Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Anderson Meyer.
Hi Emily, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been obsessed with capturing my memories so that way future me has a lot to look back on. I went to school at the University of Oklahoma and got my degree in Creative Media Production with a track in Videography. From school, I had a difficult time deciding what I wanted to do career-wise. Media production is so broad – you can do so many things! I worked in casting for a bit and I liked that a lot because I love watching people play characters, but I wanted to be the one making and creating things rather than just watching others. I decided to pursue photography because that would be a lot easier than videography as a one woman show. I’ve always enjoyed photography for capturing all of the memories throughout my life, I got my first digital camera in middle school.
However, I hadn’t thought on how I wanted to make money from it ever. While I was trying to decide the route to go with my photography, my roommate and friend, Olivia, approached me and said she wanted to have some sexy photos of herself to have and to show her boyfriend. I was so excited to set up an elegant boudoir shoot for my friend, and she eagerly agreed even though I had never shot boudoir before! I suggested I get a really nice hotel room and we get a few of our friends to join us and make a fun night of it and I can practice and take their photos too! That night was so fun and very empowering! That night definitely set me down the path that I am currently on now! I thought that night that if I could somehow have this much fun, make other women feel good, AND it can make money? Well, that’s a dream job if there ever was one.
So now I live in Austin, Texas and work with a boudoir company where I travel all over the country! Not only do I work with that company, but I have my own business! My business is called Gemini Daydreams and as of now, I really love photoshoots with a good theme. Boudoir with a twist if you will. Along with my boudoir shoots, I offer fun-themed shoots! Growing up, I watched every season of America’s Next Top Model and to say that show heavily influenced me is an understatement! I loved watching all the different photoshoot themes they came up with and executed. It was so creative and fun and always fascinated me! Now that I think about it, for a living, I do a little bit of everyone’s job from that show. I design and build my own sets. I’m a stylist and put together a wardrobe with clothes, props, and accessories for all my themed shoots. Sometimes I even model for my shoot concepts for promoting and marketing! Of course, all the while being the photographer, editor, pose coach, and all-around your biggest fan!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As with life, the road hasn’t always been smooth. While trying to start up my photography career, I was moving between states, and that was difficult because moving to a new place, you’re the new face. Having to market yourself from the bottom up is very hard. Sometimes I feel I can throw a rock in this town and hit a photographer. I know I need to stand out, so I embrace that and have fun with it! I feel like it challenges me and makes me a better creative. I’m inspired and motivated by those around me. Whether the good or bad. I’ve learned the hard way be careful with who you trust, not everyone wants to see you succeed. And even though maintaining boundaries can feel like a struggle, I promise you’re mental health and well-being are the most important. And, not only did I navigate a move while trying to establish a career, like everyone else in 2020/2021, I’m navigating through Covid. I am still able to host photoshoots outdoors while wearing masks and taking all the necessary precautions.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a boudoir photographer and I guess you could say that I am known for my fun-themed photoshoots! I feel like what sets me apart from others is the amount of detail, attention, and energy I put into each and everyone of my photoshoots. I put on a full production! Set design, wardrobe, props, cool locations, and even craft services. It’s an absolute must for me to make the perfect first impression. I offer so much “behind the scenes” content for my clients as well because I love them to have candids captured of them while they’re having fun on their shoot, and they also have immediate cute content to post if they wish. I’ve mentioned my themes briefly, but I’ll go into more detail because I offer several of them! First of all, I love options. I love having options, and I think everyone else does as well. I think having options also makes it easier for a client to decide what kind of photoshoot vibe they desire! My favorite themes that I offer at the moment are Cosmic Cowpoke, Fairy Dreams, and Make Them Gelly.
Cosmic Cowpoke is glow in the dark western theme where I have curated six glow in the dark/light-up cowboy hats from Neon Cowboys, One official pair of hot pink glow boots from that company, and four other colors I made on my own. More fun props such as a glow whip, neon holster, space guns, and an entire closet of Cosmic Cowpoke attire to help you style your shoot. This one is particularly fun in Austin!! For Fairy Dreams, I shoot in Zilker Botanical Gardens and I have three stunning pairs of iridescent fairy wings made by Byrning Raven, a fairy wing crown, real-looking butterfly clips, crystal hair accessories and beautiful fabric for ethereal vibes. Make Them Gelly is shot in my studio and is like your typical boudoir session, but with red and blue gels (or whatever color you want) thrown on top of white lights to create a moody and edgier set. I have so many more themes to choose from but these are my favorite at the moment! Please check out my website to see more!
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Gemini Daydreams is the umbrella brand for me to pursue my dreams and passions. Right now and in the past it has been photography, but photography isn’t something that I am going to hold myself down to forever. Life and interests are always changing. I allow myself the freedom to do what I want. Right now, I am also curating and creating my own studio space! I’m designing the studio to have the aesthetics of Austin Powers of the 70’s meeting Totally Spies! of the 00’s. I am really excited to see it come together! However, I think the thing that would surprise most people is to know that I actually want to sing. I’ve always wanted to sing and this year, I am honoring my inner child and signing myself for voice lessons and actually taking my daydreams seriously. We’ll see where my dreams take me! That’s why it’s called Gemini Daydreams, after all! I am a Gemini and I’m a daydreamer. So far, manifesting my daydreams into reality hasn’t disappointed me.
Pricing:
- Cosmic Cowpoke session – $350
- Fairy Dreams session – $350
- Make Them Gelly Session – $350
- Golden Hour – $350
Contact Info:
- Email: gemini.daydreams.info@gmail.com
- Website: www.geminidaydreams.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/gemini.daydreams
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/em.gemini.daydreams
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/geminidaydream_
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/geminidaydreams
Image Credits
1st image with model under the red ramp – Model is Anabell Diaz instagram handle is @bellhellz 2nd image with model on ledge with whip and orange cowboy hat – Model – Shade Reed instagram handle @shadereed 3rd image with model with projector on her – Model – Kaely Lynn instagram handle @kaelylynn 4th image with model in cape under neon lights – Model – Connie Cheng instagram handle @squareofcee 5th image with model in tulle dress with fairy wings – Model – Erin O’Quinn instragram handle @erin_ohwell 6th image with model in beautifully architectured room – Model – Kimberly Clay instagram handle @kinda_kimberly_ann 7th image with model in swimsuit and sunnies – Model – Gwyn Cline instagram handle – _xogwyn 8th image with model in pink dress in pink studio – Model – Shelby Garcia – instagram handle @shelbyisbasicallyabunny
