Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Treasure.
Hi Emily, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I am a photographer in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the fall I work with the University of Utah as a photographer for the Marching Utes and Utah Spirit. Year-round I do headshots, portraits, graduation sessions, and more.
I purchased my first DSLR camera in 2010. My high school home was in the middle of a pecan orchard in Perry, Georgia. I purchased a pecan rake and spent hundreds of hours raking my yard and the surrounding grove and hulling pecans in my garage. From there, I would sell the pecans for .67 cents a pound at a farm. After about a year, I had enough money to purchase my first DSLR, which was a Nikon.
The next ten years were my ‘Nikon’ years. I took photos of friends and family, and in 2016 I applied for an internship with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps to do photography and social media. Crossmen is a youth-in-music non-profit that travels across the country every summer with 150 members aged 15-22, and an additional entourage of staff, cooks, drivers, volunteers, etc. I spent the first month in San Antonio, Texas with them during what’s known as ‘spring training.’ Members rehearse for 12-hour days outside perfecting a musical show. After a month, we left for a tour, traveling to around 22 states over about six weeks.
That summer was a blur. I quickly realized the importance of shooting the manual as often as possible. I spent two years working for Crossmen and in 2018 I applied at a similar non-profit in the same competitive circuit known as Carolina Crown, which is based out of Fort Mill, South Carolina.
These four summers on the road shooting every day helped me gain strength as a photographer. I shot in all lighting and weather conditions, including hail. I have also had the privilege of shooting in NFL stadiums including Lucas Oil, Mercedes Benz, and Levi’s Stadium.
In 2018, I was hired by the University of Utah to work with the marching band and cheer teams. In the past, I had never been very invested in college football, but after attending every game for the last four years, I am proud to call myself a Utah fan.
Shortly before the pandemic, I invested in my first mirrorless camera. I decided to go with a Sony A7iii after borrowing one from a friend and falling in love with the low light quality. I was so excited to shoot the 2020 football season with my new camera, but the world took a turn. In 2021, I finally got to put my new camera to work. I have loved capturing new memories in stunning, crisp quality. It means a lot to me that I get to help students remember all their hard work and fond memories.
Currently, I am planning on returning to work with the University of Utah for my fifth football season this fall. I have spent this spring doing graduation photos for the band and cheer members that I have known for the last four years, and I can’t wait to meet everyone new this fall!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My non-profit work was wonderful and a valuable experience. I had the opportunity to meet some of the most talented musicians and teachers in the music industry and I will always cherish those memories.
Given the nature of the non-profit, it can frequently be a male-dominated space. During my first summer, my videographer and I were two of the very few media women in the circuit (known as drum corps). We faced quite a few challenges as women in media.
There are photography and media companies within drum corps that would only offer contracted or employment opportunities to men. This was discouraging at times because it frequently felt like we had to work twice as hard to be recognized for our work. I am happy to say that media in drum corps has been quickly progressing and I have seen more and more women hired each year.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am the general manager of an ax-throwing store called Social Axe Throwing. I have worked here off and on since 2018 as a coach, and in December of 2021, I was made the general manager.
I love Social Axe Throwing. I quit for about a year and a half in 2019 to pursue a full-time job in marketing. I was not very happy working in a corporate setting and missed the social aspects of my job. I also missed ax throwing, which can be an awesome source of stress relief.
In 2021 I returned to Social Axe Throwing, and while I initially took a pay cut from working a corporate job, I was so much happier being back. Coaching, helping people develop a new skill, getting to know other coaches, and making new friendships are all things I value at my job.
As a manager, I have been striving to find ways to make a difference in my community. We have started a monthly charity event that benefits our local YWCA (a women’s shelter). I also love working with my coaches to help them pursue educational and career opportunities in their lives.
What do you think about luck?
Outside of small things, I am not sure if I believe in luck. The opportunities I’ve had professionally in my life have come from a lot of stress and hard work (and usually a good portfolio). When I was hired by the University of Utah, I had two years’ worth of marching arts photography that pointed me in the direction of working with band and cheer.
With Social Axe, I came back as an employee with years of experience coaching and in customer service. I love this company and I have worked very hard as a manager to prove I am worthy of the position.
Contact Info:
- Email: emtreasure@gmail.com
- Instagram: @emtreasure and @emilytreasurephoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilytreasurephotography/
