The Woman Behind
Emily Rohman Photography
I use photography to help tell your love story through all its major milestones, from couple pictures to proposal photos to engagements to your big day, including big weddings and elopements.
I officially launched Emily Rohman Photography in 2020 but photography has been in my life for as long as I can remember. My dad was always capturing family memories on a camcorder. When I was 13, my mom bought an old digital camera and taught me how to use the photos to make custom cards and magnets for my friends. The hobby followed me to high school, where I was in the yearbook club, and to college, where I bought a GoPro to vlog my entire study abroad experience in Switzerland.
After graduating and working in public health, I found myself with less and less energy for photography. Then, in the midst of burnout and looking for a creative outlet, I picked up my camera again and started shooting nature and landscapes. As I practiced more, I discovered that my favorite thing to photograph was couples in love.
I was too nervous to ask friends to model for couple pictures. Instead, I constantly monitored Instagram hashtags like #engagedinhawaii and offered couples highly discounted engagement photos. Eventually, I landed my first clients: a German couple who had just gotten engaged during their trip to Oahu. The shoot went great, and we have stayed in touch through their wedding and the birth of their first child.
My Photography Journey
hover over each photo to learn more
I believe each story is a beautiful thread woven into the rich fabric of humanity and should be celebrated.
Part of what drew me to specializing in elopement and wedding photography was my own complexly beautiful journey to love.
Being a Cambodian Thai American in the suburbs of Chicago meant I rarely met people who looked like me or had shared experiences. Layer that with the fact that my family is among the mere 2% of Islam-practicing-Cambodians, and my soon-to-be husband is Korean…let’s just say I understand feeling unrepresented in Hollywood’s portrayal of love and the delicate balance of following your heart and navigating family dynamics.
Every love story deserves a happy ending—whether you’re LGBTQ+, interracial, or interfaith.
Embracing Diversity
I’ll always offer pose ideas for couples in pictures and make sure any specific photo moments you want are captured. But for elopements and weddings, I focus on capturing the real you in genuine moments as they unfold. The result? A collection of moments that feel as real as you are, without interruption.
If authenticity is what you’re after, my approach is rooted in documentary-style photography.
Authenticity
Being an elopement and wedding photographer means I’m present for significant moments in your life. From our first meeting, I take the time to truly get to know you as a couple and the community around you. So, by the time we’re shooting, you feel like a familiar friend is taking your pictures and not a stranger. Knowing you and your guests also helps make every image reflect the essence of your unique love story.
I’m more than just a photographer—I’m here to build meaningful connections.
Human-to-Human Connection
We’re A Great Fit If You Value...
Yes! You read that right!
My partner, James, and I love being outdoors. When we moved to Hawaii, we took up freediving and spearfishing. During a sunrise dive in Waimea Bay, he popped the question. He had friends capture the whole thing on GoPros, and a flower-petal-lined surfboard was waiting for us when we rose to the surface.
Don’t worry he proposed with a fake ring, smart thinking James!
My teacher training has taught me so much about the mind-body connection. I’m even finding that it’s bleeding into my photography; helping someone maneuver a reformer machine and understanding how to adjust a position to suit them best is similar to how I approach helping couples find poses that feel natural to them in my business.
fun facts
Thailand
CambodiaMexico
San Francisco
San Diego
Maui
Kaua'i
Getting married in one of these locations?
Tuscany
The Amalfi Coast
My hometown in Chicago
Yosemite
Switzerland
Spain
Indonesia
As a destination wedding photographer, I’ve had the pleasure of shooting in many beautiful locations, but there are still many locations left on my bucket list!
My bucketlist shoot locations
Kim-Mai Hoang
I'm recommending Emily to everyone I know at this point! Emily is so talented, kind, friendly, and patient! My fiancé and I had the best time working with Emily. She's communicative and very organized, so the planning leading up to our engagement photoshoot and the photoshoot itself went so smoothly! This was our first ever professional shoot, so we were nervous and didn't know what to do at first. However, Emily guided us every step of the way to make sure we captured all the moments we envisioned and more. We've also asked her and her team to come to California to photograph and do content creation for our wedding, and I'm so excited to work with them again because I know they're going to capture the most beautiful photos for us again! Thank you again, Emily!
