Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Anderson.
Hi Emily, 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?
I’ve been the girl with a camera for as long as I can remember, but EEP truly began during an unexpected and difficult season of my life, when I was navigating a cancer diagnosis and learning just how precious time really is…I launched this business with borrowed equipment, about zero dollars to my name, and the blind confidence of someone who had no idea what the hell I was getting myself into. 😅
Thankfully, my lifelong love of photographs and the need for a good distraction, kept me focused and just delusional enough to start showing up and growing the business one family at a time.
Today, EEP is a full-service studio with an incredible creative team, a gorgeous in-home space, and more gear than we know what to do with.
Along the way, I met my fiancé, Bryan, an award-winning filmmaker and photographer, completely by accident while I was shooting at Old Meadows Park, which feels very on brand. Together, we now document everyday family magic and destination experiences around the world for clients who have become friends and feel like family.
It’s truly the best job I could have ever imagined, and somehow it keeps getting better.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Has it been a smooth road?
Not at all, but every challenge helped shape the business into what it is today.
COVID changed everything, and surprisingly, it strengthened my work. During that time, I spent a lot of time photographing extended families who were quarantining together, which gave me invaluable experience working with larger, more dynamic groups and deepened my relationships with my clients. I leaned into flexibility, started a newsletter, and found ways to stay connected from a distance, which allowed the business to keep growing even during uncertainty.
When the world opened back up and it felt safe again, that foundation made it natural to expand into larger celebrations and events as I grew my team.
Another bittersweet reality of being more than ten years into this work is loss. I’ve had the honor, and heartbreak, of losing parents and grandparents from families I’ve photographed for years. Every year I get an email or a text asking if I have their photos, and I always do. While it’s incredibly hard, it’s also deeply meaningful. Since Bryan and I began working together, we’ve been able to create memorial films that help families celebrate and remember their loved ones. Losing clients feels deeply personal, but being trusted with their memories is one of the most meaningful parts of this work.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in photographing families, couples, kids, and newborns, and over time that work has naturally expanded into small events and intimate weddings. My style is natural, fun, people-focused, and rooted in real connection.
What truly sets me apart is that I’m unapologetically old school. I believe photographs are meant to live on your walls, not buried on a hard drive or trapped in an iCloud account no one can access… Let’s be honest, no one wants to pass down their iCloud password and a stack of dead iPhones to their kids in 20 years! I’m proud to be one of the few photographers in the area that still specializes in creating tangible, heirloom artwork that can be enjoyed daily and passed down for generations.
I’m also incredibly proud of the experience I create. My sessions are actually fun! I don’t just capture beautiful images, I make people laugh, relax, and enjoy the moment. You walk away with more than gorgeous artwork. You walk away with memories of the experience itself.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Just start. Take the leap. Take a chance on yourself. Be confident and unapologetically you. There are so many talented people in the world, but no one else brings your exact perspective, voice, or energy—and that’s what actually matters. You don’t need everything figured out to begin. You don’t need top-of-the-line gear or advanced degrees. What you do need is curiosity, humility, and a willingness to learn as you go.
I was lucky to have mentors who believed in me early on—before I had it all figured out—and I’m incredibly grateful for their guidance and support. Getting to now show up for others as they chase their own wild dreams is one of my favorite parts of this work.
Lean into your community. Ask questions. Take the help. Good people are out there, and they genuinely want to see you succeed. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://eepfamilyphotos.com/
- Instagram: @eepfamilyphotos
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@eelizabeth_photos
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/ZLNEfqVtdK
