Erin Elizabeth Photography » monterey

Tiffany and Krystofer’s Wedding! October 17, 2009

Erin — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:47:11 +0000

October was a busy busy month for the studio and I’m just now posting the slideshow for Tiffany and Krystofer’s wedding! Their wedding was a lovely affair in the Monterey Bay area. Did I ever mention how I love weddings in Monterey??? The ceremony was held at Lover’s Point in Pacific Grove, and I couldn’t have picked a more beautiful day for a wedding! Sunny and clear blue skies all around! The reception at Casa Munras Hotel in Monterey was a relaxing and comfortable setting. They are a fun loving couple, although Tiffany is definitely the calmer of the two! Krystofer was going to have a lot of fun at their reception, and he “got down” accordingly! They are expecting a baby sometime next year, and I’m so happy to have been a part of the beginning of their married life together. Congratulations you two!

For Family and Friends: To view and order images from this wedding and to be notified when all the images are available for viewing, go to www.pictage.com/702788.

BOOKING WEDDINGS AND UNPACKING BOXES

Erin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 06:56:10 +0000

It’s always a strange and heart wrenching feeling when I find out that a potential client went with another photographer for their wedding. It’s like failure mixed with a little bit of ‘what did I do wrong?’ and ‘I guess they didn’t like me.’ I suppose I would love to have every couple choose me to be their photographer because I love doing it, but I am still new to this business. And I want to specify that I am new to the BUSINESS. I am confident in my Photography skills, because I know how to take great photos, and I know how to interact with people in person. I admit that the business of wedding photography is a bit tricky for me. I’ve gotten my equipment figured out like the back of my hand, I’ve decided on which album company I will use. I’m putting myself out there, and making it known that I am now a full-time Professional Photographer and I’m available for Weddings, Engagements, Pets and Portraits, but I need to figure out what brides are looking for in their Photographer. It seems simple, but it’s just not. I need to figure out what I’m doing wrong.

I would characterize myself as relaxed, groovy, easy to get along with, and pretty much game for a laugh. I’m a real person. I don’t lay on a thick sales pitch when I meet clients, I just try to get to know them. I’m extremely organized and always super-duper prepared for my weddings (that’s the Girl Scout motto “be prepared!”). I work very hard at what I do, and spend hours during and after the wedding editing and perfecting each image.

It’s sometimes hard to connect with people over the phone and when I talk to potential clients, I feel like I have so much to tell/ask them! So much to talk about! What are your wedding colors? What does your dress look like? Just tell me everything! Those are words Richard dreads hearing… “tell me everything” is like Man-Kryptonite, it just melts him into a quivering mess of incapability. Like he just can’t store that much information in his mind at one time. I digress… I’m a girly girl when it comes to weddings, and I love the mundane details about all the cool things my brides come up with for their weddings. I’d love to be considered a friend along the way, and not just the hired help. It’s true that I spend a lot of time with my couples on W-day and more than any other vendor.

Whatever the reason, it’s hard starting a business. No matter how good a Photographer I am, if no one knows about me, I will never make it. So, if your reading this and you know anyone getting married or engaged or whatever, send them my way! I promise to take good care of them, and I won’t disappoint! After all, in a few years, I plan to be one of the BEST Photographers in the country. It’s a lofty goal, I agree, but I aim high.

Moving Update: We’ve moved from Monterey to Fresno, and I’m now endeavoring to unpack the myriad of boxes stacked in the dining and living rooms. Dottie is not helping much. In fact, the cats have done nothing but nap since we arrived… lot of help they are…

STEVE AND I…

Erin — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:12:18 +0000

The intense packing has begun. I have less than 5 days to pack up my small apartment for the relatively short move to Fresno, California. Why would I move to Fresno from Monterey, you might ask? It could be stupidity, but…

Well, I grew up in Fresno, and it’s very familiar to me. I am commencing a full-blown business start-up and I know that I will need the familiar surroundings as well as friends and family support to really get my business off the ground. Also, I have to move out of the student housing I am in now because I am no longer a student! Yippee! So it’s really a combination of moving forward and moving back at the same time. A couple months ago, I decided that my passion for Photography as something I truly love to do should be more than just a hobby. My mother always said, “Do what you love, and eventually the money will come.” This is somewhat of a driving force for me because I am terrified of failing. I have failed at so many things before, and just hate disappointing myself. I am really going out on a limb to start my business, and hopefully I will succeed at what I love. I’m not expecting to become a millionaire, I just want to be able to live life, and enjoy it along the way. I mean, isn’t that the American Dream?

As soon as we started packing up boxes, Steven (pictured below on my shoulder), got concerned. Not only do kitties love boxes, they don’t like moving… Steven has always been a bit of a baby, and when he gets nervous, he likes to be close to me. Last night while I was working on the photo editing, he jumped up on my shoulders to see what I was up to. He’s so funny!

Forgive the grainy image, this was taken on my built-in isight camera on my macbook!

FINDING INSPIRATION

Erin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:53:22 +0000

Strawberries, artichokes, iced tea, Richard, my kittens, comfy sweatpants, a hot bath… These are a few of my favorite things… The song from The Sound Of Music is ringing loudly in my ears. “When I’m feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don’t FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEL SOOOO BAAAAAAAAAAAAAD…” <---That's me singing by the way...

I fear that I will forever be searching for inspiration. I find that it's not hard to come by, and literally everywhere you look, but you still have to LOOK. At least keep your eyes OPEN and let yourself see that inspiration. I was always pretty closed off as a child/teenager. I have an older sister, and was constantly picked on by her and just about everyone. So I didn't open my eyes for a long time. I was so incredibly super lucky to spend a year in France when I was 16 as an exchange student with Rotary International, and I finally opened my eyes. *Big Sigh*
I learned a TON about myself that year, and kept religious journals of the experience. I had a little APS point-and-shoot camera that I took everywhere and came back with about 30 rolls of film, which I still have, by the way...

Today I was mostly at home editing wedding photos (boring...I know), and packing for our move. But, we ran out of laundry detergent and had to go to the supermarket. Being the industrious entrepreneurial photographer that I am, I brought my camera to Save Mart. Just the camera and a 50mm f/1.8 lens. This is what I found and I love it! I love the look Richard gives me when I make him laugh from behind the camera! I love the cool stuff you can find in the "ethnic" food section! I love the vibrant green of local Castroville artichokes! I love the cool asian drawing on the Arizona tea! See what I mean?