Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Simmons.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have always been creative. One of my earliest memories is walking around with a little Little Mermaid camera, capturing the world the best way I knew how. But when I started college, I lost sight of who I was and what I loved. Life happened, priorities shifted, and I stopped creating altogether.
By my sophomore year, I dropped out for a year. Then life happened again, harder this time. I reached a low point where I had lost friendships, my ex had cheated, and I felt completely directionless. After about three years away, I returned to church, searching for something more. That’s where I found my purpose again. I was baptized, and during that season I noticed something small but impactful: we only had one person taking photos, and it took forever to get them back. In that moment, I decided I wanted to be the person who showed up, captured memories, and delivered them with care.
So I went to a pawn shop and bought my first DSLR, a Canon Rebel T6 with kit lenses, for $150. And I started shooting.
I made friends in the biker community and began photographing their hangouts and events. Not long after, Sparrow Photography was born. It wasn’t overnight, and it certainly didn’t go exactly as planned, but I was trying, and that mattered. I started with mini sessions and booked one or two clients. Then I took a leap and set up a photo booth at the farmers market. It was a hit. I had never seen anyone do it before, but I trusted my instincts.
From there, I began working with local businesses and booking more couples. When I was asked to photograph an engagement session, I knew it was time to invest in myself, so I upgraded to a Canon 80D, a camera I absolutely loved and a huge step forward from my Rebel.
Around this time, I returned to college. I had been taking summer classes to catch up, encouraged (and pushed) by my parents. At the time, I was frustrated, but now I’m incredibly grateful. Thank you mom and dad! I love yall!
I began taking photography courses alongside my psychology classes and realized I loved both. Those photography classes taught me what shooting alone never could, from understanding light to mastering Photoshop and Lightroom, and I quickly found myself excelling.
That same summer, I met my husband. He supported me, helped me study, and kept me focused. He lived in North Carolina, so we took turns traveling to see each other, and after just three months, he asked me to marry him. I said yes without hesitation, and we eloped that December.
As Sparrow Photography continued to grow, the spring semester of 2025 brought my first wedding booking, a sweet older couple from my church. They paid $400 for four hours, and I fell completely in love with wedding photography that day. Shortly after, my husband’s cousin asked us to travel to Alabama for her elopement. My husband officiated, and I photographed it. It was intimate, meaningful, and unforgettable.
From there, I leaned fully into weddings and elopements. I marketed more, traveled more, and booked more consistently. I balanced work, college, and shooting weddings on the weekends all through summer and into the fall semester of my senior year.
Eventually, my husband and I had a conversation that changed everything: I was making enough to pursue photography full-time. So I did. I put in my two weeks at a job I liked but didn’t love. It was bittersweet, but freeing. I poured everything into my business, and it showed.
Now, as I balance running Sparrow Photography full-time, I’m also in my final stretch of college. I have just one semester left before graduating with my bachelor’s degree in psychology and photography, a combination that perfectly reflects both my heart and my work. Understanding people, emotions, and connection has deeply shaped the way I photograph love and life.
Today, I’ve photographed newborns, Fresh 48 sessions, weddings, engagements, maternity, elopements, sports, baptisms, and so much more. I truly love every session, but weddings and engagements hold my heart. Being trusted to document some of the most meaningful moments in someone’s life is something I will never take for granted.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all! It hasn’t been a smooth road, and I don’t think it was meant to be.
There were seasons of deep uncertainty, financial stress, and self-doubt. I struggled with starting over after stepping away from college, with rebuilding confidence after losing friendships and trust, and with learning how to run a business without a roadmap. There were times I questioned whether I was good enough, experienced enough, or equipped to keep going especially in a saturated industry where comparison can be loud.
Balancing college, work, marriage, and building a photography business was exhausting. There were late nights editing, early mornings for classes, weekends spent shooting while everyone else rested, and moments where burnout felt very real. Investing in better equipment and education was scary, especially when I didn’t know if the return would come.
I also had to learn how to set boundaries, price my work sustainably, and advocate for myself, lessons that don’t come naturally but are essential for growth. Some opportunities didn’t work out, and some plans failed entirely. But each setback forced me to adapt, learn, and trust the process more deeply.
What carried me through was purpose, faith, and persistence. Every struggle sharpened my vision and strengthened my commitment. Looking back, the hard parts didn’t slow me down, they shaped me into a photographer who leads with empathy, resilience, and intention. And that’s something I’m incredibly grateful for.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At the heart of my work is storytelling. I’m a lifestyle and wedding photographer through Sparrow Photography, and I focus on capturing real connection, the in-between moments, the quiet emotions, and the honest joy that can’t be staged. I don’t just take photos; I create space for people to feel comfortable, seen, and themselves.
I specialize in weddings and engagements, though my work also includes newborns, Fresh 48 sessions, maternity, elopements, baptisms, sports, and family milestones. Weddings are where my heart truly lives. I love documenting the full story of a day, from nervous anticipation to joyful celebration, in a way that feels timeless and true to the couple.
I’m known for a calm, reassuring presence and a documentary-inspired approach with gentle guidance. Many of my couples tell me they felt at ease even if they were nervous in front of the camera, and that’s something I take a lot of pride in. With a background in psychology and photography, I’m deeply attuned to people’s emotions and dynamics, which allows me to anticipate moments, read the room, and capture images that feel meaningful rather than forced.
What I’m most proud of is building Sparrow Photography from the ground up, starting with a pawn-shop camera and a vision, while balancing college, marriage, and life’s challenges. I’m proud that my business is rooted in integrity, growth, and genuine care for my clients.
What sets me apart is intention. I show up fully invested, not just in the images, but in the people behind them. I value fast, reliable communication, thoughtful turnaround times, and an experience that feels just as good as the final gallery. Every session, big or small, is treated with the same level of respect and purpose. My goal is for clients to walk away not only loving their photos, but feeling confident, valued, and remembered.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happiest is connection, both creating it and witnessing it. Being able to preserve meaningful moments for people, especially during seasons that move too quickly, brings me a deep sense of fulfillment. There’s something incredibly special about knowing that an image I capture may one day be held, revisited, and treasured long after the moment has passed.
I’m happiest when I’m creating with purpose. Photography allows me to slow time, tell stories, and honor emotions that words often can’t. It combines everything I love creativity, people, empathy, and service. With my background in psychology, I find joy in understanding others and helping them feel comfortable, seen, and valued, whether they’re celebrating a wedding day or welcoming a new life.
Outside of my work, happiness looks like quiet, grounded moments: time with my husband, growth through learning, faith, and the simple joy of knowing I’m walking in a calling that once felt so far away. Happiness, for me, comes from alignment, doing work that reflects who I am and using it to bring meaning to others’ lives.
Pricing:
- Weddings start at $1000
- Elopments start at $300
- Engagements start at $150
- Micro Weddings start at $90
- Standard sessions start at $90
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sparrowphotography59.mypixieset.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparrow_.photography?igsh=MTZpb2xveGtzZWFhZw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1KTvdbdFYt/
