“Photography to me is catching a moment which is passing and which is true.” Jacques-Henri Lartigue
Hi! My name is Emmerlee, but most people call me Em. I am a wedding, portrait and underwater photographer based in the Twin Cities. I always wonder what people actually want to know about their photographer so here are some random facts about me that have shaped who I am both as a person and an artist.
I was born in Minnesota but my parents moved out to California when I was a baby. They lived in Haight Ashbury during the peak of the hippie movement. Music has always been a big part of my life. I spent a few years photographing bands and live music performances! Love, peace and rock & roll!
When I was 5 I learned to knit and spent my childhood working in my grandmother’s yarn shop. I always have at least 3 projects going at any given time. I love the colors, textures, feel, and potential that yarn has. When I’m knitting I feel meditative and connected to my past. I can never leave a yarn shop without supplies for the next project and visit whenever I see one. (My current project is knitting hats for cats and once I’m finished have an amazing photo series planned)!
My grandparents were architects and I spent time working in the office drafting and lettering. It started my love affair with buildings and architecture. Later in life I studied Interior Design. I love contemporary Italian furniture, clean lines, metal, glass, light and always color!
At one time I considered going to medical school and was a bio-chem major. Life got busy; family took priority and plans changed. I have been married for 29 years and have three kids, two boys and a girl. My youngest was born with a medical condition called Osteogenesis Imperfecta (fragile bones) and has had scores of fractures in his life along with other chronic health issues. He has changed my life in profound ways.
I spent most of my adult life losing and gaining weight until I finally gave up sugar, started running (including a marathon), working out with a trainer and changed my relationship with food and exercise one day at a time! I worked as a personal trainer for awhile and still work out 4-5 times a week. Although a love of donuts, charcuterie boards and good red wine gets in the way at times!
Every piece of my life has taught me to appreciate the nuances of every other person’s life. I appreciate you, your experiences, your story and your uniqueness. You are who you are because of the life events, great and small, that have shaped and molded you. Those experiences compel me to tell your story through my photography.
Color, lines, structure, design, architecture, music, energy, movement, people and fun – these are the things that inspire my art and drive my images.
I share the same birthday as Dr Seuss which is probably why I love his quotes so much! I’ll leave you with this one:
Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.
Dr. Seuss
I look forward to meeting you and creating images together!! Em