Reflections on photography:

A study of emotion.

Photography is an act of witnessing; a way of honoring the parts of ourselves that surface only when we feel safe enough to be seen and to settle in. For me, it is a study of emotion; where the visceral becomes visible and reveals the architecture of our inner world. This is what actually inspired my company name, Vice Visceral Photo. My camera is simply a conduit. The moments I capture are the medium, and what you experience when you reflect on those moments is the GOAL.

What drives my work:

Music, art history, the human experience.

I’m inspired by historical, visual languages and how they've shaped humanity’s understanding of beauty. Renaissance art reveals the sanctity of vulnerability. Baroque chiaroscuro taught me that shadow is not absence, but subtext. Film noir highlights restraint and psychological depth. Vintage film stock reminds me of the beauty of imperfection.

I could go on and on about music, and how it drives my craft. I'm a huge synth, shoe gaze, dream gaze, indie, doom metal, jazz, funk, classical, you name it fan. Anything that puts me in a the mindscape of real time cinematics enlightens my work.

My approach:

The ritual of simply being.

I am not one to chase a perfect moment. I prefer to wait for the honest moments, the pause in between breaths, the soft collapse from tension when you forget you're being perceived. I am very comfortable with guiding your poses though if you would prefer assistance. These are your moments of truth, essence, and being. My trajectory is less aimed at documentation and more about translation; an echo of what it meant to exist in that moment in time. That's why it is vital to me that you feel safe and comfortable around me.

I believe in celebrating authenticity & diversity. Every story deserves to be shared.

It is important to me that my work respects, welcomes, and safely represents people of all gender identities, cultures, ages, sexual orientations, physical abilities, and backgrounds.

My goal is for everyone to feel valued and comfortable in front of the camera.   

• Emily Thaler₊˚⊹♡