Inspired by stories that go below the surface, Emma Squire delves deep into the reality of people’s lives through intimate self portraits and vulnerable images of others, as well as a series of intriguing still lifes.

Squire won the Fujifilm Students of Storytelling competition for her work exploring the definition of prosperity in a world that has an uneven distribution of wealth. She delves deep into the concept by creating unique still lifes that are inspired by ideas of prosperity dating all the way back to the 1600s up through current day.

Fujifilm created the contest to identify the next generation of U.S. storytellers, and to provide them with Fujifilm X Series or GFX system gear to bring their vision to life.

Rangefinder: What interests you as a storyteller?

Emma Squire: I am drawn to stories that go below the surface and show reality and vulnerability.

Rf: What stories do you want to share through your work?

ES: I want to share the reality of people’s lives and the world, whether that be good or difficult.

Rf: Describe the evolution of your style and approach.

ES: I would say I started by taking “pretty” photographs. I would find friends, dress them up, take them to a nice location, and take flattering photos of them. Later, I grew an interest in documentary and narrative photography, telling stories of how life is or trying to capture ideas in photographic form, as well as still-life photography. I was really inspired by Cindy Sherman and the stories she was able to tell through her self-portraiture. I was also influenced by a few of my photography professors. They created work that I wasn’t used to seeing and showed me that I can create whatever work I am interested in and that I don’t need to limit myself to what I had seen others make my whole life.

Rf: What are the key things you have learned or done that have helped you advance your career since you began shooting?

ES: What has probably helped me the most is talking to people about my work and sharing it with others. Finding mentors has also been crucial, as many opportunities (including this one working with Fujifilm) have come from recommendations or referrals from them.

Rf: What is the most helpful piece of advice you’ve received and followed? Who gave it to you?

ES: One of my photography professors once told me and my classmates not to create work that we thought others wanted to see or would like. Since that semester I have reminded myself many times to not to change an image based on what others might think but to stick to what I feel is right. Those end up being some of my best photographs and, ironically, best received.

Rf: How has photographic education affected your career and development as a photographer?

ES: I think it’s changed it completely. Before I started my photographic education, I had no idea what I wanted to do or what I wanted to say. I believe I still have some exploring to do in those areas, but I have gotten better at expressing something visually and have felt freer to explore different narratives and areas within photography.

Rf: Your work has a unique intimacy, how do you achieve that?

ES: Most of my more “intimate” work is self-portraiture, so I just try to be honest and okay with myself. However, when I am capturing intimate pictures of others, I work to build a space where people can feel free to be open and not critiqued.

Rf: Can you tell us about your submission to Fujifilm’s Students of Storytelling program?

ES: I don’t remember where the idea originally came from, but the project started with a desire to create a satirical, Dutch still-life photograph showing that the idea of wealth is subjective and changes with time. The concept of “wealth” was changed to “prosperity” and I wanted to explore how the idea of prosperity has changed over time and in different cultures, as well as what it looks like now to different people. To do so, I am creating still lifes reflecting prosperity in different eras and countries as well was interviewing people today of what their idea of prosperity is and creating still lifes based on that.

Rf: What works have you produced with your new Fujifilm systems?

ES: I have created some images for my prosperity project, and I have started a video series where I test the recipes that my deceased grandmother would make from when she was very poor and was raising her siblings.

Rf: Where do you see your work going from here?

ES: I don’t know yet. I suspect my style and subject matter will change, but my goal is to create a piece of work that really makes someone stop and think about the world and people around them.

Rf: Which brand, media outlet or agency is your ideal client?

ES: I haven’t entertained the idea of working with a brand much, but I would love to work with Lenscratch, Fotografiska, or SPE because I love the stories they show and the photographers that they promote.

Visit the official Fujifilm Students of Storytelling site for more information about the complete program. Follow @theemmasquire to stay up to date with Emma Squire.