We were lucky to catch up with Emilia Joy recently and have shared our conversation below.
Emilia , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
The most important thing about my identity is that I am a Christian. The life that I have in Lord Jesus Christ is my ultimate identity and purpose. As a follower of Jesus there are endless opportunities for finding purpose in this life. The Bible is full of commands that give us purpose. One of the commands of Christ is to “love your neighbor as yourself” Mark 12:30-31. I believe God has given each individual person a specific gifting which He has called them to use in love and service to the people around them. I have been inclined towards art and creativity since I was very young. I used my little camera when I was young to photograph flowers and animals and anything else that crossed my path. It started out as a hobby but as I entered into highschool I realized that photography could be a huge way of loving and serving the people who stepped in front of my camera. I saw in my own life how photos of my family or of special events in my life had been a huge gift to me as the years went by, It made me look at my hobby in a completely different way. That’s when I realized that this was an avenue for fulfilling my God given purpose. As I have learned and grown in my skills as a photographer I find more reasons to be thankful for this calling. It is such a gift to help my clients see their lives and their families in a way that reminds them that life is precious and is a gift from God.
The world is full of endless opportunities, that’s a gift, but it can also feel paralyzing. How do you choose what to do when there are ten thousands options in front of you? I have found that there is incomparable freedom and purpose in obedience to Christ and service to people. There is a unique kind of joy in forgetting yourself in the midst of service to others. I believe that this is what God made us for and there is no better way of finding purpose than in pursuing what you were designed to do.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Emilia Joy and I am a professional photographer. I have spent the last 5-6 years building a photography business. As the years have gone by I have narrowed my service areas to couples, families and senior portraits. I believe these are the areas that I am most gifted and best able to serve clients.
There are a few things that I really love about my job. One of them is the way that I am able to freeze in time, seasons of life that are ever changing. Kids grow fast, family dynamics are always changing, wedding days fly by. I document, I tell stories, I capture moments that would soon fade into a distant memory. Photos are a way of “bottling up” memories, pull that photo out in 10 years and all the memories from that moment flood back, the way your youngest child flung their head back when they belly laughed, the way your mom cried the happiest tears when you walked down the aisle, the way you felt when you said the biggest yes of your life.
Another reason I love my job is the way that I can help people see the world and the people around them differently. There’s something about having the crazy chaos of your family of five captured in a way that reminds you that this chaos is what you always dreamed of. Or documenting your wedding in a way that reminds you that there are hundreds of people that played a huge part in helping you get to this special day. Being a photographer has changed the way that I see the world, it has changed the way that I value, time as it passes by, the friends as they sit in my living room and has even changed my perspective of the mundane moments that make up much of this life. Every day is a gift. Every day should be valued and treasured.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I would say that passion and purpose are the number one driving forces to starting a business. If you’re passionate about something it will help you through the difficult days of running a business. Without passion you will always be saying “I can’t do this.” Without purpose you’ll always be asking “Is it worth it?”
Perseverance is another very important quality. Perseverance that isn’t fueled by passion and purpose will not last and will hold no joy. Purpose gives you a reason to keep pressing on, and passion gives you the fuel to persevere. You know what they say, ” Climb a mountain one step at a time”
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal clients are people who really want to have special seasons of their lives documented as sweet memories. People who value family and relationship, people who are full of life and love for the people around them. My deal clients are people who aren’t looking the perfectly posed or manipulated moments but people who are looking for photos that document the hilariously wild and sometimes imperfect and messy moments that make up this beautiful life. My clients aren’t looking for photos that are manipulated to make them look like someone else, but they are looking for photos that capture their true personalities, their unique stories and the love that they have for their people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://emiliajoyphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emiliajoy_photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emiliajoyPhotography/
Image Credits
Emilia Joy Photography
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