Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Ruby.
Hi Emma, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
It started as a high school passion. I found my Dad’s old film camera and shot the whole roll, only for the camera to break before I saw the results. I enjoyed the process so much that I begged for a camera for Christmas that year. I was gifted a beginner Canon camera. After that I always took any opportunity to be behind the camera. I would often bring it to social outings and pester my friends to let me take photos of them. Covid gave me a lot of time to practice and shoot that I ordinarily wouldn’t have had. I’m proud to say it’s now been a full time job for a little over two years.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No small business is a smooth road, but I have to say I’ve been particularly blessed to have met amazing people in the industry and have been given incredible opportunities.
As far as getting there, I would say I’ve had two main struggles. One is patience. We live in a day of instant gratification. Viral posts, overnight sales, and mass scaling. For most of us we quietly grow, over a period of years. It’s a beautiful process, I can proudly say I’ve watched clients graduate, get engaged, marry, and have children. None of it happens overnight, and that’s okay.
My second struggle I would say would be learning when to say no. “Yes” will get you so many opportunities, and put you in rooms you can’t even fathom. I’m a huge advocate of taking the leap and doing things, even just for the experience. However, setting good boundaries, learning when not to overbook yourself, and using discernment when working with people is equally as important as being willing to go the extra mile. This in general is more a human struggle, but impacts business.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I mainly shoot weddings, couples, and graduates, but I do a wide variety of projects. I truly love anything that involves capturing the presence and energy of people; however, I still enjoy a good product or brand shoot. I particularly love working with musicians and often fly to Nashville to work with some amazing artists. So far I’ve been on tour three times and it’s been such a wonderful experience. It’s definitely one of my favorite accomplishments. My camera has honestly taken me a lot of crazy places. I’ve been in a helicopter twice, gotten a stamp in my passport shooting a wedding, gotten to go 212 mph shooting luxury cars, worked on sets, and met musicians I grew up listening to. I really could not have a cooler job or better people around me.
I’d say what sets me apart would be my “yes” attitude, and honestly, my talkative tendencies. I’m not anyone particularly special to get to do the things I do, and I wouldn’t call myself the best photographer out there—but I’ve found being honest, hardworking, and a good communicator goes a long way. It’s very hard to say no to those who care greatly about what they do.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
People are just doing their best- in work, life, everything. Sometimes that looks different for everyone and may not be how you’d handle something, but realizing that everyone is just handling things the best way they know how provides a lot of insight. Going into any situation with that mindset and patience will get you pretty far and provide a lot of peace in stressful situations. Clients, coworkers, and staff all have unseen things they are dealing with. I think photography has let me see the behind-the-scenes of so many things and really driven that home for me. There’s no audio or backstory on a photo and that’s what makes storytelling so important.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.emmarubyphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmarubyphotography?igsh=MWlsemdmbnZ0aHRnYg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
Headshot by Byron Boykins
