Emily Black

Emily Peters, who operates under her business name Emily Black, studied movie frames and Renaissance art to hone in her lighting and editing styles. She mixes fine-art influences with a “cinematic depth inspired by art and movies” when she photographs—and sometimes, she does that with a vintage Super 8 Canon Zoom camera.

Preferring a quiet and intimate environment as she works, Peters has shifted her focus toward smaller weddings and elopements. “I work very quietly and document by giving the couples the space to take in the scenery or have a moment together,” she says. “The best photos come from couples feeling relaxed and natural.” Above all, Peters doesn’t want her clients to feel like their wedding day is a photo shoot. “That detracts from the enjoyment of their day,” she says.

Check out the official announcement of this year’s 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography, along with the editors’ observations on the list of 2021.