
I'M EMMA
Photographer, Entrepreneur, & Visual Storyteller
When I think of my roots as a photographer, I think of live music. This is where I started.
Music has changed my life in a million little ways I'll never be able to explain, but the thrill of live music touches my very soul. Before I even knew who I was and what I had to offer the world, I was chasing live music like my life depended on it. As I tried to make being a musician work, and then artist management, I eventually fell into the world of photography. I fell in love with the "by any means necessary" attitude in order to capture my art within the fast paced environment of the music industry. I enjoyed getting crafty and resourceful while trying to get my business off the ground. I stood in rain storms, muddy photo pits, half-hung myself off balconies above stages, willingly smushed myself in less than ideal vans full of gear, and did absolutely anything I could to make things work. I regard those days as some of the best days of my life: collaborating with a variety of artists, traveling frequently, creating incredible memories, and documenting the entire process with a dingy little camera.
Creative portrait work is what I feel really launched my business forward following the release of my music photo book, VITALS, and through the pandemic during 2020. My portrait work has undeniably been influenced by my experience shooting live music, and still is today. My goal is to make you feel like you're in your own little movie, and to tell a story, rather than thrown some random poses together.
After building my confidence in live music and portraits, I decided I was ready to handle even more fast paced environments, and moved into the wedding industry. It took me a whole year of studying wedding photography and the way I wanted to approach it, before jumping into the jet stream industry. So, I started taking on handfuls of couples sessions in order to become more comfortable posing two subjects at the same time. I immediately fell in love with being right in the middle of everything on a wedding day.
2022 RECAP
"To make living itself an art, that is the goal."
HENRY MILLER

NICE TO MEET YOU!

MUSIC FUELS
EVERYTHING I DO
My favorite thing about living in Chicago is lakeside sunrises. During the warmer months, I'll be up before the sun in order to watch it rise down by the water. My mom grew up on a lake, and sometimes I think that those "by the water" genes filtered down into my personality as well. There is something so calming about just listening to nature like this. If you're interested in a sunrise session, I'm definitely your girl!
AN EARLY RISER THROUGH & THROUGH