Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Houghton.
Hi Abby, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
To start, thank you so much for featuring me! I guess I first started pursuing photography in 2017 when I was a senior in high school. It started with me wanting to take pictures of my friends and then transitioned to taking their senior portraits! On the side, I started doing creative portraits with a sort of artistic twist. I straight up fell in love with this and found myself wanting to do more shoots whenever I was free, after work, and on weekends.
That’s when I really started to take it more seriously and was able to be a photographer for Bonanza Campout Festival in 2018. I then started doing event photography for concerts, venues, weddings, and more! Now, I just try to bring a creative twist to any type of shoots I do and have even started videography on the side!
I absolutely love my job because it gives me a place for my creativity to really flow and to also meet some really amazing people along the way.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Photography, especially in Utah, is never really a smooth road. There is a. lot of competition when it comes to this job and it’s all down to building your own personal brand. I found that sticking to what makes you stand out from the rest is key.
There were a lot of times I would want to mold into something I wasn’t. For a while, I started doing senior portraits again and also family photography. Although that was still a way to do my job, it was not fulfilling my creative needs! I then had to take a step back and reevaluate what I truly wanted to do and where I wanted to be.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In Utah, you definitely have to stand out in the crowd when it comes to photography. One thing I always stay true to is creativity. Whether I am using neon lights in windows, going to high rooftops, or finding unique and hidden spots, I will always make your photos be different than any photos you’ve done before!
I also use a “no one preset rule”. A lot of photographers have one preset that they use with every photo to make their feed “aesthetically pleasing”, but I want to edit to photo based on what looks good on that person and setting. This always helps with keeping things more unique!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
It is very easy to book with me through my Instagram! I try to remain very active and responsive on there. I have LOVED doing collaborations in the past and just held a Utah Creators meet-up a week ago!
I had 2 other photographers attend and around 10 models as well and it was truly incredible. I love being surrounded by other creative individuals so that we can all learn from one another!
When it comes to supporting, just following and sharing my content is a perfect way to help!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @abbyemmaphoto
