Meet Emily Rios of Chattanooga

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Rios.

Hi Emily, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have had a deep love for photography from a young age. I remember being eleven and going around the yard with my family’s point and shoot camera and capturing anything I found interesting, I would then go in to paint shop and add my name to the bottom of the images so they would feel professional.

Being dyslexic I was very much a visual learner and struggled in school, photography helped me bring to life the world inside my head, as well as bring me confidence and help me overcome my insecurities about my intellect. It has really been a creative outlet and place of healing for me.

My goal with my photography is to bring worlds to life, mine and my clients. My work is a piece of me, a little map of my world, my clients are the handprints in that world.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road for me. I’ve moved a lot over the years which has made it hard to build a clientele, also being very creative I have struggled with the business side of things, but every day I’m growing, learning, and building the small business of my dreams.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a portrait photographer. my sole focus is in portraiture, though I can shoot other things such as events and landscape, I choose to focus on portrait photography because I fell in love with the process and it is where I thrive creatively.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
As cliche as it sounds, I learned to value community. I’ve learned over the years that it is so important to surround yourself with inspiring people and to collaborate with them whenever possible. Covid-19 made this very hard, and I feel my work suffered for it.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.emilyriosphotography.com/
• Instagram: @emilyriosphotography

Image Credits:
Emily Rios Photography