There’s a photograph Ember Rodgers keeps close to her heart. Not one she took, but one she found tucked into the worn pages of her grandmother’s photo albums. A black-and-white photo of her grandparents cutting their wedding cake. As a child, she would sit cross-legged on the floor, flipping through those albums and tracing the faded prints with her fingers, sensing that the images held more than just faces. They weren’t just pictures; they were the heartbeat of her family’s story.
That early instinct - that photographs are emotional heirlooms - never left her. Today, Ember is the owner of Ember Rose Photography, a lifestyle wedding photography brand based in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, where she lives with her family and works with the kind of clients who, like her, care deeply about the moments that matter most.
A Quiet Force in Southern Manitoba’s Wedding Scene
Ember focuses her work close to home, serving couples in Portage, Winnipeg, Brandon, and the surrounding region. Her photography style walks the line between candid and styled, blending emotional storytelling with subtle direction. She gravitates toward a cinematic editing style that feels nostalgic yet current, allowing the emotional weight of the day to shine through.
What sets Ember apart isn’t just her eye for light or composition, it’s the energy she brings into a wedding day. “I work hard to keep that energy calm, consistent, and grounded,” she says. “My goal is always to be a supportive and peaceful presence.” For her, it’s about more than images. It’s about honouring the emotional architecture of the day with reverence and care.
From Artist to Storyteller
Before picking up a camera, Ember was already an artist. Her hands were always busy creating - whether with pen and ink, stained glass, acrylic, or pencil - each medium a chapter in her search for something that truly resonated with her. Choosing to study photography at Red River College was a natural extension of that journey, driven by her curiosity for an art form that was not just visual but deeply emotional. Photography didn’t simply fill her cup; it overflowed it.
After graduating the photography program in 2014, she began second shooting for a local wedding photographer, easing into the work one wedding at a time. That deliberate start gave her space to learn the rhythm of a wedding day and to build trust in her instincts. "I learned how to pivot fast, how to pin boutonnieres, calm nerves, and guide everyone through the day with a steady hand - often with a well-timed joke," she said.
Eventually, her own bookings followed. One wedding led to another, and then another. A single client referred three more. Wedding parties became future clients. Before she knew it, Ember was the name behind the lens at dozens of love stories each year.
“I Don’t Like the Word Client—We Always End Up Friends”
Ask Ember what she values most in her business and she’ll tell you: connection. “My clients plan with heart. They’re not performing. They’re feeling. They want a photographer who can hold space for both the nerves and the joy.”
That ethos defines everything she does - from timeline planning to the way she gently navigates the chaos of wedding mornings. It’s not unusual for Ember to leave a wedding having cried through the ceremony or the heartfelt speeches. “Yes, they love the images,” she says. “But what they talk about is how my presence helped make their day easier. I believe it’s because we get to know each other first, and by the time the wedding day arrives, we’re friends. That connection helps ease the nerves and creates space for the real moments to shine.”
It’s no surprise that Ember doesn’t rely heavily on advertising. Her business has grown through personal referrals and in-person experiences. Word-of-mouth is her most trusted currency - and her most consistent.
The Weight of Memory
Ember’s work is deeply rooted in emotional honesty, a truth shaped by her own lived experiences. “I’ve come to realize just how important it is to document life,” she says. “That understanding has come through loss and by witnessing how powerful it is to hold onto photos after someone is gone. Images carry so much more than memories; they become a way to keep someone close when they’re no longer physically here.”
That sense of legacy underscores her artistic voice. Weddings, to Ember, are not just events. They’re turning points in the human story - raw, rich with emotion, and worth preserving with care.
Everyday Inspiration, Cinematic Influence
Creatively, Ember finds inspiration in everyday life. Her children have shifted the way she sees the world. “The curve of their eyelashes, the way their hands hold dandelions; there’s so much beauty in the small things if we’re open to seeing it.”
She’s also a self-proclaimed film buff. The way movies are framed and lit often influences how she composes shots. “I love finding a new way to frame couples and locations that feels like a scene from a story,” she says.
Looking Ahead with Heart (and Maybe Film)
Ember intends to keep her schedule full with weddings as she continues to grow and evolve in her craft. She’s also considering some thoughtful additions to her services, including integrating film photography and launching a print shop.
At the core of it all is her unwavering desire to show up authentically - for herself, for her clients, and for the moments that matter most.
Website: emberrosephotography.ca
Instagram: @emberrosephotography