Exploring Life & Business with Emma Deese of Emma Layne Photography

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Deese.

Hi Emma, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstories.
Hey there! My name is Emma, and I am the redhead behind Emma Layne Photography! My parents like to tell me they felt photography would be my career since I was about 4 when I maxed out every disposable camera at my cousin’s wedding. The pictures turned out great! I hope. I got my first taste of photography when I was about 10 after I found a camera in the back of the living room closet that my parents didn’t use anymore. I taught myself how to use the camera and experimented with anything you can imagine:

• My pets
• Flowers in the yard. Every bug and lizard I could find
• Even forcing my little brother to dress up and pose (he never liked it)

Unfortunately, this was short-lived. Growing up with extreme OCD and undiagnosed ADHD, I had a hard enough time making it through the day without even considering the added pressures of school, social interactions, and the difficult things I was facing at home. I had a hard time finding hobbies as I was barely finding the motivation to make it to the end of the day, all before middle school! It kept getting worse with the changes that came as you got older. It wasn’t until one Christmas in High School that my parents gifted me a simple camera. They hoped to find an activity that would give me something to look forward to and something I could have some control over. This brought out all the creativity and inventiveness I didn’t realize I had! It made such a positive impact that I started opening up more, making friends, and even trying new things and activities! It didn’t fix everything, of course, but it certainly helped start the healing process! Photography, while albeit was just a hobby at the time, helped me find solace and grow into the person I am today.

It started to become a passion just a couple of years ago, in 2021! I started babysitting for a local wedding photographer in my old town, and she convinced me to take that leap and prioritize photography! She started taking me to weddings and other events and inviting me to workshops and styled shoots. She taught me everything she could, helped me practice exploring, and gave me tons of experience for which I will forever be thankful. I couldn’t fathom a passion becoming my career back then, but now I can’t imagine a better alternative!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
Oh boy, never let anyone tell you chasing a dream will be easy! I’m not even 5 years into my journey, and I’ve faced so many trials and tribulations, whether it’s noticing the small details, maintaining time management, or quickly changing the camera settings to fit my surroundings. Thankfully, most things are correctable and can be learned to manage – even perfected with practice. However, there are some things that you can’t be taught and take much longer to overcome.

As mentioned earlier, I have some disorders that cause my brain to work differently than others may. So what might be easy for others can be complicated for me, and vice versa. I tend to be more sensitive to things such as light, noise, or how my skin sometimes feels. I tend to become more distracted, and it’s easy for me to lose focus. I am even prone to rejection sensitivity, meaning I take criticism or negative interactions much more harshly than intended. Sometimes I can push through and try my best to distract myself from my issues, but sometimes I can’t. These are struggles that I am still working on today, and that’s okay! I believe our struggles make the things we are good at much more valuable. Like how the rain reminds us how much we enjoy the sunshine. It’s all about finding what works best for us and not comparing ourselves to others. No matter what struggles lie ahead, as long as you’re chasing your passion and spreading kindness, the outcome will be worth it!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us more about your business.
Every Saturday morning, while my brother watched cartoons, I watched Bindi Irwin’s tv show “Bindi the Jungle Girl.” Her father, Steve Irwin, was featured a lot; from there, my appreciation for him and his family began! I watched as many shows, movies, and specials of theirs as I could, and my love for animals skyrocketed. Ever since, I have wanted to work with animals, but little did I know that I would end up wanting to photograph them! This is my passion, and I would love to photograph for National Geographic, Discovery, or other media resources that focus on wildlife! I would love to photograph zoos, rehabilitation centers, shelters to help animals be adopted, and so much more just as long as I can be around the fantastic world of animals!

I have also found that I enjoy photographing the human world! I like to imagine that although I want a future focused on wildlife and nature, I would love to be a sort of “jack of all trades” and be able to explore any space and area in the world of photography and learn as much as I can! Whether sports, cars, weddings, real estate, seniors, classroom pictures, anything!

My goal for anyone with a session with me is to leave feeling like they had the most comfortable, freeing, and confident time of their lives. And when they receive their images, I want them to be able to look at them and re-live those feelings for years to come. Growing up lower class, we had to save up all year if we wanted family pictures, so I relate to those families who can’t afford to capture those precious moments. I promised myself when I first started that I wouldn’t forget where I came from and wouldn’t get an inflated idea of my work. So because of this, I make sure my sessions are low-income-friendly! I believe in being paid well for my time, but I more so believe that whenever we can help others who need it or are less fortunate than us, we should do so!

What do you like and dislike about the city?
Wilmington is insane and in such a good way! I am still exploring this town and the beauties it has to offer. However, who can deny the best feature – the ocean! I have always wanted to live in the ocean at least once, and now I am! My favorite spots are Surf City and Topsail Island! Coming from deep within the Blue Ridge Mountains, it certainly is a big adjustment, to say the least especially since my love for the mountains is so deep! But I have come to absolutely love it.

Another thing I like about this area is that there are many things to do! Whether it’s food, activities, leisure, or sightseeing, you have many options! As I said, I am still pretty new to the area, so it’s hard to find a negative!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.emmalaynephotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmalaynephotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emmalaynephotography