Fine art portraits can literally be a dream come true for clients of artists who know how to manifest vision into form through lighting, costuming, storytelling, and emotion. Award-winning photographer Emily Drew encourages prospective clients to “let me show you what I see.” What she sees in her clients is powerful, authentic, and even divine. Her Goddess campaign aims to bring out the empowered feminine in her clients by giving them an experience that makes them feel like a queen and allows them to come away with images that they can hang on their walls to remember the experience forever. 

For Drew, creating beautiful fine art portraits isn’t enough in and of itself. What is more important for her is the effect her portraits have on her clients. She says, “What we do is not about the photographs. I don’t care if you shoot branding or boudoir or anything in-between. We are facilitators to our clients seeing themselves, believing in themselves, and leveling up in their own lives.” Emily uses the power of her craft and artistic vision to manifest a beautiful life not just for herself, but for everyone her art touches. 

You can learn more about Emily Drew, her art, and her mentoring for other photographers by listening to her recent appearance on The Portrait System Podcast, visiting Emily Pearl Photography, and reading her Q&A just below.

Most artists have a point in their life when they knew this was meant for them. Did you have that moment?  

I honestly feel like my soul knew this was for me the moment I saw Annie Leibovitz’s Alice in Wonderland feature in Vogue when I was in high school. I had loved photography for several years at that point, but there was something about the world that was created – the lighting, the expressions and emotions, and storytelling that resonated with me on a deep level. It would take a couple more decades and a long journey of other careers and schooling and then finding Sue Bryce before everything fell into alignment for me. When I started to learn from her about self-value and how she used photography to empower others and also have a sustainable business, the last puzzle pieces clicked into place.  

Photography embodies everything I love to do. I feel like such a powerful creator! I can literally take visions from my mind and make them into physical manifestations. I can use it to heal myself by taking a somewhat abstract feeling or chaotic journey or a concept that is hard to put into words and make it into something tangible, something relatable, which in turn can help someone else. It can help others heal by changing how they see themselves. I can make all the crazy costume pieces I want and mix all the media and try new things and think outside the box. I love what I do! The possibilities are endless, and my dreams just keep getting bigger. 

How did you push past fear when building your business?  

Oh my goodness, starting this business was the scariest thing I have ever done. I was so sick when I made the decision to stop holding myself back and take that leap. But I kept doing it. I did it scared and shaking. Every time I said my pricing out loud, every time I picked up my camera and worried if I would be good enough, if I would remember my posing, or if they would have a great experience… Every time I did a reveal session, every time I went to a networking event, I did it all knowing I could be rejected, knowing I could fail. But I realized I could continue to live in fear, or I could keep going, knowing what was possible for me, knowing that if I failed or something didn’t go as I wanted it to, I was learning or creating clarity for what I did want. 

I listen to personal development constantly, especially Sue’s self-value talks. I meditate. I read and take walks and do yoga. I keep putting myself out there as fully as I can. It can feel so uncomfortable! But it gets easier. I’m always calming myself down in my head, asking what is the worst that can happen? Because that’s unlikely! And then asking myself what’s the best that can happen and focusing on that. I spend a lot of time focusing on what I want, writing it down, visualizing it, using all my senses as if it were my present reality. That usually leads to some inspired action. And then I fill in the gaps. If I feel nervous about an upcoming shoot, I dive into education about posing and create mood boards and ask questions to the community and prepare myself as much as I can. Preparation is an incredible antidote to fear. 

Making a connection with your subject is one of the most important parts of a great portrait. How do you make lasting connections with your clients?  

I adore my clients. They really become my friends. From the moment I meet or talk to them, we are building a relationship. I really try to be myself and fully authentic. I tap into them and how they are responding to me. When I’m excited, my energy can be a lot! With some of those that are more reserved, I try to calm it down a little. Nevertheless, I’m still me. I’m a little quirky and I get a lot of ideas, I run all over the place and laugh a lot. But I think that’s why they like working with me. But the most important part is that they feel safe.

I love the whole process of doing a photoshoot with someone. I’ve typically connected with them before, and on the day of, they have time to relax and get pampered. When it’s time to begin photographing, there are usually less nerves. I help them into poses and have my own little tricks to help them relax. I make sure they are taking deep breaths and even closing their eyes a moment if they are starting to be disconnected with themselves. I can see and feel it when I’m shooting. Getting them to laugh is everything and definitely one of my goals with everyone. And once we get going, there is always an energetic shift. They start to believe what I am telling them. They start to truly feel beautiful. And they haven’t even seen the images! I acknowledge the shift so that they will internalize it.

[Read: The Portrait Masters 2022 Recap — Making Connections]

What we do is not about the photographs. I don’t care if you shoot branding or boudoir or anything in-between. We are facilitators to our clients seeing themselves, believing in themselves, and leveling up in their own lives. They feel that on such a deep level. They know that I want that for them, too. Them seeing their final images always feels sacred to me. And then of course keeping in touch with them, commenting on social media, all those things you do after a photoshoot is what creates lasting connections. 

Everyone has a favorite shoot – tell us about yours and why it’s your favorite.  

I feel like every shoot is my favorite! The one that comes to mind is when I was doing a branding photoshoot for a singer-songwriter. Her name is Antoinette. The moment I actually met her, I had a vision of doing a painterly photoshoot with her in a style like a classic Marie Antoinette. I asked her if she’d be willing to come model for me another time, and she was on board! I commissioned a wig, reached out to a costume designer and rented the dress with all the panniers and petticoats and corsets. I hired my favorite hair and makeup artist and booked the studio. It was a dream! We just got to play.

Creative sessions where I can be open to inspiration and also have synergy with everyone else there, I find are my favorite shoots of all time. She brought real butterfly wing earrings which I just had to use. She also had a nose ring, and I wanted to keep it in to keep some of her individual style and her modernness in the images. We did the classic portraits and then we changed it up and took off all the skirting, showing off all her legs and fishnets. We ditched the wig (It was super heavy) and styled her hair. She had brought her own bright blue corset and we did a series with that and just one of the dress cages and high heels. It’s so fun to just try things out, shift your lighting, use costume pieces and jewelry in a non-typical way. I highly recommend doing shoots like this regularly! And the cherry on top? Her parents bought one of my top packages and a huge, framed portrait of her for their home. From a model call session! 

How has The Portrait System changed your life for the better?  

Where do I start! The Portrait System is everything. It is not just another education platform. I have never seen anything like it. There is something here for everyone – from someone who has never picked up a camera, to someone like me, who has been into photography for decades, but now because of TPS, I know how to run a successful business. The TPS community alone has changed my life forever. It is a safe place to learn and grow and ask questions and get advice. To find mentors and life-long friends. The education is beyond anything I’ve ever seen, and I went back to school to get my photography degree! It covers everything from business basics and goal-setting to posing and lighting and selling and marketing. I could be happy with everything already available for the rest of my life, but hold the phone, there is constantly new and relevant content.  

[Read: The Portrait Masters Awards: Meet The Talented Winners]

The Portrait Masters Competition has fueled my desire to continually learn and grow and shift. I am very competitive and going for the awards and accreditation has helped me create personal work as well as uplevel my client work. The opportunities TPS gives me are incredible. The first time I traveled myself was to the Portrait Masters Shootout in October 2021. I was so nervous! But I was welcomed with open arms. Everyone is so high vibe and kind and inspiring. This community attracts very high caliber people. Within the last year I have attended WPPI and Graphistudio’s workshop in Italy – my first time outside the U.S., and then I went to The Portrait Masters Conference in September in Phoenix. With each event, I have upleveled my personal life and my business. I have learned from onstage speakers, in-person workshops, from mentors at shooting bays and over drinks and dinners with my colleagues.  

[Read: Portrait Masters Conference ‘23: Early Bird Tix + New Offerings]

One of my favorite moments at the 2022 TPM Conference was at the VIP night at the Duce. Sue Bryce and Tabatha Coffey were on stage letting those of us in the audience ask them questions. I asked something along the lines of “How do I get out of my own way when I’m feeling called to level up, to start mentoring and teaching, etc.” And Sue paused for a moment and said something that struck me to my core. She said, “Remember, YOU ASKED FOR THIS.” She went on to talk about owning something that we wanted and also receiving it! That the Universe is literally holding it out to us just waiting for us to take it. That advice has helped me so much in my personal life in the weeks since, just seeing and accepting all the beautiful gifts waiting for me to receive, stepping up and getting out of my own way and also reflecting back on my journey to this point of my life. I am so grateful I found The Portrait System. I was asking for it and had been for years. And it was everything and more than I could have imagined.