We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gemma Vehikite. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gemma below.
Gemma, thanks for taking the time to share your lessons with our community today. So, let’s jump right in – one of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. Where does your self-discipline come from?
I was homeschooled my entire life, and that played a huge role in shaping both my self-discipline and work ethic. From a young age, I had a lot of freedom in how I structured my day and how I learned. I had to figure out how to stay on track, teach myself new things, and be responsible for my own progress. That kind of independence taught me how to be self-motivated and to hold myself accountable—skills that directly translate to running my own business today.
As a destination wedding photographer, there’s no one telling me what to do or when to do it. Every part of my business—from client communication to travel planning to editing—is on me. I think being homeschooled really prepared me for that. It gave me the mindset that if I want something to happen, I have to create the structure and momentum to make it happen.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Professionally, I’m in a season where I’m focusing less on bucket list locations or how to break 6 figures, and more on the people I get to work with. I want to attract clients I truly connect with—the kind of people I want to stay friends with, grab coffee with and stay in touch long after the wedding is over. Because I know that when couples look at their photos years from now, they’re not just remembering a pretty backdrop—they’re remembering how they felt in that moment. My goal is to help them feel confident, comfortable, and beautiful so that those feelings last a lifetime.
Personally, I’ve been married for five years, and my husband and I are in that phase of life where we’re asking big questions about what the next five years will look like—where we want to live, what we want to do, who we want to become. It’s exciting, but also a little daunting. I’m in a place of wanting to grow, to learn, and to really look inward—breaking down old habits, questioning ideas I’ve carried for a long time, and making space for what truly matters to me: love, truth, presence, and people.
More than anything, I want to become someone who’s grounded and aware—someone who can show up fully for the people in my life. Whether that’s in a friendship, a marriage, or behind the camera, I want to bring warmth, honesty, and intention into every space I’m in.
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?
The first thing that comes to mind is something my old gymnastics coach used to say: “Just go for it.” That phrase has stuck with me. I’m a hands-on learner, and I’ve found that trial and error is one of the best ways I grow. You don’t need to have everything perfectly figured out before you begin. You just need to start. Take the photo, book the client, launch the idea—whatever it is. Nothing happens if nothing happens.
The second thing that’s been incredibly valuable is having a small circle of mentors and creative friends to lean on. People you trust to give you honest feedback, answer your questions, and encourage you when you feel stuck. That kind of support is priceless, especially when you’re building something on your own.
And third—learning how to manage yourself. As someone who was homeschooled and now runs my own business, I’ve realized that self-leadership is everything. Knowing how to structure your time, motivate yourself, and stay grounded when things get overwhelming is a skill that’s always evolving—but it’s what keeps you moving forward.
If you’re early in your journey, my biggest advice is this: don’t wait until you feel “ready.” Try things. Mess up. Learn. Ask questions. Keep showing up. And remember that the journey isn’t just about mastering your craft—it’s about practicing it.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
One of the biggest challenges I’m facing right now is sharing my work—and myself—on social media. Most of my clients find me there, so I know it’s important. But as a photographer, I get to witness such intimate, emotional moments on a couple’s wedding day. There’s a deep connection that happens between us, and I often struggle with how to share those moments online in a way that still honors how sacred and real they were.
Sometimes, posting a photo without the full story feels like it strips away the depth of the experience. It can start to feel like content instead of a memory. But I also know that by learning how to share more intentionally—both the images and the meaning behind them—I can help others feel like they were part of the moment too.
I’m learning to see social media not as a stage, but as a storytelling tool. My goal is to get more comfortable showing me—my heart, my voice, the way I see and feel things—so that the connection I build with future couples starts even before we meet.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fotogems.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foto_gems/
- Other: Pinterest: https://pin.it/59NbDelc4
Image Credits
FotoGems, or Gemma Vehikite
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
