Hey friend,
Thank you for being here, and welcome to the very first issue of The Rose Edition!
This will be a quick note from me, once a month at most. I love sharing my images on social media, but I rarely share the thoughts behind them. This is my attempt to slow down, actually talk with you, and get a little less lost in the digital ether. No junk, I promise.
Plus, just for being a subscriber, you get to view a private gallery each month of photos that never made it to social media, painting a picture of what I've been working on each month. Here is the link!
Since this is issue one, it feels right to start with the biggest change of my year.
A Year Ago, I Let Go of the 9-5
In November 2025, I left my full-time job at MSU-Northern to run Emilee Rose Photography full-time. Being the strong-willed person I am, working for myself had been the goal for years. It just took some brainpower, confidence, and boatloads of mindfulness to actually go for it. Scary? Absolutely. I loved a lot about my work in higher education, but this venture was past due.
(And yes, to everyone who asks about health insurance: the self-employed options aren't glamorous, but I make it work.)
A year in, it's real, it's tough, it’s emotional, and I don't think I could ever go back. So what does life on this side look like? This summer gave me the perfect answer.
The Morning That Confirmed It
I was hired for my first paid ranch drone shoot during peak harvest, and I was stoked. The first morning, the sun cast a low, golden glow over some hay bales scattered across a huge open field, with the Bear Paws just chilling peacefully in the background. I was solo the entire shoot, and getting paid to be outside in the landscape I love.
Mornings like that remind me exactly why this venture is worth it.
But the solo days are only half of it, and I love the other half just as much. Working with local businesses lets me help boost their brand while growing my own. And setting up at small-town vendor shows means meeting new people, catching up with old friends, and hearing your photo stories: the darkroom photos you used to take in the mountains, the rare wildlife shot you caught, the view you drive past every day.
I love the variety of human experience those stories hold.
Having the freedom to choose my work means I get both: quiet time to get in my groove, and simple, joyful time with my community.
A Few Things I'm Proud Of This Year
Seeing my work displayed in the Hill County Health Department windows. It's pretty cool to walk past them in downtown Havre (pictured below).
Saying yes to new kinds of shoots, from ranch drone footage to model shoots, and other work all across the board.
Starting my first newsletter!
Simply staying committed to something I once thought I couldn't do, and giving myself grace on the days my work or productivity doesn't feel good enough.
Beyond the photo work I do, I also shoot film, instax, and of course drone. I also 3D print all kinds of interesting things for my vendor shows and filled quite a few custom orders this year.
What's Coming
Speaking of film: I'm building a black-and-white darkroom in my garage! With major help from my partner, Greg. My master's work was primarily in the area of darkroom photography, so getting back in the game after a while is really exciting, and I can't wait to share the first prints. New fall landscape prints are on the way too :)
Thanks for being here from the very first edition.
Cheers!
Em
Emilee Rose Photography
