Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Andrews.
Hi Emily, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m one of those rare Florida natives you barely see anymore! Born and raised in St. Pete, actually.
Back in the Myspace days, (IYKYK) I would borrow my mom’s camera and take pictures of anything and everything. Spiders in the backyard, flowers in her garden, a kite stuck in a tree, & the occasional selfie. I knew absolutely nothing about cameras or composition or lighting at the time, but I felt like the images I was taking had meaning. They were my stories.
The idea of turning my simple hobby into a whole business didn’t come until years later, during one of the most personal and transformative moments of my life when I was pregnant with my first child in the middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic. I worried about returning to work in the hotel industry where I spent over a decade. Even though I was working late nights and almost never had a free weekend, I loved it. In fact, I even had dreams of opening my own hotel one day! But as the world changed and I prepared to become a mother, I started to question whether returning to that industry was truly what I wanted.
One thing was always consistent, I knew I wanted to be a business owner. Besides becoming a mom, that was my biggest dream.
When I decided to pursue photography, I was literally starting from nothing. I had no formal training and no connections in the industry. Just a deep passion and a determination to figure it out. I spent countless hours watching what felt like thousands of YouTube videos until I finally took a leap of faith and purchased my first camera. From there, I started doing free photoshoots for friends and family, using every session as a chance to learn and improve. Slowly but surely, I worked my way up to charging small amounts, reinvesting everything I made back into my business. What started as a dream with no roadmap has turned into something real, and I’m just getting started!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like any adventure, it wasn’t always a smooth road. I’ve faced a lot of roadblocks.
One of the biggest challenges was simply finding clients. Photography is a saturated industry, and getting people to trust me with their memories when I was just starting out felt nearly impossible. On top of that, I struggled with imposter syndrome. Constantly questioning whether I was good enough or comparing my work to other photographers. There were many moments of doubt. Times when I wondered if I had made a mistake, but I kept pushing forward. Little by little, I built my portfolio, gained confidence, and learned that growth comes from showing up. Even when it’s hard.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Simply put, I’m a lifestyle portrait photographer. I specialize in photojournalism by capturing real emotion in the moment. I focus on ensuring my clients are having a good time rather than just staring into the lens forcing an awkward smile.
What sets me apart from the many other photographers in Tampa Bay? Affordability. I know that art is subjective, but when starting Your Life Photography, I questioned if pricing was too. I felt called to make photography affordable for my clients because I hold a strong belief that high quality images should be more accessible to people with tighter budgets. My pricing will always remain fair, and I go even further by offering new client discounts, running specials, and hosting monthly pay-what-you-can mini sessions.
Because everyone deserves to have their story beautifully captured.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I believe life is what you make it. While luck can play a role in small moments, I’ve never relied on it to shape my life or business. Instead, I focus on hard work and perseverance. There have been times when things seemed to fall into place or even fall apart! but I don’t see that as good luck or bad luck. I see it as the result of dedication and preparation. And when life challenges arise, I view them as lessons rather than setbacks. Building Your Life Photography wasn’t about waiting for the right moment; It was about creating my own path, learning along the way, and staying committed.
Pricing:
- . Portraits (Grads + Headshots) – $200
- Maternity Session – $350
- Couples + Engagements – $350
- Families – $400
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Yourlifephotography5.mypixieset.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/your_life_photography
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/yourlifephotographybyemily
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@your.life.photogr
Image Credits
Emily Andrews – Your Life Photography
