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Life and Work with Emily Cutting

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

Thanks for sharing your story with us Emily. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started Emily LC Photography on a total whim a few years ago. I had just finished my Master’s Degree in Social Work at Metro and although I loved working at a non-profit, I had this nagging feeling that there was something missing. I had always idolized photographers, especially wedding photographers who got to capture couples in love on their special day. One weekend I was relaxing outside and as corny as it sounds, I literally heard a voice in my head that just said to go for it. I had a very basic Canon camera but I decided to just meet myself where I was at. It’s the exact advice we give to clients in Social Work. I reached out to my friend who had just gotten engaged and asked if I could practice taking some pictures of her and her fiance.

After that, the next few months I just did tons and tons of free shoots and posted them on Instagram and Facebook. I tell people all the time now when they ask me how I started to just literally go out and get what you want. Do you want to do adventure elopements or engagement shoots? Then go out and shoot them, even if it’s just for friends and unpaid. You will get practice and content which will drive your business no matter what. Finally through word of mouth, I started booking paid shoots. It’s been a huge learning curve filled with excitement and gut-wrenching anxiety. Within two years of starting Emily LC Photography I was able to leave my job to do this full-time. I feel blessed every day that couples, families and businesses trust me to document special moments in their lives or products they have created. It never feels like work and I am so thankful for the freedom, joy and creativity these past few years have brought me.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Yes! Honestly, I’ve heard people say this is terrible advice but like I said before, fake it ’til you make it! As long as you are practicing and putting out content, people don’t need to know what was paid or not. Especially with wedding photography there is a lot at stake. An engagement shoot you could arguably do over again if something went wrong but that doesn’t apply to weddings. I used to freak out when I couldn’t get the settings right on my camera or think of a pose. My advice is to prepare and give yourself grace. I still sometimes write out a list of shots I want to get during an event or shoot so I don’t forget. It’s easy to in the moment with all the excitement! Strive for progress not perfection. Even the best of the best in the industry miss shots of have settings off. All you can do is learn from each shoot. The other important thing I’ve learned is how critical budgeting is. It’s important to establish your business legally and track your income even though it’s definitely not creative or fun! I’m old school and use an Excel sheet to track everything. I never wanted to feel like I didn’t know where the money was going with my business or coming in from. When it’s yours and you take pride in it, it’s worth that extra effort to make sure it’s thriving and organized.

Please tell us about Emily LC Photography.
I specialize in weddings, portraits and brand work. I do quite a bit of different types of photography with weddings being my primary, and then modeling/boudoir/branding next. It’s definitely a saturated industry. I would say what sets me apart from others is more non-traditional and artistic posing. Especially with my wedding and boudoir work. It’s angles and locations that hopefully take you by surprise instead of feeling like you’ve seen it already before.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
Yes, so many! But the most important thing is reading from the Tao Te Ching basically every day. It keeps me grounded, humble, and clearheaded. It’s very easy for me to get wrapped into followers/likes in the social media world. I’m sure a lot of you readers can relate! What has helped me most is staying present and sharing content that is meaningful to me. I of course want to grow my business but the most important thing is to connect with couples and clients and deliver them the best pictures possible.

Pricing:

  • Weddings starting at $2800
  • Elopements starting at $1400
  • Branding work starting at $300

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Emily LC Photography

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