Imperial Woodpecker has added director Emily Maye to its roster for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded content. She had previously been repped by Farm League and continues to be handled in the U.K. by Rogue.
Born and raised in Southern California, Maye spent her early life immersed in a ballet school owned by her mother. Surrounded continuously by music and movement, Maye had her passion for narrative evolve into an obsession with film. After attending the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television and continuing her screenwriting studies at Columbia University, Maye pursued her enthusiasm for storytelling in the visual arts through both photography and filmmaking.
As a photographer, Maye’s inquisitive eye looks to highlight an athlete’s humanity and the beauty in their discipline and strife that we so often overlook when focused on the finish line shot. Her clients include Nike, Adidas, Lululemon, and Rapha. Her editorial work can be seen in ESPN Magazine and Victory Journal. Often going behind-the-scenes with athletes in their training and daily life, Maye is able to capture nuance and intimacy that isn’t often experienced in athletic photography. She traveled extensively with pro cycling team Trek Factory Racing through its entire world tour calendar including the Tour de France, and with Usain Bolt as he trained for his final Olympics in Jamaica. Maye’s longest collaboration is with boutique running brand Tracksmith, having developed its visual style from the inception of the brand.
The turn to directing commercials was a natural transition that further sharpened Maye’s commitment to telling sports stories with a cinematic sensibility. She’s worked with top athletes from across disciplines including Serena Williams, Jayson Tatum, Trae Young, and Tua Tagovailoa.
