Here I am, embarking on a dream. I have finally taken the advice that I have been offered for over a year. I have filled out the paperwork and sent in my dues. I am officially a business owner. I am a photographer. I have created Emily Katharine Photography.

After reading about entrepreneurs I would like to share some inspiring words.

“Don’t confuse drive and passion. Drive pushes you forward. It’s a duty, an obligation. Passion pulls you. It’s the sense of connection you feel when the work you do expresses who you are. Only passion will get you through the tough times.” -R. Komisar

When recognizing important moments in my life, I can relate many of them to my passion for photography.

Yearbook was my life in high school. A camera was always in hand as I clicked through lunch, sporting events, and theatrical performances. I poured hours into that book, ensuring every image was lined up perfectly.

The summer after graduation I remember holding my own SLR for the first time. I was off to photography school at the Maine Media Workshops thinking, “does this mean I can’t use ‘auto’ anymore?” That summer I had one of the best days of my life. One of those days where you can’t help but smile when you think about it.  My best friend Brielle came to visit the day before my birthday. We spent an entire day running around Camden, Maine taking over 1,000 photos until the darkness surrounded us. Even after an accidental re-formatting of a memory card, those images will live in my mind forever.

Then there was that fall before I started college at UF. Although I felt rejected after receiving a deferred acceptance it was a blessing in disguise. My mother and I traveled for seventeen weeks and I clicked away as every moment was a photo opportunity – the night enveloping the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro in Lucca, the locks on the bridge of love in the Cinque Terre, the crema on our coffee in Portland,  and my brother’s rockstar pug, Thatcher. I fell in love with photography.

Four years later, I’ve taken thousands of images. I’ve traveled the world with my loyal companion. My camera has captured laughter, smiles, and sass. Photography has always been my passion and I’m ready to share the romance because  “it’s the romance, not the finance that makes a business worth pursuing.” – R. Komisar

Cheers!