Nathan Zucker
There’s no denying Nashville is a town filled with success stories, and we’re celebrating the business- women who are writing their own. Whether they’re running the numbers, creating and capturing content, or building something from the ground up, here is one of the women that is running this town.
Emily Dorio
Commercial Lifestyle Photographer
THE DAILY HUSTLE
I put people, places, and things on a creative and visual pedestal. If it is a part of life, I want to find the story and capture it. I see myself as a creative partner. Commercial photography is a group project and my role is to visually bring the project to life. I am the artist, and my tool is my lens, but I am also the director and the person looking for the bigger visual picture.
CHALLENGES FACED
Photography is and should be an investment. Especially in the beginning, and even now, it is hard for someone to connect the return on investment to the art and power of photography. Getting people to value the work—getting people to understand the power of a photograph—has always been a challenge. These days I am in a position where I work with people and brands who know the industry standard, so it is less of an issue. But in the beginning, it was a challenge. And maybe the best advice someone gave me, is that if you give it away, no one will ever value it. No one has gratitude for the free bin. Believing in your own worth is the first step in getting someone to invest in your skill. But sometimes getting someone to see the value, it can be a challenge.
ADVICE FOR OTHERS
Make the work you love. Don’t take the feedback personally (there will be so much of it that feels personal, but it isn’t) but make the work personal. Only you have your point of view. Get great at the technical but lean into the lens that is YOU. Trust your gut and protect yourself. If something doesn’t feel fair to you, don’t say yes. Never transfer your copyrights. And don’t take it personally. Life is short and beautiful, and I try not to let the hang-ups drag me down any longer than necessary to dig to the depth of the problem.