We recently had the chance to connect with Emari Williams and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Emari, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I believe I’m walking the path, but I had to wander first to even recognize what the path was. There was a time when I was doing a lot, but feeling disconnected from it all. I was showing up in spaces that didn’t align with me, pouring into things that drained me, and trying to survive systems that didn’t support who I was becoming. When I decided to leave a job that was burning me out, I stepped into the unknown. Yes, at first it felt like wandering. I had to let go of comfort, face financial hardship, lose relationships, and rebuild from scratch.
But what I’ve learned is that wandering isn’t always about being lost, sometimes it’s preparation. Sometimes it’s clearing out what no longer fits so you can hear yourself clearly. And that’s exactly what happened.
Now, with Mari Jay Media, I’m not just creating. I’m aligned. I’m intentional about the stories I tell, the energy I protect, the clients I work with, and the way I show up for myself and my vision. I may not have every step mapped out, but I know I’m walking in purpose. That’s what walking the path looks like for me, showing up with clarity, commitment, and trust in where I’m headed.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey there, I’m Mari Jay: CEO, Photographer, and Creative Director behind Mari Jay Media.
I didn’t enter this field because everything was perfect. I started creating when life felt like it had stopped, during one of the lowest points in my journey. I turned to the lens as a way to see beauty again. That turning point led me to build not just a brand, but a purpose.
Today, I offer photography, videography, branding, and content creation services (with a podcast launching soon). For the past three years, I’ve committed myself to not just capturing visuals, but to creating stories that feel. If you’ve ever looked at a piece of work and felt something move inside you… that’s the level of depth I aim for in every project.
Each business anniversary is more than a celebration: it’s a checkpoint. I reflect, I learn, and I grow. Here are three truths I live by:
1. Anything and everything is art; no form is greater than another.
2. There are no bad ideas, only unexplored perspectives.
3. Confidence is built through exposure, practice, and patience.
If you’re here, you’re not just hiring a creative. You’re collaborating with someone who understands what it means to rebuild, create with intention, and never stop evolving.
And as the vision expands, so does the space. Stay tuned… something special is coming soon.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
One of my earliest memories of feeling powerful was in elementary school, in my theatre classes with Ms. Endich. She encouraged me to explore who I was through the characters I portrayed, using performance as a way to express parts of myself I didn’t always have words for. There was one play in particular, written by us theatre kids, where I was cast as one of the two leads. The way I was able to interact with the audience—make them laugh, feel the emotions, and help tell a story—brought a deep sense of fulfillment. And by the end, the crowd from each show grew louder in applause and excitement. That feeling stayed with me, and it made me want to continue in the arts even more.
Even then, I didn’t fully recognize the power in that. Imposter syndrome was creeping in before I even had a name for it. But now, looking back, I realize I’ve been showing up and doing the work for years. Today, I give myself more grace, celebrate the little wins, and remind myself that being trusted with that role meant I already had something worth recognizing.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me how to trust the process, even when everything around me looked like failure. I walked away from a job that was draining me mentally and emotionally, to the point where I’d fall asleep working, dream about work, and wake up just to keep working. I was burnt out, unsupported, and losing myself. Leaving felt like the only way to survive, but it came with real consequences: financial hardship, lost relationships, and the overwhelming fear of not knowing what would come next.
But in that space of uncertainty, I learned to ask for help—something I’d stopped doing. I learned to rebuild myself slowly, with intention. I launched Mari Jay Media and started chasing the dreams my younger self had always hoped for. And though it took months of pain and sacrifice, I realized I had to lose the stability I thought I needed to gain the freedom I now have.
Success taught me how to perform. Suffering taught me how to surrender, and still rise. It taught me that even when I can’t see it, God is always preparing something greater than the challenge I’m facing today.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
One place I see smart people getting it wrong, especially in creative media, is thinking that gear is the key to success. I hear it all the time: “What camera should I buy to start?” or “Do I need the most expensive lens or accessories?” The truth is, it doesn’t matter what camera body you have, how much it costs, or how fancy your gear looks.
The real magic happens when you start using what you have and focus on exploring your vision. Your ideas, your perspective, and your creativity are what truly matter; the gear is just a tool. I always tell people: find a camera that fits your budget, get comfortable with it, and start creating. When you hit a point where you need more challenge or new tools, that’s when you invest and build your kit.
Starting is the biggest step. The best camera is the one in your hands right now, because you’ve already got the ideas. It’s about showing up, experimenting, and learning—not chasing the next shiny thing.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I lived with intention: that I turned pain into purpose, and vision into something tangible. That I showed up for myself, even when it was hard, and used my creativity and compassion not just to make things look good, but to make people feel seen, heard, and understood.
I want to be remembered as someone who chose alignment over approval, in both my personal life and my work. That through Mari Jay Media, I created space for stories that mattered. And through my role as a social worker, I stood in the gap for people who needed support, safety, and someone to advocate for them when they couldn’t do it alone.
I hope the story they tell is that I stayed true to myself. That I led with heart, I created with purpose, and I made people feel empowered—whether through art, empathy, or simply showing up. I don’t just want to be remembered for what I built, but for how I made people feel. That’s the legacy I’m working on: one rooted in creativity, care, and truth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.marijaymedia.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marijaymedia?igsh=aTc4ejUwd3VtamRx&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084291008313
