Ema Peter’s relationship with photography began long before she ever held a professional camera. She grew up surrounded by filmmakers. Her father was a film cameraman, and his closest friends were actors and directors who often passed through their home. As a child, she traveled with him to film productions, watching him work behind the lens and absorbing the rhythm of a creative life.
Between shoots, her father turned their kitchen into a makeshift darkroom by covering every window with black plastic. Some of Ema’s earliest memories are of sitting beside him as he developed prints. She watched images slowly appear on blank paper, a moment she describes as pure magic. That early feeling of wonder stayed with her, and even today she says she still feels the same spark each time she captures a moment through her camera.
Ema was determined to become a photojournalist. Her passion for storytelling and her instinct for capturing real, raw moments made it a natural direction. But everything shifted the moment she visited Villa La Roche by Le Corbusier in Paris.
This visit happened during an internship at the Magnum Photo Agency. On her very first week in France, she walked into the iconic building and felt an unexpected connection. She was mesmerized by its minimalism and fascinated by how people moved through the space. In that single moment, she saw a new possibility: blending the narrative depth of photojournalism with the structural beauty of architecture.
From then on, architecture was no longer just form and material; it became a living character in her storytelling.
Ema believes her greatest achievement is that she has never changed. The passion and determination she carried at the beginning of her career remain just as strong today. For more than twenty years, that drive has pushed her to chase the perfect light, wait for the perfect moment, and uncover the emotional core of every building she photographs.
She explains that architectural spaces hold stories beneath the surface. Her job is to reveal those stories with honesty and precision. This requires patience, discipline and a deep understanding of how light interacts with space.
Through challenges, successes, and evolving technology, her vision has stayed constant. That unwavering commitment, she says, is the achievement she is most proud of.
Ema’s professional journey began with persistence. She knocked on doors across Vancouver, armed with her portfolio and résumé, searching for an opportunity in photography. She refused to give up, and eventually she landed a position at VRX Studios, the exclusive provider of images for Expedia at the time.
This role launched her into an intense travel schedule. She spent nearly 240 days a year on the road, photographing hotels around the world. Each destination required quick adaptation, cultural awareness, and the resilience to navigate unfamiliar locations alone. This demanding pace taught her stamina and sharpened her ability to perform under pressure.
The experience became the foundation for the long, detail-heavy architectural shoots she handles today.
Today, Ema works globally on commercial, residential and hospitality projects. She is among the rare photographers equally skilled in both architectural and interior photography. Despite suggestions that she should narrow her focus, Ema thrives on doing both.
Her expertise in lighting interiors, styling spaces, and capturing large-scale architecture gives her a unique advantage. She understands every layer of a project, from how a room breathes to how a building interacts with its surroundings.
Her long-term goal is to collaborate with creative pioneers who push boundaries and think beyond traditional categories. She has always sought to document progressive work, and over the years this vision has become reality.
One of the most valuable lessons Ema shares is the importance of treating every project as if it were her own. She works closely with architects and designers to understand the deeper meaning behind their concepts. This collaboration allows her to see nuances that might not be visible on the surface.
Knowing her clients as people helps her tell their story with greater truth and depth.
Ema also brings a strategic mindset to her work. She believes photography is not just documentation; it can elevate a project, communicate its identity and strengthen its presence in the industry. By thinking like an artist and a strategist, she creates images that resonate emotionally while serving long-term branding goals.
Ema hopes to be remembered as someone who expanded what architectural photography can be. Her signature style blends architecture, human presence, light, emotion and space into a single visual language. She aims to create images that make people feel connected to a place — even if they have never visited it.
Her goal is to evoke curiosity, admiration and a sense of wonder. She wants viewers to understand the philosophy behind the architect’s vision and to feel the soul of the structure.
Her work is a pursuit of the classic decisive moment, but she interprets it in a poetic, architectural way.
Throughout her journey, one truth has guided Ema: life is not a rehearsal. Every moment counts.
She has worked relentlessly since the beginning of her career, determined to make every second matter. Chasing light is not just a professional act for her; it is a part of her identity.
Her message to aspiring creatives is simple yet powerful. Be fully present. Embrace every experience with your whole being. Protect your memories and learn from your challenges. It is the combination of discipline and presence that turns ordinary work into lasting art.
Ema’s lifestyle reflects her commitment to her craft. She travels constantly, explores new cities through light and shadow, and immerses herself in spaces long before photographing them. Her life is a blend of rigorous planning and spontaneous discovery.
She has built a career that allows her to merge her childhood fascination with film, her love for storytelling, and her artistic discipline into a singular path. Her struggles, from demanding travel schedules to the pressure of capturing perfection, have shaped her into one of the most respected voices in architectural photography.
Today, Ema continues to push her boundaries, collaborate with groundbreaking designers and capture the magic she first experienced in her childhood kitchen darkroom.
Ema’s journey is not simply about mastering photography. It is about holding onto the spark that began everything. It is about showing the world that architecture is not just concrete and glass, but emotion, memory and humanity. And it is about inspiring others to find their own magic — then chase it boldly, relentlessly and without apology.
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