Meet Emily Sacra! {Young Creatives}
Today we’re getting to know Delight girl and wedding photographer, Emily Sacra from VA. I adore her work, and I loved getting to know her heart a bit, too!
~
Who are you? My name is Emily Sacra (pronounced S-ache-ruh), and I am 19 years old. I live in Virginia with my wonderful family, and the sweetest dog you will ever meet, Oliver! I absolutely love traveling, meeting new people, and binge watching episodes of Friends on Netflix. Dogs are literally my favorite. I can’t NOT stop and pet them! I can often be found wandering the aisles of Target, stuffing everything gold into my cart, or sitting in a booth at Chick Fil A with my best friend sipping Peppermint Milkshakes.
If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be? While I want to travel everywhere, I think I would have to choose Washington! I want to see every single corner of that beautiful state. It’s a dream of mine to photograph a wedding on a foggy mountaintop in Washington!
What do you do? What’s your creative passion? I am a wedding photographer, specializing in capturing real, precious moments. I want to be able to deliver photos that make my couples gasp each time they look at them, whether that’s the day they receive them, or 50 years from now. l think it is so special that wedding photographers are able to give the gift of preserving memories that would otherwise soon be forgotten.
What are three words you’d use to describe yourself? I would say that I am Sarcastic (my mom would call it ‘sassy’…), Sensitive, and Alive. I say Alive because I try to live each day to its fullest, and not take anything for granted. Each experience, good or bad, is what shapes you into who you are.
How did you discover your creative passion? I was so blessed to grow up in a loving, Christian home. My family has supported me since the very beginning, which I know took a lot of love because I wasn’t very good ;) I was homeschooled for the majority of my education, and during that time I started blogging. What started out as simply taking photos to post on my blog turned into something I never could have imagined! Photography is my passion, and I am so thankful for the ways the Lord has grown my business.
What is your favorite part about what you do? There is truly nothing better than showing someone a photograph you took of them, and having them be just over-the-moon excited about it! Sometimes I just cannot believe that my job is delivering joy to others. It doesn’t get any better than that!
What is your wildest dream? I have many dreams, and most of them would be considered wild ;) But one that is very close to the top of my list would be photographing a wedding in Alaska. I had the opportunity to travel to Alaska in 2014, and I would love nothing more than to go back!
What is once piece of advice you wish you’d been given five years ago? I was incredibly fortunate to be a part of an amazing photographers group (which sadly no longer exists), where I received so much help from seasoned and well-known photographers. Without this group, I honestly don’t know where my business would be today! I was able to get lots of advice, but I suppose one thing that’s not mentioned a lot to young photographers is the whole business side of things. I was surprised by just how much of that there would be, and how having your own business is not just taking pretty pictures!
What’s the hardest thing you’ve been through and how have you grown from it? Back in 2013 I was in an unhealthy relationship, which caused me to distance myself from my family. Fortunately, it didn’t last very long and through the grace of God, I was able to fix things with my family, and we are all closer than ever! I cannot express to you how thankful I am for them, and how much love I have for them in my heart. But most importantly I was able to fix things with the Lord, and while I am a flawed sinner, my walk with Him has never been better. Since then, I have constantly been reminded of his presence in my life, and how His hand will always be guiding me! This has been huge in helping me advance in my career, because I know that no matter what happens, my Heavenly Father is in control.
Who is your biggest inspiration and why? What have they taught you that has made an impact? I was trying to think of a photographer that inspired me, and while many come to mind, I decided that it’s not a photographer who truly inspires me. It’s my mom. She is the one who I want to be like, the one I want to be when I grow up. Photography is so important to me, but it’s the other things in life, like loving your husband and honoring Christ, which my mom displays so well, that are most important, and what I aspire to be.
What is your favorite Bible verse? My favorite verse is John 13:7 which says “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand”. I have found this verse so true in my life, time and time again!
xoxo, Micaela
