Meet Emily Quinton
Emily Quinton is a photographer who specialises in helping designers, makers and creatives build their businesses by understanding how to tell their story on Instagram and social media. With over 80k followers on Instagram and her own thriving creative business, she really knows what she’s talking about. We’re thrilled that Emily is running a workshop at our Weekend of the Maker event in Sheffield on 27 November, where you can learn how to create beautiful photographs for your business and how to share them on Instagram and other social media channels. We asked Emily to tell us more about her business, how she has grown it and what she will be covering in her workshop…
I’m passionate about the potential of the internet to enable creative people to make a living doing what they love doing.
Hi Emily! Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about what you do?
Hi! I’m Emily Quinton and I’m the founder of Makelight, an online learning platform for Creative Entrepreneurs. I teach people all over the world to take beautiful images with whatever camera they have, and how to use social media and tech to build their business. I am passionate about the potential of the internet to enable creative people to make a living doing what they love doing.
How would you describe your style?
My photographic style is feminine, positive and bright.
How did you get to where you are now?
I did many things before I started Makelight, including running a successful Wedding & Portrait Photography business. But Makelight all started with some ideas in a notebook and a blog. I used social media and my blog to get quite far. I started to run workshops about four years ago and have been building Makelight with my husband steadily since then. However, it was the development of our online courses and my husband joining Makelight full time earlier this year that have really seen Makelight grow. We are now a team of five and have big, exciting plans for 2017.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
I have been give lots of wonderful advice over the years but the piece of advice that has really stuck with me over the past few month is “everything is figureoutable” from the always inspiring Marie Forleo. I pretty much use this every single day, whether at work or at home with my four young children. It’s one of those amazing phrases that just stops me in my tracks, calms me down and makes me think more clearly, and often think bigger and wider too.
You could wait until you think everything is perfect and until you think absolutely everything is ready but you could also just start.
What would your top tip be to anyone hoping to start their own creative business?
Just start. Stef and I have mentored many creative people over the years and this is what we always say. Yes, you could wait until you think everything is perfect and until you think absolutely everything is ready but you could also just start. Experiment with small ideas, test things out, and go for it today!
Can you tell us bit more about your workshop at the Weekend of the Maker? What will you be covering and what will people come away with?
My workshop will focus on styling and photography tips for helping you to tell your maker story. I’m passionate about people taking images with whatever cameras they have, so we’ll be looking at smartphones as well as cameras in the workshop. I’ll cover using natural light, composition tips, styling tips, camera/smartphone tips and editing on your phones. I’ll also look at using images on social media and the importance of story telling. You’ll come away with the confidence to use natural light, a better understanding of your camera or cameras and ideas about how to style and capture your own products and maker stories.
Book your place at Emily’s workshop at our Weekend of the Maker >
Follow Emily Quinton on Instagram
