Hunting for the perfect shot.

What started out as a single shoot for a C-VILLE Weekly article turned into a week-long epic to photograph hunter Emily Beasley. One of the growing number of women hunters, Emily donates her deer to the statewide non-profit Hunters for the Hungry. Three outings in beautiful winter light allowed plenty of time for editorial photography, personal reflection, and making a couple of unexpected friends.

Above you can see Emily on the left, and the article’s author, Christine Kueter, on the right. We had a lot of fun even during the long periods of silence as we waited for the footsteps of deer. We often discussed the bird calls we heard, but we mostly enjoyed the peace of the outdoors.

Emily has been a hunter since she was only eight years old. In addition to donating her catch to food banks, she volunteers with Virginia Wheelin’ Sportsmen, an organization that gives individuals with mobility impairments the opportunity to enjoy hunting, fishing, shooting, and other outdoor activities. She was so kind to share her knowledge with us.