera. I think the most important part of that process at the beginning was just getting the camera in my hands and playing around. At first, I had no idea what I was doing and I relied on auto settings until I felt confident enough to learn how to take control of the whole process. Early on I studied YouTube tutorials and played with settings till I started getting things right. Most of it was just going out and making photos, they were usually bad but every once in a while they were good and that is what I was chasing. Learning by doing was the key. I eventually decided to go to college and get a bachelor’s of fine arts in photography where I did learn the actual science of a camera, how it views and captures light, and all of the principles of design which have all helped me refine my craft. I don’t really think there is any way to speed up the process of learning, I’ve found that it’s all about finding something you’re interested in learning and just jumping in. I have also found that it is so important to share your work with other people, whether that be on social media or just with the people in your life. Getting feedback and seeing how your work exists in the world is the best way to learn and to improve your skills. One of the biggest obstacles when it comes to learning more about photography is access to equipment. Photo equipment can be so expensive you have lights, printers, a million different cameras to choose from, and editing software it can be overwhelming learning what works best for you. For me, the best way around this was going to school. having a lab at your disposal and the ability to check out different types of equipment and even having faculty to go to to ask for questions and advice. Now that I’m out of college I so miss the ability to hop over to the lab and print out whatever I’m working on.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Emma Henderson, I am a concert photographer in the Austin/San Marcos area. I document local music scenes through live show photography and studio portraiture work. In my work, I explore energy, color, movement, and intensity—all the sensory inputs that pair with being at a live show. By working with local bands and frequenting their shows, my photographs are very personalized. I am capturing who these artists are and how they want to be perceived. I see my work as completely collaborative between photographer and subject. By giving my subjects control over the image, I get a more faithful representation. I photograph to show my love and admiration for music culture as a whole. My favorite thing in the whole world is to watch others pursue their passions. There is nothing better than watching someone pour their heart and soul into a crowd of people. I believe you can feel the pure joy of live music just by looking at my photographs.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

My professional Instagram page definitely started with my close friends adding up to ten or so followers. It’s really easy to get discouraged when posting on social media especially now when everyone prioritizes going viral. The only way I started seeing success on social media was by meeting people in real life and networking that way. I basically started collecting Instagram accounts. Anytime I would meet an artist or someone really interesting I would ask for their social media. I’ve curated a really special space for myself that way. Anytime I’m on Instagram and I come across an artist whether they are on my Discover page or shared by someone else I immediately follow them. I love using social media as a community space. I am nowhere near Instagram famous but I love spotlighting and sharing other people’s work. Interaction, conversation, and community are the driving factors for art and social media makes all of those relationships a lot easier. It’s also really nice to have a good professional social media account for the business side of things. for example, when I photograph shows for a band and they tag me for credit all of their fans and their connections get to see my work, and if they like it they follow me, and boom that is a potential business relationship made right there. If you put time and effort into your social media accounts it can create a lot of good relationships, interaction, and even inspiration.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being a part of a community has been the most rewarding to me personally. I was really lucky to find the most caring, talented, driven, and helpful group of people really early on in my creative career. Learning how to share your art how to speak about creativity and how to accept input on really personal projects was huge for me. I really don’t think there is any reason to be an artist if you aren’t sharing your work in some way. Being cherished in a group setting has taught me how to be so excited and happy for others and even for myself. It has shown me the absolute power positivity can have in life. I am the best person I can be when I’m working with others who genuinely care about the craft.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://emmahendersonphotography.cargo.site/live-music
• Instagram: fi.shy.pics

Image Credits

Deandra Lee
Emma Henderson