Emily Roberts shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Emily, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I have always felt called to write a book and host a podcast and I am finally doing it, even though I have wild imposter syndrome! The podcast is actually already out now, it’s called “Conversations” and the book, well, I hope to finish that by the end of next summer. Look for it on the shelves someday – “But Wait, There’s More.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Emily and I own Roads and Reasons Photography! A little over a couple years now, God called me to photography and I’ve been blessed enough to capture families, seniors, weddings, surprise proposals and so many other tender and sweet moments since then. I like to think that because this business wasn’t my idea, I get to run it a little differently than your traditional photographer! I donate about half of the sessions and services I book each year. The paid sessions and tips I receive are what help me be able to offer free sessions or donate my time to organizations or clients that would not be able to afford or secure photography services otherwise.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
As corny as it may sound, the answer I have to give is God. I am still learning who I am. I just turned 30 and I’m so different than I was ten years ago. I’m sure I’ll be different ten years from now too. And I’m at peace with that. I actually prefer that. I am always striving to grow and learn and leave the world better than I found it and that requires a lot of introspection and intentional character development. But I know, that my desire to lead with kindness, to impact and serve the world, and chase all these dreams – none of that comes as a surprise to God. He designed me exactly for a time such as this. He designed me to lead and to learn and I’m glad that no matter how murky I feel my mirror is, He still knows my name and can remind me who I am.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering is such an interesting concept because a lot of it is a frame of mind. But long suffering, this is something I have become infinitely more closely acquainted with than I ever thought I would. When I became chronically ill and was unable to continue living my life even remotely close to how I had been, I realized just how delicate life is. I realized how much time we waste on things that don’t align with our values or who we are. Stupid things. I realized that waking up was an actual gift, that each day I could muster the energy to meet a friend or do my work was a day filled to the brim with blessings. Living in the pit made me realize that the valley isn’t barren or boring, it’s steady and it’s honest, with no where to hide. The mountain tops are short lived, so spending all my time chasing those meant I lost out on the now and the beauty of each valley – something I didn’t realize until I was sick. Learning to live joyfully in the valley meant less time in the pit and a greater appreciation for the long worked for mountain top.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Honestly, yes. I strive really hard to consistently be myself no matter who or what I am facing. I try to be kind, to be gracious and generous and to be intentional in all I do. So yes, the energy and the joy you see when you meet me in real life, the bucket of words that spill out of me and the intense feelings I carry are real, all the time.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
All I can hope is that when people think of me, they remember Jesus more than they remember me. I don’t mind if they forget the stories I told or the photos I took or even the amount of overalls I wore. I just hope that I’m remembered as kind and honest and genuine. Someone who loved Jesus fearlessly, was comfortably herself and created a space that welcomed others to do and be the same.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.roadsandreasonsphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roadsandreasonsphotography/profilecard/?igsh=MWkyZ2F2bDdjcWlrcQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/177FL2m6jE/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Image Credits
Roads and Reasons Photography
