Life & Work with Emily Haggadone of Clio, Michigan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Haggadone

Hi Emily, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Emily and I own Em-Bracing the Moment Photography and a native to Clio, Mi! When I was younger I always had a camera with me snapping landscape photos all around Michigan and the pure beauty it has to offer. Lighthouses (my favorite object to photograph), sunsets, nature, and anything appealing to the eye is where my photography journey first started. One day my Sister had me take photos of her children for a Christmas card and that’s when photography hit a peak for me as far as making the decision to turn it into a lifelong career. I started receiving messages from people asking if I’d take their photos and I thought to myself I could really do this for a living and love what I do! I am now a full-time photographer that gets to do what I love most and that’s traveling and meeting new people. I’ve been as far as Mexico for photos, and had my first out-of-state wedding in Florida last year. I absolutely love the fact that I get to travel around Michigan and create memories for people to hold onto forever. Because of photography, I have been able to find and appreciate lesser known parts of our wonderful state. That has shaped, molded, and made me who I am to this very day and I wouldn’t change it for a thing!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have definitely been some bumps in the road, but each year comes with learning experiences and each year is better than the last! I think the hardest struggle is the unpredictable weather. With the majority of my clients wanting outdoors I have learned to watch weather and have back-up plans when scheduling photo shoots! I sometimes feel like I am half photographer, half meteorologist when I need to be.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I also have a huge love for antiquing which mixing photography and setting up displays and backdrops has really brought out my creativity when it comes to taking photos. I now own two classic vehicles that I use often and decorate for all occasions and seasons. Being a photographer has given me even more of an excuse to going antiquing and pick up new pieces to incorporate in my sessions! It is so much fun gathering all of the items I’ve accumulated over the years and bringing my vision to life and being present in pictures. I almost feel as though I’m saving those antiques in a way and bringing them back to life too!

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
When I started taking photos of people versus landscapes, I did have a full-time job elsewhere. It wasn’t until a little while later that I had made that leap to doing photography full-time. That was such a huge risk for me and I was unsure if it was something I could do knowing it was not a steady paycheck and there were bills to pay. I contemplated for awhile on what I should do. I built up a clientele, worked on weekends, kept pushing and going. At one point I sat down and realized that it was a risk I was willing to take because I loved it so much. There is always another alternative if it hadn’t worked out for me. Luckily it did, I’m on my third year as a full-time photographer and I’m so thankful that I gave it a shot because if I hadn’t there would have always been the “what if” or “If I had only” playing in my mind. I would have never gotten to experience everything that I have!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://em-bracingthemomentphotography.mypixieset.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1D5CeLZ8Xi/?mibextid=wwXIfr