Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Magers.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Emily. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As a Jr in College at Cal State Northridge, I was an Astro Physics/bio-psych major feeling like I needed a change of pace. I had taken one photography class in high school as an elective and loved it but mostly just learned photoshop basics not really a ton of shooting. Although always good at school, I was no longer passionate about what I was studying and after some reflection, I felt as though God was telling me to pursue photography full time as my ministry!
I pretty much laughed in His face at the thought of leaving my stable college career path and taking on something creative that I had no idea how to do. But, in obedience to a calling, I left school mid-semester my Jr. year and dived in to learn as much as I could about photography. I assisted other photographers and was constantly shooting to get a feel for my camera and try out different types of photography. In the summer of 2011, I got asked to assist at my first wedding and absolutely fell in love. I knew that was exactly where I was supposed to be.
Now 7 years shooting and 4 years full time in my own business, I shoot around 25-30 weddings a year and love every single second of my job! Getting to be a part of the best day of someone’s life is truly the biggest honor! I love the community behind my job and getting to do life with my couples truly fills me up. I am so thankful to do what I love for a living!
Has it been a smooth road?
Definitely not always smooth! Starting out was extremely overwhelming and I felt like I was never going to get to where I am today. I have learned so much about business, and relationships, and photography along the way. Heck, I am STILL learning every day! I definitely encourage those starting out to not lose hope when you get overwhelmed but to just continue to press into the hustle and keep moving forward. Nothing amazing has ever happened overnight!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am a wedding photographer based in Los Angeles who primarily shoots weddings and couples (anniversary shoots, engagement shoots, just because, etc.). I am known as a destination wedding photographer for about half of my weddings every year are in another state or country! My style of work is more candid, emotional, and photojournalistic.
I love the mood in photos and really do my best to capture what it feels like, not just what it looks like. I want to tell love stories and I believe all of them are unique so no two weddings look the same! I have been honored to shoot the cover of a few well-known magazines like WHITE magazine and Deeply Rooted Magazine and have been published on many well-known industry wedding blogs such as Junebug Weddings, Green Wedding Shoes, and Style Me Pretty.
I am not the photographer for everyone. My style is very specific and for the lovers who are not afraid to go off the beaten path, get dirty, and experience adventure. I want the unfiltered moments, raw love kind of love stories. Tears, laughter, steamy moments, and all!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I absolutely think Los Angeles is a great city for our industry. There is so much creativity running through the streets I think artists are extremely welcome in our city. Although, there are absolutely saturation and a wide range of competition as well! I would encourage people who are just starting out to get involved with other creatives and vendors in our city to get plugged in! That was extremely helpful for me in the beginning.
Pricing:
- My pricing ranges from $3,800-$7,500
Contact Info:
- Website: www.emilymagers.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/emily.magers
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
