Meet Emily Lawrence

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emily Lawrence a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I think about imposter syndrome alot, maybe because I often feel it. Recently in an interview Martha Stewart was asked if she ever felt impost syndrome and she quickly said “No, You shouldn’t even know what that is”. I’m sure we would all love to be able to answer that question in the same way! The reality is that the feeling of being an imposter tends to sneak up on us, and at the root of that feeling, is the feeling that we just don’t belong. As I think about walking into a room where I have told myself that I don’t belong, comes the absolute beauty that I do. Why? Because I’m there. I wouldn’t have been hired if they didn’t want me, I wouldn’t be apart of the conversation if I didn’t have value. I do have value, my art has value, and my contribution to those around me has value. I think it’s good to sit with the uncomfortableness of not feeling like you belong. It means you are doing something hard, and that means that you are doing something good. I don’t want art to feel comfortable. Comfort if boring, and I think as an artist you stop growing when it gets easy.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I have been doing photography for 15 years. While doing that as a side job for many years, I was also a nanny, a preschool teacher and did children’s ministry at churches throughout that time. All of those jobs helped me to see connections that humans make on a daily basis. When you are working with kids so often you get to see into peoples lives in a way that other jobs may not allow. It helps you to build within yourself the art of noticing. Noticing the beauty in mundane interactions has made me a better photographer. I photograph everything from weddings, to families, to headshots, but I feel like I create my best art when I’m getting to do a slow family session where we take time to just be, to play, and to notice the interactions that people are already stepping into. For me, I want to make more of that art. I want to continue to capture a snapshot of where people are now. I don’t have much interest in curating a perfect family photo, a messy one feels way more exciting. It feels really special that I get to do this full time. Having a career in the arts feels like a dream. It’s not easy, but it is worth it.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Im a very energetic person. I don’t ever stop. For some people I can be a lot, but I think that quality has helped me in my career to create a fun and exciting space. I really believe that bringing energy to a session can help everyone to relax and enjoy photos, instead of them feeling like a burden.
2. I think I have always been gifted at working with kids. I have done it my whole life. I have been a nanny, a teacher, and a mom for 8 years. Learning to sit and be with little ones has impacted my art more than anything else. It taught me to give up perfection and embrace what was in front of me. And what is in front of me is way more beautiful than perfection.
3. Another quality that helped me to grow as an artist is a genuine desire to know about a person and their life. I will probably ask you a whole heap of questions if we meet, but it’s because I really want to know you! That has helped me to create lasting relationships with my clients. It’s not a face I’m putting on, I really love the people I get to work with.

To a new photographer I would say, the camera skills will come, you can watch a YouTube video for that. What will make you better is to start noticing how freaking beautiful everything around you is. Dive deep into that. Being able to see beauty in the mundane moments will create more joy and life in your art than you could imagine!

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

One thing that has always been important to our family is our community. Since I got married 11 years ago it has been our goal to use our resources to help those around us. On another note I have recently been talking to so many artist that would love to have studio space, but can’t afford to do that on their own. I have big dreams of being able to get artists together to open an art center. A place where artists could have affordable studio space. With that, I would also love to see those artists turn and support our community. I think it would be so incredible if a space like that could parter with local schools and pour into kids the same way we were poured into.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://emilyjophoto.com
• Instagram: @emilyjophoto