The Meaning Behind Emerald Rue
When searching for a business name, it’s important to find one that has meaning. Well, at least to me, Jen Martodam, owner of Emerald Rue. Here, I’ll share the meaning behind the name, Emerald Rue.
I wanted the brand name to be something other than my first or last so I went to work combining words until I came upon green path. Green because not only is it my favorite color but nature/grass/trees/summer makes me think of green. Path because I was on a new path and it also spoke to my love of hiking/woods/nature.
Green Path Photography doesn’t evoke the feeling I was striving for. Emerald has long been a gorgeous color in my book and wouldn’t you know it, is a shade of green! Rue in French translates to street or pathway. BOOM. It sounded light, playful and evoked the emotion that I was searching for.
If you want the long answer, keep reading…
In November 2017, I attended the Wildflowers Workshop in Nashville put on by the talented and lovely Joy Prouty. The workshop was not only about taking photos, it was about taking a look at life, analyzing happiness, finding out deeper who we are as humans. It was full of the tough questions and lots of sharing of our life stories and I really walked away from it changed.
During the workshop, I decided it was time for a change in my personal life, in the relationships I kept and in my career path. Some very hard decisions were made that led to a few rough months of life, but the one joyful decision that came out of it was the choice to forgo marketing myself as a wedding photographer and begin a journey into lifestyle films & photography.
I want to create films and images that evoke emotion when viewed. I admire, so much, photographers that can capture emotion so flawlessly and I see it as a new challenge.
On the airplane ride home from the workshop, I envisioned a brand that really encompassed who I was and would attract clients who understood my mission. I began to jot down all the words that spoke to my soul and that when I thought of them, made me feel peace – mountains, streams and rivers, lakes, green grass, nature, paths, outdoor activities, sunshine – on and on I went until I could think of no more words.
Cue, the discovery of green path, leading to Emerald Rue. There you have it!
