Indy Picks: Emilee Fagan Photography

There is an extremely talented young mother who grew up in Eads and now lives in La Junta with her four young children who possesses one of the best photographic eyes and styles we here at the Independent have ever seen. Over the weekend, Emilee (Weirich) Fagan brought her A7III Sony camera and keen eye to the Kiowa County Fair & Rodeo and spent much of her time shooting—documenting—the human condition of the cowboys who are, in our opinion, the backbone of society in rural America. Fagan’s work is Americana in style and at the Kiowa County Fair she captured the human condition that was there over the long weekend.

Emilee grew up in Eads and attended Eads High School where she was a standout athlete in volleyball, basketball, and track. She was also very involved in the extracurricular activities the school had to offer including FFA, FBLA, Band, and other student-led groups with a particular societal focus.

Em says, “Going to a smaller school where I could be involved in different types of activities was such a blessing.”

Her career path after high school took her to medicine where she could write a book about her experiences as a travel nurse inside numerous ICUs during COVID. It was there where the pain and suffering she witnesses during that horrific time forced her to find something—not medicine—that could act as therapy in order to deal with the sadness in her soul.

“I have always enjoyed photography, I worked as a travel nurse in the ICU during Covid and needed a creative outlet and a reason to be around people during ‘happy times’ and not just heartbreaking times.”

Once Covid was over Emilee began to find stability in La Junta and is today a School Nurse in the La Junta School District. She stays extremely busy with her large family of four children, and as a single mother they require much of her time and energy. But, of course, Emilee wouldn’t have it any other way.

In the past few years, it was becoming obvious that the monthly budget needed some assistance, so she picked up her camera again and was soon a much-wanted commodity in the Arkansas Valley. Her business, Emilee Fagan Photography, now helps to subsidize the family’s income and Fagan is thrilled she can provide a little better for her children while still doing something that she loves to do.

In fact, photography seems to be in her very heart and soul, “I enjoy being a photographer, I love people, getting to know them, to see them with their families or friends in their most happy moments. It does support my family and my kids; it also gives my kids an opportunity to meet different types of people when they come with me to shoots. It is my passion to capture moments for people, I love to take someone who is not feeling comfortable and make them feel at home in front of the camera. I feel emotions through the lens of the camera. I have been blessed to capture moments from the very beginning of life to the very end of life and I’m a very thankful for the opportunity.”

Her services are varied depending on the needs of the populace and her customers. She provides the standard shoots including senior photos, family photos, professional business photos, and weddings. Recently, she’s been quite interested in shooting events—such as she did at the Kiowa County Fair.

In the future, Emilee says she loves her photography business so much because she enjoys supporting and influencing other photographers. She loved to do some collaborations, if she could just find the time with her busy life. “I wish I had more time in the day to work my business. To see it be a full-time job for me would be amazing. I hope to have that opportunity when my kids are a little older.”

As it is, the children also accompany her to the shoots, especially if they are outside, and the two older children have begun taking photos of their own, having won photography exhibit prizes at the Ark Valley Fair a few weeks back.

Readers, if you have an event coming up where you think Emilee Fagan Photography would be just the photographer to create those perfect memories, please contact her at emileefaganphotog on Instagram or call/text at (719) 691-0537.

Check out a few of her action photos in this edition of the Kiowa County Independent in the News section. The photos are also on our website under the Fair article and this Indy Picks article. Look them over. We think you’ll agree with us that this local young mother has some serious photography skills, and we hope she will be able to continue to develop this God-given talent in order to share her visions of life in rural southeastern Colorado.