Emma Deese shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Emma, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
It’s very interesting to answer this question, as it is a big topic in my life right now! I am a vocal and loud follower of Christ. I don’t believe in shoving my beliefs down someone’s throat like He teaches (1 Peter 3:15-16), but I do believe in not hiding my beliefs and I encourage others to do the same! I spend a lot of time in prayer, and recently I have been asking a lot about what to do with my career. Photography is a love, a passion, and a joy in my life. I would love to make a full career with it, but I have always been afraid of failure. Not only failure, but the inability to make ends meet financially. However, I have felt a specific calling in my prayers to “just jump” – to give all of my attention and time into making a life with photography. Quitting my job, throwing myself into selling my services (even though I don’t have a sales bone in my body), and putting all my efforts into making it work! I take care of kiddos as a side gig, and a big mantra we have been working on is “sometimes you have to go through the hard stuff to get to the fun stuff.” Looks like it’s my turn to live this out!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey y’all!! My name is Emma and I’m the face behind Emma Layne Photography. Right now, I am located near Surf City, NC which is, in my opinion, the best beach out on the East Coast! I have had the honor of photographing some amazing people with rich personalities and the most loving smiles. My favorite part of my work is showing my clients the beauty that I saw when taking their photos. My clients typically come from my surrounding cities and further along the coast, but also deeper into the mainland! I have been blessed to work with clients from all walks of life and cultures. I love to travel, so I am open to clients from all over the country, and hopefully even beyond!! I’ll share one of my goals with you: I want to visit every state in the US and have a photoshoot in each one!
Aside from human clients, which I love dearly, I have an immense love for animals. I feel like I have been given a gift of connecting with them, as I have this indescribable feeling when I am around animals / wildlife. I cry a little every time I go to my favorite aquariums out here, or visit any animal sanctuaries! Even passing by an animal in the wild or even a pet here and there – there’s just a joy I can’t describe! When I photograph animals however, there’s a different sensation. I feel like they show me their purest form and I am witnessing God’s perfect design come to life in front of me, and I have a strong instinct to protect it. Steve Irwin has been a huge inspiration through my entire life, ever since I watched Bindi’s Treehouse for the first time. His message and teachings have resonated with me growing up, and have helped build my own mission to show the beauties of the world in the hope that it will lead to better care for these creatures and their habitats.
My photography is not just a job or a hobby – I use it as an opportunity to give back to the world. I keep my prices low income friendly, as I believe all families should have an opportunity to capture moments that are important to them. The animals I photograph in the wild are kept just that, wild, without disturbance or putting them in danger. I use the platforms I am growing to educate others and spread as much love and joy as I can!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Jesus! How can I state things about myself without giving credit to the One who gave me my personality and heart. Before I got right with Him and really surrendered to Him, I was so depressed amongst other things. I had a horrible perception of myself and everyone around me. I always said I was “christian” but I never lived it. I grew up around a lot of “christian” influences who actively made life difficult, who fed my depression and deepened my distaste for the religion. One day, I came to an awful permanent solution. As swiftly as it entered my life, He took it out. It took this to realize that what I knew of religion was bogus. I no longer was someone who was christian, I was someone who followed Christ. A simple wording change to some, a life turned around to me. Everything changed the day I surrendered it all and really followed Him. So much so that the people out there who are where I was, I want to reach out and hug every one of you and tell you that He is waiting for you. He was the only remedy for my illness, and I know He can be for yours. Today, I see a strong woman, who despite battles still has a love for others. I use my platforms to give Him glory because realistically, without Him, I wouldn’t be here to share my love of photography with you right now!
Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
Uhhh to be honest, I work with kids – it is very rare I am listened to. 😂
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
Trends can be so fun! I will admit I doomscroll through some new trends because they’re so fun, almost hypnotizing. They can also be very useful tools when expanding your business online and reaching more followers. A lot of my posts are inspired by the trends going on! However, I believe fads are something different. Some are harmless, such as a new style of clothes or product everyone jumps on. But some are dangerous, like altering your body negatively or changing your personality just because it’s popular. Society changes so much and so fast, especially with technologies and advances in the world. It’s hard to keep up for someone like me or rooted adults, but for young and impressionable minds, it’s hard to avoid and navigate through.
My solution is very simple: stay true to your beliefs, remember right from wrong, and don’t change who you are for anyone or anything. If the fad comes and goes, you’ll still be your core self at the end of it. If a foundational shift comes, you’ll take it with grace and grow along with it! This way no matter what becomes of it, whether it be fad or foundational, you will still be yourself and doing what is morally right!
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
To answer the question personally, I am guilty of doing some things that aren’t good for me and aren’t going to pay off, such as doomscrolling – which I am very guilty of. But I believe there is a deeper meaning here. I am a very firm believer in the saying “everything happens for a reason.” For religious reasons first and foremost, (John 13:7), but also through experience navigating my 26 years of life. The highs and lows we go through now will always be for a purpose later down the road. We go through struggles now to make us grow a strong fortitude, so that we can handle the harder battles later. We go through the monotonous routines of our boring and soul crushing tasks so that we can enjoy the joys the payoff will give us later. We must experience the storm to witness the rainbow!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.emmalaynephotography.com
- Instagram: @emmalaynephotography
- Facebook: @emmalaynephotography
- Other: Venmo – @emmalayne01
