We recently connected with Emily Watson and have shared our conversation below.
Emily, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
I learned early on that I think differently than most of my peers. I was fortunate that in grade school I had people around me who valued that, and looked to me for creative ideas and solutions. I chose to attend a college with other kids who had “stuck out” in high school. Being around other creative, smart, and progressive students was a beautiful experience, but honestly it was sometimes overwhelming being in a crowd of like-minded voices. It taught me that I have a huge amount of respect for the voice of dissent, and that I’m okay being the person in the room who disagrees or offers a different point of view. I’ve spent enough time now as a working artist that I’m okay with the negative undertones that are part of someone calling me “quirky” or “artsy” or “unique.” I’ve been called all those things with both distaste and admiration, and I’ve learned to hear them only as compliments. As hard as it is to enter a room and not find much commonality with other people, I constantly remind myself that redundancy of thoughts and ideas adds less value to a conversation than the ability to offer a fresh perspective.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My work as a product photographer developed as a way to retain my creativity in the midst of stress and constraints. I spent more than 10 years as an art jeweler, working long hours in my home studio and traveling to craft shows to meet customers and galleries. About 10 years ago, I was forced to step away from that and be home to take care of my husband and two adopted sons. What felt initially like a brave choice started to feel limiting, because I didn’t have the long periods of uninterrupted time needed to create the way I used to. I’ve always loved photography (and actually focused on that in college) and was taking more photographs then because I had two new sons. I was also really interested in skincare, mostly as a way to decompress and feel connected with my own needs. The inquisitive spirit in me prompted a lot of research into brands, ingredients, and trends in skincare. Eventually I started writing reviews and taking creative shots of the products I was using. The same elements that were central to my jewelry (color, bold shapes, creative combinations) are evident in my product photos, and it has been really fun to have a new outlet for my creativity. My instagram page @agelessandradiant is my primary outlet, because I can compose images creatively while also connecting with brands and other skincare enthusiasts. I’ve had the chance to work with a number of brands, and my goal for the coming year is to continue building this as a business. I’d love to help add creativity and color to the images brands use for their products!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I’d say the biggest skill I’ve developed is self-awareness, which encompasses so many other things. It’s the ability to recognize my own strengths and weaknesses, define the boundaries of what I’m willing to do to accomplish a goal, and be realistic about how much I can accomplish. I’ve learned with time that research is one of my strengths, so I approach new things knowing I can find the knowledge needed to accomplish them. I think that confidence in being able to learn new things is more innate in younger people, because there is so much information readily available now. I see that with my own kids, who just search for tutorials if they have to perform a new task. But that access to information doesn’t teach how to temper your expectations about success, or how to emotionally manage failure. And I think that reliance on having instructions to follow can also be a pitfall, so I tell my kids to imagine a solution first and to always question whether there might be a different or better approach.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I’ve always loved to collaborate with other people, because everyone brings such specific experiences and skills to a project. I’m constantly amazed by the ways other creatives suggest things I would never have thought of, even if we have similar skill sets. I’d love to explore some collaborative projects where I create images in-camera and someone else edits them to create a new image. Especially given all of the AI tools available, it’s possible to change an image completely, and I’m intrigued by the limitless possibilities of that. I see a fascinating tension between embracing AI generated images while staying authentic. As much as I love the possibilities of editing, I would also love to work with brands that want to showcase their products in a more artistic way, and want a result that feels more handmade and less computer-polished. I’d love to connect with brands or other creatives, and have my contact info linked on my Instagram page @agelessandradiant
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.metalemily.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agelessandradiant
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