Biography

Emma Holt BA(Hons)

Creativity might as well be my middle name! From a young age, I knew I wanted to pursue something artistic—I just wasn’t sure what that would be. I had a deep love for dance, especially ballet. As a child, I would practice ballet steps at my bedroom window, using the ledge as a barre, completely lost in the movement.

I was equally drawn to the world of visual art. Watching my dad create incredible works using just ink or an artist’s pencil was mesmerizing, and before long, I was sketching and painting alongside him. Art quickly became my passion, and I thrived in school art classes. My classmates even relied on me to "rescue" their drawings when the teacher wasn’t looking—I loved helping others bring their ideas to life!

If I wasn’t dancing or sketching, you’d probably find me dressing up and singing songs from The Sound of Music in the street (yes, I really did that!). Creativity has always been at the core of who I am—it's simply in my DNA.

The Journey

It wasn’t until later in life, at thirty-five, after going through a traumatic time, that I took a leap of faith and enrolled in a Photography degree. It was one of the most daunting and terrifying moments of my life! I could hardly believe my application and interview had gone so well—I had been accepted. Me? A university student? It felt surreal.

But stepping into that world as a mature student was overwhelming. The course was tough—really tough. I could barely turn on a computer, let alone operate a DSLR! More than once, I wanted to quit. My tutor even told me, "Emma, you're like a deer in headlights." That sentence stuck with me throughout university.

But I refused to give up. This was my time to shine—to prove to myself (and to the doubters) that I could do this.

And then, something incredible happened. Distinctions after distinctions—something I had never achieved before! For the first time, I started to believe that maybe, just maybe, photography was the creative outlet I had been searching for all along. Merging my love for art, composition, and creativity, I felt more inspired than I had in years.

Achievements

After my initial worries and fears about returning to education as a mature student, I can honestly say that going to university changed my life. The achievements just kept coming, and with each one, my confidence grew. I had always seen myself as average—but my tutors saw something in me that no one had really taken the time to notice before.

In 2011, I was awarded Student of the Year—the first-ever student in the Arts department to receive the award!

Then came an incredible opportunity: I was selected for a fully funded trip to South Africa, where I had the chance to exhibit my work. That experience opened so many doors for me, and I was even asked to become a student mentor, supporting first-year students on their own journeys.

Fast forward to graduation day—one of the proudest moments of my life. As I walked across the stage to collect my scroll, I heard my tutor announce: "Emma Holt, First-Class Degree in Photography." In that moment, I knew I had proved to myself just how much I was capable of.

Awards

Since graduating in 2012, I have built several businesses, including a jointly owned wedding photography business, a multi-award-winning photography school, a brand and PR photography business, and, more recently, I have returned to showcasing my work at exhibitions.

Having an agent has definitely been a game-changer. Juggling multiple businesses can be overwhelming at times, so having that support has made a huge difference!

Throughout my journey, I have been incredibly fortunate to receive several awards. In 2022, I won the Rising Star Award at the She Inspires Awards—an unforgettable moment! Collecting the award on stage at Bolton Arena is something I will cherish forever. I received the award for my work running an online photography course during Covid for the charity Veterans in Communities.

My photography school has been recognized as The Best Photography Tuition in the North West—twice! That’s more than I could have ever dreamed of.

I have also been honored multiple times as the Most Atmospheric & Emotive Photographer in the North West—a title that means so much to me.

None of this would have been possible without the support of my wonderful husband, Chris, my incredible agent and friend, Anna, my amazing best friends (there are a lot of them!), and my loving family.

We all need people in our lives to support us, and I am so incredibly grateful for each and every one of them.