Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Hatfield
Hi Erika, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
When I was 21 and working on my Bachelor’s degree in a pre-med program, I took a seasonal job at J.C. Penney’s Portrait Studio that changed everything. I fell in love with photography. Six months later, I was managing a Lifetouch Portrait Studio, and two years after that, I started my own photography business. It took a few years to become profitable, but it was always feast or famine; overwhelmingly busy in the fall and painfully slow in January.
In 2018, I hosted my first photography classes for kids and adults in my home studio in Pennsylvania. Teaching photography online to kids and teens became my primary focus during the pandemic. Today, Next Level Photo Education has taught photography to over 2,000 learners, ages 3 to 18, on Outschool, and I couldn’t be prouder of how far we’ve come.
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?
Our family moved from Pennsylvania to South Carolina at the end of 2020. This move had been in the works for years, with detailed plans to launch a wedding photography business in our new home state. But the pandemic changed everything. Thankfully, I’d already completed my degrees in education, earned my Professional Photographer Certification through Professional Photographers of America, and developed photography courses for kids and adults.
The shift to teaching online was fun, and I loved the challenge of adapting my classes for Zoom and asynchronous formats. One of the best parts was seeing young photographers take photos in their own homes at different times of the day, offering a unique way to learn and share perspectives. It added so much depth to the experience compared to being in a single location.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
This year, my husband and I are celebrating 20 years of marriage while preparing for our next big adventure. With our youngest child graduating soon, we’re renovating an old Shasta camper to travel the United States and capture its beauty through photography.
At Hatfield Photography, we offer a limited number of fine art sessions featuring imaginative themes and unique locations. Our landscape work is printed on high-quality paper, mounted on bamboo, and delivered ready to hang. We are so excited to expand our portfolio with images from new places during our travels.
Next Level Photo Education is growing, with new teachers joining our team. We continue to offer live Zoom and asynchronous courses for kids and teens worldwide, and our upcoming Business of Photography course will provide a foundation for anyone starting a photography business.
We’re also launching a YouTube channel – Chasing Light, Exploring Life – to document our camper renovation, share photography tutorials, and showcase our adventures on the road.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Self-employment has allowed me the flexibility to be there for my three daughters when they’ve needed me the most. None of my success would have been possible without the support of my family. My husband, Jake, has been my rock. He’s built everything I’ve dreamed of, served as my tech support, and joined the business in 2018, assisting with every session.
I’ve also been deeply inspired by so many talented individuals – photographers, clients, students, and entrepreneurs. A huge thank you to Lisa Brennen, who gave me my start at Lifetouch; Sue Bryce, who taught me how to price my work; Scott Kelby, who made studio lighting simple; Felix Kunze, who helped me perfect my lighting techniques; Heather Lahtinen, who showed me editing tricks to save time; Rob Garcia, who guided me on business strategy; and Amber Frye, who helped me with marketing strategy and systems.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nextlevelphotoedu.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextlevelphotoedu
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nextlevelphotoedu/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikahatfield/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChasingLightExploringLife
- Other: https://www.hatfieldphotos.com
