Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Blaire.
Hi Emily, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Dane and I met back in college. We both had a passion for creative endeavors and throughout the journey of life we made it to the wedding world. The business started as Oh Dang It’s Dane back in 2022. He shots a friends wedding for free and the film turned out better than any of us imagined. I (Emily) was working as a wedding coordinator at the time and thought there was a lot of potential. After a year or so of grinding, networking, branding, etc. we were both officially full time and committed to building a brand we cared deeply for.
We are where we are today due to grit, determination and our love for what we do. Connecting with people and capturing such intimate moments is why we do what we do. It’s meaningful work that provides us with amazing opportunities.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not lol. This industry ebbs and flows. Some months you make $0, and others you hit 5 figures. And don’t even get me started on social media, it’s such a game and we get sick of playing it at times. There’s also the factor of comparison, it’s the thief of joy but it also dulls your clarity. In a creative field it can be hard not to feel liked, wanted or appreciated for your vision and craft. Then there’s the industry itself… Austin is really known for it’s community driven wedding industry which we’ve been so appreciative for, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a constant drive for approval and acceptance from fellow vendors as you level up.
All of this to say, it’s possible. We did it/are doing it. And even though the lows can be low, the highs are so damn rewarding it’s worth all of the struggles to get where we are. A year and a half ago we dreamed of being in the place we are now. Reflection really is the key to gaining perspective and staying appreciative and proud of what you accomplish.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
From our website: We’re a team of artists and storie-tellers who believe wedding photo and video should feel as personal and layered as the day itself.
What started with a love for imagery (and okay, maybe a few chaotic timeline spreadsheets) has evolved into a full-on collective—equal parts creativity, calm presence, and genuine care for the couples we serve.
Think of us as your documentary crew, artistic eyes, and low-key emotional support team. We’ll guide when needed, step back when it matters, and show up with cameras—and intention—in hand.
You already have a beautiful love storie. Our job is to translate it into art that reflects you.
Written now:
We capture love stories in an authentic, timeless and artful way. We specialize in weddings, mainly in Austin but we travel worldwide. We’re known for our style and the intention we put into each couple, truly getting to know them. Building deep relationships is how we accomplish what we can. We’re most proud of what we’ve done. It truly has been the best and most challenging thing either of us has ever done. Doing it together with no help, just industry friends to learn from has been wilding rewarding. I think our approach and our style sets us apart from others. Our style is true to color, documenting the day in a candid, classic and cinematic way while also prioritizing our couples experience. We want to capturing them experiencing the day they truly want to have.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
We didn’t work with one specific mentor. We had a lot of simple conversations with a lot of people. We learned from their successes and their failures and took what felt right for us. This is how we were able to avoid some mistake and accelerate quickly. We definitely made some mistakes but we avoided a lot and were able to set ourselves apart from others by just asking, listening and learning.
Pricing:
- Wedding Photography: $6,500
- Wedding Videography: $6,500
- Wedding Photography + Videography: $12,00
- Hourly Session: $500 (family, engagement, proposal)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thestoriecollective.com/
- Instagram: thestoriecollective
- Facebook: thestoriecollective
- Youtube: TheStorieCollective
- Other: https://vimeo.com/thestoriecollective
Image Credits
The Storie Collective (us hehe)
