TK Staff Profile: Emma Highfill
How do you stay ‘on brand’ with the projects you are assigned?
Authenticity, joy, and humor are important parts of my brand. No matter who I'm photographing, whether it's a woman with a boutique jewelry business out of her home or a rugged man who welds all day, my goal is to spark genuine happiness to hopefully help the future customers see the natural side of the people I'm photographing.
How did you begin designing?
Most of my generation can probably say we've been taking photos our whole lives, and being an "art kid" it was a natural addition. However, it wasn't until I started college in 2007 that I became really drawn to it as a hobby, and it's just grown from there! I still apologize to all of my initial "models" from when I was just starting out. They really put up with a lot of photo shoots from me!
Where does your inspiration come from?
National Geographic and editorial celebrity photography are probably two of my favorite types of photography. With Nat-Geo, they're of course unbelievably skilled at telling complete stories with one image, typically of things rarely seen. Editorial photography, like when you see a series of one actor on a gray backdrop wearing different outfits, always intrigues me because they connect with those who are heavily seen and overly photographed. Somehow those images still seem fresh and engaging.
Who is an artist you look up to?
Peggy Sirota is one of my first photography crushes. It's not surprising at all, because her work is entirely about being extroverted and joyful. A personal favorite of mine is actually a Gap ad she filmed for a suede clothing. It involves a lot of dancing, and is set to "Love and Happiness" by Al Green. It's worth watching simply for a mood booster! She's has this way of connecting with others that seems genuine to their personalities, while also using light and composition in a way that's bright and cheery. What I'd give to spend a period of time shadowing her!
What is unique about working for a niche, like TK Business?
Interacting with such a wide array of individuals is the most unique part about working for TK! When I first started working for them, I expected to mostly meet people in suits, working out of offices. However, to my surprise, this job typically takes me to places where I need close-toed shoes and will likely be handed a hardhat and safety glasses. It's also not uncommon to be welcomed into people homes and greeted with warmth and love as they show me their passions turned livelihoods. From basement studios to scrapyards, I've seen it all!
