L.A. native, Emilynn Rose has made her mark as a fashion and editorial photographer by creating eye-popping imagery that exudes captivating personality and pure authenticity in every frame. Since she was 16, she was always known for being the one capturing photos of any and everything in sight. She began photographing for her high school fashion club where she began to develop a creative process allowing her to transform images and give them a unique visual aesthetic. She has vast experience crafting out-of-the-box concepts behind many of her shoots whether in studio or on location and delivers cutting edge imagery with precise detail and composition. Emilynn’s photography style showcases women with boldness, unity and diversity.
Emilynn often takes on the role of creative director with her clients and has editorially shot with celebrities such as Jamie Foxx, Nazanin Mandi, Saweetie, and Dreezy. She has also spearheaded fashion campaigns for brands such as Bebe, Pretty Little Things, FashionNova, Meshki, Kappa, and more. Her work has appeared in a variety of notable media as well including VOGUE, Harpers Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Complex, Billboard, VH1 online, and Coveteur.
“Rose Studios is my second baby. I opened Rose Studios three years ago with my business partner, Mandy Pacheco. We currently own four studios and three rooftops, and are hoping to open more this year! It is so nice to have my own studio that I get to share with others. I love seeing other creatives come into the studio and create their own visions in our space. There are so many incredible artists out there that will shoot in our space and make it look completely different!
What makes Rose Studios unique is that it’s a woman of color-owned business, where diversity is strongly showcased through community building and branding.”
Emilynn Rose
In 2018, Emilynn launched her flagship photography studio called Rose Studios with Mandy Pacheco in downtown Los Angeles where they offer an array of different photography sets available for booking and currently showcases 4 studios and 3 rooftops.
Why did you want to start Rose Studios? What motivated you to start your company?
I always wanted a studio of my own, that is what really motivated me to start Rose Studios. I wanted a place to do photoshoots, bring in my model friends, bring in my creative friends and do what we do best – Create! Luckily at the time – I was living in a two-floor studio apartment and Rose Studio really started there. I had a bedroom upstairs and my studio downstairs. I only had a backdrop that rolled out with a small office setup. When I started realizing I needed a bigger space and more options on what I can create – I started talking to one of my clients about it. He was moving offices at the time and offered it to me – Which is now known as the Rose Loft. He was asking me if I wanted to start a studio business with him but unfortunately, it didn’t work out. Fortunately, I did get to find my business partner Mandy through all of that.
Mandy and I started Rose studios from the ground up and it flourished. What motivated me too was being able to create jobs for people. To get them excited about what they are doing and show them there are different avenues of work you can do in the lane that you love the most. Also, seeing other creatives work in the space- that was just really amazing. At first Rose Studios was just supposed to be my office not being rented out daily by others. But it quickly became a space where creatives could come – produce and design the space into their vision and that motivated me to build more studios.
How has the business grown to be where it is now? What has contributed to your success?
Well we have had the studio for 3 years now and it definitely has grown so much bigger than when we first started. We have four studios and two rooftop locations and we are definitely planning on expanding more. What helped the most was the team and staff that put in countless work and effort. My amazing business partner Mandy has put her heart and soul into this company and definitely without her – it wouldn’t be what it is today. We brainstorm ideas weekly to grow the business. Giving ourselves new tasks and goals to reach. Definitely what has contributed to our success is innovating – especially during the pandemic. It pushed us in ways to think outside the box and create other ways to become profitable. We had to find other ways to make money besides renting out the studios. With the pandemic we had to shut down everything and couldn’t be creative the way we were before. During the pandemic we rebranded the studios- we were thinking “who are our clientele?” and “who do we want to target?” For me having a five-year and one-year goal is the only way to determine what direction the company can go in.
What are the company’s plans in the next 5 years?
Mandy and I have so many ideas for the next few years to come. We definitely want to expand and grow. Hopefully, in 5 years we won’t be in a pandemic anymore. One of our biggest goals, when we started this, was community building. We love throwing events so other creatives can network, work and grow together. I think right now is the time to represent diversity and femininity in this industry. It has been lacking for some time now and we want to showcase it more and more. With the growth of it, we just opened Rose Services department to create more jobs for photographers, videographers and creatives. This is not just a studio, we are building a community for everyone that wants to create and connect them with the clients that are looking for that creative approach.
What inspires you and your design choices?
When I created Rose Studio – I was really into the color pink and flowers. My photography and style, at the time, directed more towards a girlier aesthetic. My middle name is Rose so we created a rose wall, put a swing in front of it and the studio was created around that. When I opened Studio 54 and Blush Room, which at the time was called the color space, I wanted something super fun and something that would POP. Then when I opened our most recent studio the Urban Loft – I have been more attracted towards the more natural colors- beige, ivory, and browns. You can say my studios, style and design choices have evolved as I grew more into myself, career and business over the years.
What are you most proud of as an entrepreneur?
Well definitely as a photographer, some of my proudest moments are seeing my work on covers, billboards and in stores. It is really amazing seeing my work printed, used and people actually liking it. For the studios – I love LOVE LOVE- seeing other photographers create imaginary. I think it is amazing how I can create an idea of what I want the studio to look like and have other artists come in and recreate it their own way and make their own style- I think it is really one of the things I am most proud of is just having space for creatives.
What inspired you to start working for yourself?
I watched my mom work her butt off! Growing up in a Filipino- American family household, the majority of my family were in the medical and engineering field doing a lot of math and science. I just didn’t have any desire to approach that lane for a career. However, when I found photography at 16- I fell in love with it! From the very first moment I held a camera, to setting up my first photoshoots with my friends – I decided that I would go full focus with it after high school was done and just see where it would take me. For me I thought about it -if I was going to go full focus and just see what happens- it might just be better than guessing everyday “what if”. I also thought if I am going to put time into anything it should be into my own business not into someone else’s. I decided to put all that effort into myself and not have a plan B.
It’s so difficult to be a successful photographer, can you tell us what skills you need in order to become a successful one?
What sets me apart is my eye. I do believe I have a distinct taste of shooting females in a way that is empowering, and also my use of colors! I am most proud of my journey, as I think back of what it took to get me where I am today, I am proud that I started the journey of becoming a photographer. It wasn’t an easy journey, but I had to push myself to keep going in those downtimes. It still happens today, where I don’t feel content in where I am, but I just keep pushing forward and I keep learning and thinking of ways on how I can keep doing better! Something I’ve learned in this journey is to never give up. As cliche as it sounds, if I’ve given up every time something got hard, I wouldn’t be where I am. Also, to always find the excitement in what you do, because it’s not always fun, it is work as well, but it’s up to you to always stay inspired and to find the joy and remember why you’re doing this in the first place!
Can you share some tips on how to approach or even attract big clients?
Building a strong portfolio! Focusing on refining my portfolio has helped me attract big clients. Through our top notch customer service, branding and marketing we are able to focus on the clientele Rose Studios wants. Now we have clients directly requesting my style for the photoshoots. It’s important to find your own style as a creative and know what kind of clientele you are looking to attract. Being personable also helps!
If you could sum up your career in three words, what would they be?
This career has been a journey but to be able to say I’ve built everything from scratch and created this world for myself and others- There are really no words to express how amazing it feels. But three words to describe it all are -Adventures, Challenging and Happy! Every day is very adventurous and challenging but at the end of it all it makes me happy! I push myself daily to break the boundaries and create my own destiny. There is a high reward for putting in all the work yourself. Photography makes me happy, being an entrepreneur makes me happy. I am blessed that I have the opportunity to do this every day.
Tell us about your proudest achievement?
I am so proud of Rose Studios! Our studio has been on the cover of Paper Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, on Billboards for Fashion Nova, and has so many incredible established artists coming and creating in our space.
As a photographer every time I get a cover, or a billboard it still feels unreal. It gives me the greatest sense of joy, gratitude, and accomplishment. It’s what I work hard for, so it’s truly gratifying. Definitely some of my “pinch me” moments are my covers of Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam January 2021, my Elle Arabia cover for April 2021, and my Harper’s Bazaar Serbia cover for August 2021.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
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