Today we’d like to introduce you to Emery Cahoon.
Hi Emery, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My husband Noah actually got me into photography. He is so passionate about creating, he would research for hours and then would go to great lengths to get the perfect shot. I got bored just sitting around while he took photos, so I picked up my grandpa’s old film camera that my mom inherited and took it on our adventures. I loved how intimate each photo was with the shooting film. You can’t fire off 10 photos a second to make sure you get the perfect shot, you have to plan and have a vision and time it perfectly. It also forced me to get to know the camera basics instead of just turning a digital camera to auto. I learned the connections between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, and I learned about the rules of composition and lighting. I became obsessed with the colors, grain, tones, and nostalgic look of the film. I was hooked!
My wedding photography journey started with my own wedding. We got married in January 2021 in Canyonlands National Park in Moab, UT. Noah and I are big travel junkies and were always going to Southern Utah when we were dating. We decided to do away with the traditional ceremony and reception for our day because it just felt more like us. This was the biggest event of our lives and we knew it would be so much more special if we got married where we fell in love! Still, I look back at our wedding photos and it makes me so happy we didn’t get stuck in the traditional way of paying tons of money to host a party for random people we’d only met once. That just wasn’t what we wanted! I’m so glad we pushed for that. After our perfect wedding, I knew I wanted to help others have their dream wedding as well!
I quickly picked up a digital camera, convinced my husband to team up with me and do video, and we started shooting weddings! My main goal for my business is to empower couples to have their wedding their way. Whether that is a traditional style with a big party and lots of people or a quaint, intimate ceremony on your favorite beach.
Each couple is different, with different personalities and a different story to tell. Your wedding should reflect you and be exactly what you want! Whether it be hiking a mountain to your favorite lookout spot or getting 40+ extended family members all organized for the group photo, I’m here to make your dream wedding happen!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been an easy road! I am still in school pursuing my degree (which is completely unrelated to photography) and working a full-time job on top of prioritizing this photography business. It is extremely hectic and there is hardly any spare time. I am lucky enough to have a husband who supports me and contributes so much to the business, even while he is in school and working as well.
Even though it is crazy, I am so passionate about this business! It is the most fulfilling thing I am doing and it motivates me to get out of bed every single day. I love creating and meeting amazing couples and helping them capture amazing memories that will last forever. Everything is so worth it!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I proudly specialize in film photography! My love for photography started with shooting film and it is so special to get to document the most important day of people’s lives on film! There is that magical nostalgia that only film can bring that makes your photos nearly tangible.
It is impossible to re-create this look in digital format, you can only get it on film! I work as an editor at my local film lab (The FIND Lab in Orem!) and have been professionally trained to match digital photos to film. Though I am able to get the photos all to look consistent together regardless of the medium, it is never exactly the same! This editing training separates me from other wedding photographers, even the ones who also shoot film.
I also have picked up Super 8 along the way! This is all the nostalgia of film, just in a video format. Super 8 is a special medium that I immediately knew I needed to incorporate into my wedding packages. There is something about video that just transports you back into that moment, and it being on film sprinkles that little bit of magic onto that memory. Every moment on Super 8 becomes a core memory!
Besides film, I believe I am different from other photographers in the sense that I am eager to go get adventure photos with you! Not just travel to your favorite locations to stay up in a nice hotel, but hike through the mud, camp out in the rain, drive long distances, and literally go the extra mile to take your photos in locations that are special to you! My own wedding instilled the need for that unique “you” element in your wedding. Your wedding is YOUR day, not anyone else! I am passionate about helping others have that as well.
Networking and finding a mentor can have a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I was lucky enough to get hired at The FIND Lab where I work with so many people that inspire me every day!
When I applied for the job, I had very little experience and felt like it was a major shot in the dark. My advice is to just put yourself out there, even if you don’t feel qualified and are just passionate! It is also so important to be surrounded by others who are also doing what you are doing. Community helps immensely! My peers, whether online or in person, are constantly creating which inspires me to do the same! Especially people who have different tastes and different visions than I do. That has been the biggest help!
My biggest networking tip is social media! I have gotten so many inquiries through Instagram, sometimes people that I know but haven’t seen in a long time, and sometimes random people I have no connection with. Just get your stuff out there, people will find you!
There are also plenty of opportunities for mentorships through social media. Many photographers I know and love offer mentor sessions where they teach you everything they know! It is so worth the investment, just be sure you choose the person who has good all-around business practices, not just good photos!
If any of you have questions about getting into the wedding industry, or film photography, or would like to shoot sometime, please please reach out to me! I love nothing more than helping people get started.
Pricing:
- Traditional Wedding: $2,500
- Elopement/Destination Wedding: $2,000
- Film Add On $250
- Super 8 Add-On: $400
- Digital Video (by my husband): $1,500
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elopewithemery/
