Daily Inspiration: Meet Emily Orcutt

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Orcutt. 

Hi Emily, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Howdy! I’m Emily, with Emily June Photography & Doula services based in the Aurora & Denver area. From the moment my parents knew they were pregnant, they began documenting all of the milestones and memories they could to tell my life story. So, photography has been a huge part of my life from the beginning! When my dad showed me how to use his Pentax K1000 in middle school, that really piqued my interest to learn more about photography, and eventually buy my own camera. I started photographing flowers, then moved on to my school’s sporting events, which eventually led to a friend asking if I would photograph their family portraits. One thing led to another, and I found myself flooded with requests for family portraits, senior sessions, and creative sessions for folks around town. When this started taking off, I was always told that weddings are the best way to make money as a photographer, but I just didn’t enjoy wedding photography. After I graduated high school, my favorite teacher reached out to ask if I would be interested in photographing the birth of her child. That was the moment my career changed forever – birth was SO exciting, unpredictable, and full of emotions, which pulled my heart right in. Shortly after this I moved to Colorado and began looking for more opportunities to be involved in the birth space. I found Monet Nicole’s website and Facebook page where I learned about the role of a doula in the birth space, and how both services can be offered together. She is part of the reason I am a photographer and doula today! In addition to her, I had a wonderful friend, McKinzey Murphy, who I met through nannying that was also a birth doula who also inspired me to continue down the path to become a birth doula. On January 10, 2021, I relaunched my photography & doula business, and have met some of the most incredible people in this field of work who inspire me daily. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Owning a business is not a smooth road, there are bumps and turns and roadblocks that appear at any time. That’s just how life goes. The biggest challenges so far have been learning how to be my own boss, and bookkeeping/admin work. Through the past year of own a business there have been some hiccups along the way, but nothing that was impossible to work through. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a baby, birth, and family photographer, I focus on capturing life’s big moments and providing timeless keepsakes to preserve your memories. Whenever I connect with someone new about being their photographer, I get just as excited as they are to have these moments documented for them forever. Each family has their own story to tell, so I through the session I focus on what works best for the family or person. At the session, I will guide folks through poses, and que them with prompts to provide natural laughter and smiles. The amount of passion and love that I have for capturing people’s milestones cannot be compared to others. It radiates from the moment I connect with a client, until well after their gallery has been delivered. Through each moment and milestone, a person faces, I get just as excited for you. 

In addition to photography services, I support parents through the one of the biggest milestones of their life – childbirth. With all the unknowns and unpredictability of birth, a doula provides unlimited support and knowledge before, during, and after birth. Doulas not only provide support to the birthing person but their partner or family members as well. The role of a doula is to not take over the partner’s role in this journey but to help guide them through the ever-changing stages of birth. Doulas are not some hippies, or home birth only type of support, there are doula’s out there for all birthing folks at any birth space. Studies prove that having a doula, or an additional support person throughout labor has a higher satisfaction rate for both pregnant folks and their partners. 

There are so many incredible aspects to my jobs, it’s just crazy to me that this is my JOB! When it comes to trying to stand out in a wildly dense photography world, is the energy I bring to every photo shoot. It doesn’t matter what type of session I photograph that day; I am ALWAYS excited to meet new folks, create beautiful images that tell your life story, and have fun with each other. The number one thing I hear at the end of photoshoots, especially from the guys, was how surprised they were with how fun photos were. Being in front of the camera is not everyone’s favorite place, so it’s my goal to make you feel as comfortable as possible throughout our time together. Whether someone shares a silly story, tells a dirty secret they’ve been waiting to share or tells their partner their favorite meal in a high pitch voice, that ice gets broken pretty quickly! On the other side of my job, being your doula brings out the ‘Motherly’ side of my personality. While I am not a parent myself, when I support parents through labor, I put all the goofiness to the side and bring a calm, but enthusiastic energy to the birth space. Gently guiding the parents through the waves of labor through reassuring words, physical support, or guidance through positions, it is my goal to create the most comfortable, safe birth space for them. Of course, when the mood needs to be lifted, the goofy side comes out, this also goes for the photography side of my job too, it all depends on the moment, and what that person needs in the moment. These are your moments that folks have chosen, and trusted me to be a part of, that is something I do not take lightly. Each client is a gift, and I am so thankful for each person I meet through this journey. 

How do you define success?
Success is not something you can hold or touch, it’s a feeling within yourself of knowing what you’re doing is working really well, and making folks happy. The urge to continue finding ways to improve, but also nurturing what you started with. 

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@emilyjunephotodoula.com
• Website: www.emilyjunephotodoula.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/emilyjunephotodoula
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilyjunephotodoula

Image Credits
Grey Stone Photography
Emily June Photography