2025 Year in Review
I always think I can keep a Year in Review “concise” but my brain will NOT allow any amazing thing to be left out! In lieu of a long ramble, I’ve decided to do a “notable points” kind of recap this year. So much happened and there was a big shift in my work and I just will try to get it all in a list! Here we go!
-GOT NEW CAMERAS—said goodbye to my 5D Mark IIIs (10 years on those babies!) and hello to some R5s !!!
-Slowly collected/invested in a rainbow of colorful seamless backdrops for my studio work! It shows in this year’s review. Color explosion!
-Dived into a strobe/artificial lighting setup that I LOVE … who knew it would not cramp my style like I had always feared, but rather open endless creative options for me to shoot the looks I’ve dreamed!
-Installed AC in my studio — woohoo!
-Did a mentorship with Clarin J and really pushed myself to shape my business around serving brands and families. Clarin took me along on a shoot for Pansy Co. in the yellow canola fields. It was a highlight of my summer!
-Took wedding photography off my website—really trying to preserve my weekends for my family. I still photographed a handful of beautiful weddings that felt well-aligned :) I will always love the way photographing weddings keeps you “watching for the moment”…
-Got to shoot in Nicki Sebastian’s house (she has been one of my biggest inspirations in photography — how she seamlessly intertwines her brand work and family work!) Having that opportunity fall in my lap felt like a little nudge that I’m headed in the right direction.
-Photographed families in longer form this year and there is nothing like giving a photographer TIME to know and tell your story! Ah! Told stories that I’m so moved by! Family photos I FEEL. I did miss my mini-session families though and am constantly assessing what the best way to both serve my community and shoot my most passionate work! Stay tuned!
-A deepening love of the “production” side of photography has grown… thinking through the details/lighting/colors/shot lists … all to tell the story someone is bringing to the table.
-Worked with so many wonderful models and especially loved working with KIDS! The way they create is so in line with my flow … following each other’s lead and PLAYING as a way to capture feeling.
-Continued to edit in a puffy jacket in my storage-room-office (not complaining, just laughing when the toilet pipes flush by my head!)
-Cherished my closest photography friends who do this alongside me! To send a text when I’m discouraged and receive back a genuine listening ear/response … it means the world!
-Was privileged to photograph for some new brands this year including Slate Flosser, LeapFrog, and Spark Magazine. Excited for what 2026 holds!
-Benefitted SO much from the culture of collaboration over competition our amazing city—Spokane, you have so much growing! She Is Vested has been such a blessing to me this year.
-And finally, there is Tommy and his endless support! I spent a lot of money this year to shift my direction in photography and get the equipment I needed to make the work I wanted to. I’m a very thrifty gal and every time I waffled about the investments, he met me with, “You should go for it.” <3 My 2026 goal is to get Tommy in front of my lens!
So grateful for each of YOU!!! Thank you for the way you fuel my creativity, encourage me and invest in your stories! If you resonate with something you see here, I would love to hear from you and get the chance to work with you in 2026. Much love and gratitude, Emily
