Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Schmerr.
Hi Erin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My father was a hobbyist nature and wildlife photographer. He carried his beat up camera and muddy camera bag with him everywhere. It was always dangling around his arm, thrown on the car seat on its way to another adventure or waiting on the kitchen table for review. When he passed away in 2011, I set his camera on my dresser and didn’t touch it for almost 6 years. I had always loved photography and wanted to learn how to use his camera but I thought it would be too complicated for me. I was intimidated and I didn’t really know how to start. In 2017, my daughter was born. I found myself eyeing my father’s camera a little harder. Like every new parent, I wanted to photograph and document every second of my child’s life and my iPhone pics weren’t cutting it for me.
When my daughter was around 8 mos old, a good friend offered to give me a tutorial on how to use his camera and it changed everything for me. I’ve practiced almost every day since then, and can see myself growing and learning with each time I flip the button on. I’ve learned so much through my clients, models, friends and fellow photographers. I’ve learned how to tell a story through my lens, to evoke emotion using light and how to see beauty in the details. In 2017, when I dusted off my dad’s old camera and powered it on for the first time, I got to see the last photo my father ever took before he set his camera down for the last time. His last photo was a picture of the fall leaves through our kitchen window. It reminds me to find the beauty in everything. It reminds me that I don’t need to travel the world with a giant crew and expensive clothing to get a good shot. Beauty is everywhere and everyday I get to tell its story.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Before every shoot, I always think, “what if I can’t do this?” It doesn’t matter if it’s something I’ve done 100 times or if I know ahead of time that all the elements are exactly what I need to get a good set. I still doubt myself and my abilities. The self doubt and feeling of imposter syndrome is probably my biggest personal struggle. It’s very hard not to compare myself to the other local photogs in my community or the famous photogs I see on social media. The thought that I’m “just ok” at this can sometimes be soul crushing for me. Some ways I’ve learned to bury my feelings of self doubt are to remind myself how far I’ve come. I know I have so much to learn still but I feel comfort in knowing that every day I get out there, I learn just a little bit more and get a little closer to my ultimate goals. I’m always worried that I might let someone down if my photos aren’t exactly what my client was imagining and I’m sure that I have sometimes. I try no matter what to never let the passion for what I do die. I hope that even if I don’t have perfect technical skill that people can feel the passion and heart behind my photography.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in dreamy and ethereal portraiture. I’ve always loved fairy tales and fantasy so I try to include an element of story telling and whimsy in my photos. I really like to use light and color as a means of giving my portraits an emotion or feeling. I’m most proud of the shoots I’ve done that express my creativity and execute ideas I’ve never tried before. I hope that with all my photos, the viewer is inspired to imagine the story behind the shot.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I see putting myself out there everyday by sharing my work as a major risk. I hate the thought of something I’m passionate about being criticized. I know that it happens and I know most of that criticism won’t ever make it to my ears. What I don’t hear probably scares me the most. Photography is such an expensive, time and energy consuming hobby. I hate to think that through it all, I just wasted people’s time. I just have to continue to put my work and my heart out there and hope that someone somewhere enjoyed what I did. (Even if the only person is me!)
Pricing:
- Full session $300
- Mini session $150
Contact Info:
- Email: stellinafineartphotography@gmail.com
- Instagram: @stellinaphotography
- Facebook: Facebook.com/stellinafineartphotography
Image Credits
Donna Lee
Sarah Ellexson
Gretchen Schultz
Marah Hedges
Sydney Kirtley
