Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Davis.
Hi Emily, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I first picked up a camera back in 2014, shortly after becoming a mom, & what started as a creative outlet quickly turned into something I really loved. Over the years, though, I struggled with burnout & a lot of self doubt, & eventually stepped away from photography in 2020.
Fast forward to February 2024, I was serving on the photography team at my church and photographed a worship night that completely reminded me why I fell in love with photography in the first place. It was honestly one of those moments where everything just clicked again. Not long after, I decided to give my business another shot, but this time with a different mindset & a lot more intention behind what I was doing.
Today, I’m a wife, a homeschooling mom to 3 girls, & a wedding photographer based in Middle Tennessee. Weddings have really become where my heart is, & I love getting to document all the little moments, genuine emotions, & everything in between that makes each couple’s story their own.
Since coming back, I’ve had some really incredible opportunities, met so many wonderful people, & grown in ways I never expected. I’m still learning & growing every day, but I’m really grateful I found my way back to something I love so much.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think one of the biggest struggles for me has been getting out of my own head. Comparison & self doubt have been huge hurdles throughout my photography journey, especially in an industry where it’s so easy to look at what everyone else is doing & feel like you’re falling behind.
Stepping away in 2020 was hard, but coming back in 2024 had its own challenges. I was essentially starting over, rebuilding my business, finding my style again, & learning how to balance being a wife, mom of 3, & business owner. There have been plenty of moments where I’ve questioned myself, felt overwhelmed, or wondered if I was doing enough.
But I think those harder seasons have taught me the most. I’ve learned that growth doesn’t always happen as quickly as we’d like, that comparison really does steal the joy out of something you love, & that it’s okay to build a business at a pace that works for you & your family. I’m still figuring things out as I go, & I think that’s just part of it!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a photographer based in Middle Tennessee, with weddings being the biggest part of what I do & where my heart really is. My style is a mix of documentary & editorial photography. I love capturing the genuine, unscripted moments throughout a wedding day while also creating those timeless, intentional portraits that couples will love for years to come.
One thing that’s really important to me is making sure my couples can actually enjoy their wedding day. I don’t want them to feel like they’re spending the entire day taking pictures or constantly being told what to do. I love helping with timelines, offering guidance when it’s needed, & then stepping back to let moments happen naturally. Some of my favorite photographs are the ones nobody even realized I was taking.
I think what sets me apart is the way I approach each wedding as more than just a job or a checklist of photos. I really try to get to know my couples, understand what’s important to them, & make sure their day feels like *their* day. I’m not there to turn their wedding into an 8 hour photoshoot. I’m there to tell their story as it naturally unfolds, while stepping in with guidance when it’s needed. I want my couples to feel comfortable, be fully present, & trust that I’m paying attention to all those little moments happening around them. I think that balance between being intentional & letting things happen naturally is a huge part of who I am as a photographer.
& at the end of the day, I want my work to feel like a memory. True-to-color, honest, full of emotion, & something that still feels just as special 30 years from now as it does today.
What does success mean to you?
I think my definition of success has changed a lot over the years. When I first started, I think I measured success by how busy I was, how many bookings I had, or how my work compared to others. Now, I look at it completely differently.
For me, success is being able to do something I genuinely love while still being present for my husband & our girls. It’s building meaningful relationships, creating work I’m proud of, & knowing that the moments I’m documenting will mean something to people for generations.
I don’t necessarily want to be the busiest photographer or have the biggest business. I want to build something sustainable, stay true to who I am, & honor God in the way I serve others. If I can do all of that while continuing to grow both personally & creatively, I’d consider that pretty successful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://emilydavisphotographytn.mypixieset.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilydavisphotog?rpxt=eDdreXdzNnIyMXZm&utm_source=qr
