Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily O’Neil.
Hi Emily, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My photography journey is a little untraditional compared to most photographers. Most photographers always had a camera in their hand growing up, for me that wasn’t the case. When I was around 10, I made my own Pinterest account & I remember being on there for hours on end, addicted if you will. Aesthetics is what intrigued me & once I made my own boards on Pinterest, I couldn’t stop. I fell in love with creating mood boards & collages in old notebooks. This was where I believe I developed my eye for being a photographer.
My photography journey started in 2017, this was when I decided to buy my first real camera & made up my mind that I was going to start my own photography business. I had no clue on what I was doing or where this would take me, but all I knew was that I wanted to be able to create something of my own. All within 1 month of being a beginner photographer I purchased my first camera, made my own website, bought business cards, & started photographing all my friends. I remember only photographing 2 friends & then I started charging for sessions, thinking about this now is just so wild to me. I started photographing senior portraits & this is a service I still offer today. That following summer, I photographed my first wedding alongside my videographer dad. During my first year as a photographer, I photographed 4 weddings as a Lead Photographer with my dad & second shoot dozens of weddings with local photographers. This was when I decided I hated photographing weddings & it was too much work for me. As time passed, I kept receiving inquiries to photograph seniors, until a friend of mine asked me to be her wedding photographer, I said yes. On their wedding day, I fell in love with capturing love on wedding days & I knew I wanted to try to become a wedding photographer. I wasn’t too sure how to become a wedding photographer, but I knew it was achievable. I decided I had to invest in mentoring & I learned from some of my favorite photographers in Austin, Texas. After being apart of an amazing workshop, I took what I learned & was able to book my first few weddings. Since 2020, which I know was one of the worst years for some, however, this was the best year for me & my business. I photographed 6 wedding days, whether it was an elopement, intimate, or traditional wedding. 2021 came & this was the year I had professional branding done & went full time as a photographer. I was able to hire a virtual assistant to help me grow my social media for my love stories & since then I have been able to continue capturing people’s journeys & stories.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would be lying if I said it was easy to be where I’m at now. I had a number of hurdles throughout my journey; impostor syndrome, rude clients, messed up taxes, no bookings for months, feeling burnt out, and so much more. Without having struggles, you aren’t able to grow & be proud of what you had to go through to be where you are at. Some days are harder than others, but being able to have a healthy work-life balance is crucial for me to have a healthy relationship with running my business.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Capturing your journey. This is what I do, I photograph the milestones throughout one’s life. Senior Portraits, Engagements, Weddings, Anniversaries, Maternity, and anything lifestyle related is who I photograph. I love being able to capture my client’s throughout their journey of life. Being able to look back on your memories through photos is so special & being able to be the person capturing those memories is always an honor.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Fake it until you make it. This is what I did & something I still do, when I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing. I don’t remind myself of this as often now, since I have been able to perfect my craft, but it’s something I tell those who are just starting out. If you want to do something, don’t put it off, just find a way to make it & put your energy into it. Another piece of advice is to be yourself. This is over said, however, if you try to copy someone you won’t stick out & it’s not practical for the longevity of your business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.emilyymariephotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emplovestories/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/emilyymariephotography
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/emilyymarieph
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCashHPCtBTFla7t0RWhKhoQ
Image Credits
@empseniors
@emplovestories
