We’re looking forward to introducing you to EJ Dilley. Check out our conversation below.
EJ , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: Have you stood up for someone when it cost you something?
Lately I have brought some politics into my business. I know that I am losing some clients over it, and that is okay. I have gained a lot of trust from very specific groups and many business collaborations through my stance. I believe in freedom and justice for all. For all is my sticking point, not just some people, that includes people of color, LGBTQ+, women, and immigrants. This is something that I will continue to be loud and proud about in my business. I myself, will avoid shopping with companies that marginalize people and communities.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am not striving for perfect, because the adventure is found in the unknown.
Intimacy and adventure is what I am all about. I absolutely love families who are fun, who are real and let it fly. I want to see the real you! My clients probably don’t mind if their dress gets dirty. They may be down for a hike and are not afraid of getting in the water at the end of your session. They don’t mind if things don’t go perfectly and that is just perfect. Those are my people.
The best parts of life are the parts that surprise us. And the best photos are usually the ones we didn’t know were coming.
My favorite photos are the ones where you think your hair is blowing too much in the wind or when your kids are being their wild selves. They are the moments of perceived imperfection where I see people’s most true selves.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world tried to label me, I was just the kid who kept hustling. From trying to make various sports teams, chased every grade, and put everything I had into breaking into the art world—nothing ever came easy. I have had to work hard for every inch of the success I reap today. I am in my 40s now, but I wish I could tell that kid that you really can be or do anything you put your mind to. I chose a career in teaching art because no one believed I could make money as an artist. I took that art teacher career and achieved so many goals, but something deep inside said this isn’t all you have to give. In my twenties I chased a spot on the USA Rugby squad, earned three caps, and learned that career ending injuries are heartbreaking. That stubborn underdog spirit has since launched a business, ended a 16‑year teaching career, and hurled me into hockey and white‑water rafting—some of the toughest sports I’ve ever learned. So to that younger self: you can be anything you dare to train for; the world’s labels are just background noise.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering is the secret sauce behind my favorite memories. I’ve watched clients march through a rainstorm only to find a rainbow, driven to a frozen‑over ridge for that perfect alpine glow, and I’ve told my kids about the time I bit into a rotten cake or got caught in a head‑wind that pushed me backward on a river. Those “sufferfests” become the stories we laugh about later, because they prove one thing that success never can: we already own the tools to cross the finish line. The pain teaches us the map; the win just shows us the view.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely—what you see online is the real me, no filter needed.
If you follow my Instagram or scroll my website you’ll find the same things that drive me: a love for the planet, my family, human‑rights, getting off‑grid as much as possible, and a camera always at the ready. It isn’t a curated persona; it’s just me trying to squeeze the most out of this short, wild ride.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
Off‑grid is my peace‑button.
There’s nothing like a multi‑day rafting trip or a few nights camping on the white rim—no phones buzzing, no inbox screaming, no edits to make. Just the river’s roar, a crackling fire, and the people I love under a sky full of stars. In that silence the world falls away and I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ejdilleyphotography.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ejdilley & https://www.instagram.com/vailelopements
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ejdilleyphoto
Image Credits
All photographs were taken by EJ Dilley at EJ Dilley Photography.
