Today we’d like to introduce you to Erika Moore.
Erika, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I think my love for photography is rooted in my childhood because of my mother. Whether it was film or video, she always had a camera in her hand and I think that really intrigued me. She would take photos of me dressed up in her fur coats, old dresses from her days at The Pacific Club and costume jewelry. Although she rarely dressed up after I was born, her sense of fashion-inspired me and that’s when I kind of realized that you could create whatever you wanted with an image just by playing pretend.
My very first film photography class was my senior year of high school taught by local photographer Tia Tull. She taught us about continuity in film, the greats like Helmut Newton, how to make a pinhole camera out of cardboard, and how not to be an idiot when developing film. I absolutely fell in love with it. After graduating, I would often sneak into high schools and college campuses just to use their darkroom. (Scandalous!) I was truly obsessed…and then just like that, I quit.
Fast forward eight years. After getting a degree in Psychology, leaving the music industry, failing at an attempt to start a band, and relinquishing my dream of becoming an actress, I reverted back to what felt like home. I picked up my camera and started shooting anyone I could for free; styling up shoots and getting my hands on any courses or knowledge I could find. Slowly but surely started to build a client base which, by pure persistence, has taken me to where I am today. I’ve been lucky enough to be surrounded by amazing people who have helped me along the way and clients who put their full trust in my vision.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think it’s ever a smooth road when you own a business! I would say my biggest struggles were booking clients for the type of photography jobs I wanted and being shut down by other creatives. As much as it maybe isn’t discussed, there is a level of competition in the photography world and sometimes people aren’t open to sharing knowledge with one another. I completely understand that some people choose to share knowledge as part of their income but I just really wanted to interact with likeminded individuals and learn from one another. I actually had someone tell me that they didn’t want to grab coffee and connect because we were in competition! I really had to learn to not be affected by what others thought and for awhile there I kept to myself. I will always say that my motto has been collaboration over competition. In terms of getting the right clients, I stayed true to my roots styling sessions to create images that excited me and the work rolled in from there.
Please tell us about Somethingerika Photo.
I mainly specialize in boudoir and editorial work. That is where I feel comfortable with being uncomfortable if that makes sense! I love pushing boundaries, creating movement with images, and telling a story. Always inspired by fashion and history. I’m most proud of my ability to make my client’s visions come alive and my passion for cultivating knowledge. I am constantly enjoying the learning process. I would say my images are all pretty different in terms of editing and I don’t conform to any specific theme. I just think that evolution is such an important part of discovering your best work.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
First and foremost, although not a personal mentor, I’d like to mention that my true core inspiration has always been from the work of Annie Liebovitz. As far as mentors, Jamie Allio (a local photographer in Arizona) mentored me more than she probably knows! She taught me a lot about Lightroom, gear, and staying true to yourself. Jennifer Ann Marie of Liv Photography has been a mentor as of late teaching me all things off-camera lighting. She’s been a friend for over 17 years. And Stephanie Bard, owner of Ignite the Studio in Scottsdale, has been my #1 cheerleader since ’05 and has continued to not only give me work but refer me to others. (she was one of the first people I ever photographed holding a Ball Python!) Lindsay Miller my new business partner and co-content creator has taught me so much about branding. We have a blast collaborating. Check out our new IGTV episodes called State of the Artist.
Pricing:
- Editorial/ Lookbook Content – Starting at $400
- Boudoir – Starting at $500
- Couples/Engagements – Starting at $400
Contact Info:
- Website: www.somethingerika.com
- Phone: 4808685534
- Email: info@somethingerika.co.uk
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/somethingerikaphoto www.instagram.com/somethingerika
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/somethingerikaphoto
Image Credit:
@thewhittonhouseagency – main photo of me
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