Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Gauger.
Hi Erin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My love for photography started as early as elementary school! I would buy disposable cameras to document things such as field trips, friends at school, and family vacations. The anticipation of waiting on my film to be developed was so exciting to me! When digital point-and-shoot cameras came out, I fell in love with the ability to document even more and have my pictures printed even quicker! A photo class in high school introduced me to shooting film on an SLR camera, developing my own film, and making my own prints. It was fun and rewarding to finally learn the process of photography from start to finish! I’ve always loved art, so when it came time for me to pick my college major, I knew I wanted to pick a subject that would hold my interest for 4 years. That’s when I chose a Bachelor’s in Fine Art with a concentration in Photography! This is where my passion truly ignited! I learned classic black & white film, studio lighting, alternative photography & processing (photograms, cyanotypes, albumen prints, pinhole cameras, medium format toy cameras, and large format 4×5 cameras). Then I learned the more modern, digital side, along with flash photography! Being behind the camera is still where I find my happiness! I’ve heard it said that if you pick a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. While there’s definitely a lot of time and effort poured into what I do, I’m so excited that I’ve been able to turn my passion into a career! I’m every bit as excited for my current photoshoots as I was when I first started and I have no plans of stopping any time soon!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
There were definitely obstacles along the way, but they say anything worth having never comes easy, right? It took a long time to find my “style” and shoot with consistency. In school, my classmates and I were all taught the technical way to take photos, but as with any art form, you want your own “signature style” so that your work is easily recognizable. I have learned that I prefer my images to be timeless and classic, with true-to-life colors. I have learned to achieve my style “in camera” rather than relying on post-editing, filters, presets, etc.!
I can remember a college professor telling me, “If you want to be a professional photographer, you’re in the wrong place. Photography is more than just making a pretty picture.” While he wasn’t completely wrong, I also don’t think he was completely right. The program certainly didn’t teach you anything about running a photography business, but as with any major, it still provided me with the tools I needed to be successful. Where there’s a will, there’s a way! Owning my own business has definitely been a learning curve and tears have been shed along the way, but I’m proud of what I’ve built knowing there were no shortcuts taken along the way!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a professional photographer who specializes in natural light wedding and portrait photography! My style is authentic and timeless. I love capturing candid moments and true emotions. I don’t use filters or presets in my editing.
It’s always fun to look back on where I started and see how far I’ve come. It’s easy to forget about the small victories along the way or let obstacles set you back. When you own your own business, nobody is pulling you aside to tell you where they need to see improvement in order to see growth or telling you when you deserve a raise. I constantly remind myself that if I don’t push myself, nobody will. If I want change, I have to create it. You have to keep a strong mindset. I’m always striving for improvement and thinking, “How can I better my client’s experience?” or “What unique shot can I capture for them?” At the end of the day, my work is so fulfilling. I’m so glad I didn’t settle for just any job and pursued my passion!
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Email: erindanielphotography@gmail.com Website: www.erindanielphotography.com
Instagram: @erindanielphotographyllc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinDanielPhotography
Contact Info:
- Email: erindanielphotography@gmail.com
- Website: www.erindanielphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erindanielphotographyllc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinDanielPhotography
Image Credits
Erin Daniel Photography
