We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Teater and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, what do you attribute your success to?

Perseverance and setting S.M.A.R.T realistic goals. As a commercial photographer, I have bid on many jobs. It was a learning curve at first and one that resulted in getting told “no” many times. Even though I know more now than I did at first, getting told “no” or passed over for jobs is part of the business. If I had let those lost jobs deter me, I would have never gotten to where I am now. Perseverance is hard, especially on the days you lost the jobs you wanted most but in the end it’s what has brought me the most success. In the words of Dori- Just keep swimming. As a content creator I learned that gaining clientele was going to be a long (sometimes uphill) and winding road. But right before I started this business I learned about setting S.M.A.R.T goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely. Since then, the road became easier to navigate. I now have built a thriving business that keeps me busy year round but keeping growth goals SMART, keeps me on track each day without ever feeling overwhelmed.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

Getting to where I am today has been no easy feat. Setting yourself apart and making a career as a creative is so incredibly tough but I wasn’t willing to give up my dreams when deterrents got in my way. In a way, I think that is what sets me apart- my determination and work ethic. There are so many amazingly talented photographers in the world and I don’t yet consider myself to be one of the best but I work my tail off with every project to ensure a beautiful/positive outcome that all parties are happy with. I believe in building relationships and providing excellent customer service is a great way to build a business. I want the world to know that if they work with me or my brand, Set Creative Studios, that they will always be taken care of as if they are the only client on my roster. It’s important to me that each person feels heard and knows that we will have a great working relationship, no matter what issues arise along the way.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am relatively new to Colorado and about half of our time living here has been dampened by the pandemic so I may not be the best tour guide. One thing we have experienced though is the outdoors! If it were summer, I would tell them to pack some camping gear so we could held to Dowdy Lake at Red Feather’s campground for a few days. And though it may sound “touristy” we would have to spend an afternoon walking Pearl Street Mall after a morning at the Boudler Farmer’s Market, it’s a must. A day of downtime soaking in the warmth of the CO sun followed by different hikes for a few days in a row would end the trip. The list would include Eldorado Canyon up to the continental divide overlook, the high-intensity Royal Arches hike followed by some beers at Mountain Sun Brewery and finally literally any hike in Estes Park (too hard to choose).  

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The journey to where I am now has been influence by so many people. First and foremost, my husband Shane who has never lost faith in my ability to create a successful business. He is my biggest cheerleader and keeps me going on the days where putting one foot in front of the other feels nearly impossible. Next, the Naturally Boulder Community. When we first moved to Colorado 2 years ago, I was referred to Naturally Boulder and through the weekly/monthly meetings I was able to meet a wonderful community of people who were always willing to lend a helping hand or an introduction (which is HUGE). I have never met a kinder community than those with the pass-it-on mindset in Colorado.

Website: https://www.emtphoto.com // https://www.setcreativestudios.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyteater/ // https://www.instagram.com/setcreativestudios/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-teater-977005a8/

Image Credits
All images created by Emily Teater.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.