ABOUT THE ARTIST - Emily Laga Photography

I'm a single mom to two teenagers

who are really helpful at teaching me humility and a myriad of negotiation skills. I ache for the simpler days of their childhood, where we spent sun-soaked days at the park and they actually listened to and adored me. I still love them dearly though. Really, I do.

What I do when I'm not being a photographer.

My interests include having deep and meaningful conversations with people, lounging in a hammock out in nature, discovering other local artists at farmer's markets and such, drinking gin and tonics, and repeating the same mistakes over and over again in the dating world.

I'm also a student.

I recently earned my Associate Degree at SLCC and am now attending Westminster College to secure that piece of paper that makes it easier to get a job that earns a livable wage. Because as much as I love being a photographer, everyone needs a back up plan, right? One thing I've learned is that you never know what twists and turns life will throw at you, so carpe diem!

MY WHY

Simply put, I love people. I love how complex each person is, and how through my photography I get to connect with them in ways I couldn't otherwise.

My openness and genuine interest allows them to let down their guard and feel comfortable enough to express themselves. Nothing gives me more joy than creating an image that shows a person's depth and beauty.

I've always been a strong believer in documenting lives and preserving past memories and experiences.

This conviction has only strengthened as my own boys have grown and the pictures from when they were small mean even more to me now.

History

I've loved photography since I was a young girl. My mom was kind enough to supply me with film and pay for the development of countless images from family vacations.

I discovered the thrill of printing from negatives in dark room of my high school. I pursued a degree in photojournalism and got a job with a local professional portrait photographer, where I fell in love with portraiture. After working with him for five years, in 2005 I did what lots of stay-at-home moms here in Utah do...I started my own business.

Luckily I belonged to professional organizations that taught me the ins and outs of the industry and pushed me to learn, compete, and grow as a photographer.

Awards and Degrees

A became a Certified Professional Photographer in 2015, and received my Master of Photography Degree in January of 2020. Unless you actually belong to the Professional Photographers of America, these accolades don't mean a whole lot, but basically it just means that I have achieved a level of skill and experience that proves that I know what I'm doing and should give you some confidence in hiring me.

I've also won a bunch of awards at local and international print competitions, which is kind of cool. My favorite award though was winning the Grand Prize at the Utah State Fair because I got a really sweet etched plate, some money, an impressive ribbon, and it was local so a bunch of my friends and family saw it and I got to feel like a celebrity for a moment.

I also served on the board of the Intermountain Professional Photographers Association for a couple of years and got to plan a bunch of events, meet a ton of amazing photographers, and reinforce my dislike of meetings.