.....hello.....
Welcome to the :e: picture journal. Within these walls you'll find a mix of commissioned and personal work so feel free to subscribe or to just swing by whenever you're seeking... [hint: click on a big image and then use the L and R arrows on your keyboard to navigate through the rest]
When I started shooting, I didn't really know what to do. I was almost 100% self taught and and knew that documenting celebrations of love felt right, but I couldn't really articulate why. It was a calling that I answered but lacking effective language for communication, just had to sit back and listen. I had been shooting for a little while, floundering around without any clear direction and then I found the Roots Workshop - my entire life and career changed [read about my experience HERE]
At its core, Roots is a storytelling workshop lead by some of the most incredible teachers in the country. It will challenge the way you think, see, and document and blow every single one of your assumptions out of the water while at the same time meet you exactly where you are and start from there. In one year at this workshop there have been participants who have been shooting for 6 months and others that have been shooting for 13 years and each grew leaps and bounds from where they started from - largely due to the ridiculous 2-1 student to staff ratio. There isn't any other experience around that has seasoned journalists accompany you into the field to mentor, critique, and instruct you on site, and then sit down with you back at home base and walk through that day's images - learning how to view and edit your own work is, I believe, the single most uncultivated skill in the field of storytelling today. Also, we have one frickin hell of a good time.
Roots is not about the business of running a studio, but I would be remiss if I did not mention that by employing the new way of thinking and seeing that I learned there, my business exploded. I finally discovered my vision and how to articulate what was important to me while documenting weddings. It's funny, because there is actually no real discussion at all about running a photography business but this workshop was hands down the best investment for my business I've ever made [and I have made a crapton, seriously.] In a recent blog post, Roots founder Emilie talks about spending at least one wedding's income on education each year. I will tell you right here that I spend almost 45% of my income on professional development every year. I owe it to myself and to my clients to keep challenging myself and pushing/honing my craft as much as I possibly can. I hope it's obvious that I just adore what I do but don't take it lightly. How many times in your life are you surrounded by all your friends and family in one place? When I am presented with the task of documenting the memories being made that day I know that I have put in the time and I can do it confidently.
Roots launched me on the path that I'm on now and I am very proud and excited to now be an instructor/mentor there so I may give back and help you to sharpen your skills and see the world in a better way. This is one of the only workshops that I teach at [and trust me, all the other instructors there put me to serious shame...] so if you are interested in learning from me and an absolutely mind blowing group of mentors, I urge you very strongly to take the leap. It will change your life and you will wonder what on earth you were taking pictures of before. Hands down. It changed my life in ways I am still discovering. Read about my experience as a student here: Caged Birds.
seek the joy... and see you on the Cape :] You can inquire HERE [yes, that's me with the mussels]
eric
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I'm still here. It's been one heck of a season - and it's not even over yet [8 weddings in October alone]. The reason I haven't been posting is because I'm in development of a new blog. It's looking pretty great, the design process was awesome and full of lots of really wonderful collaboration, I'm thinking you'll love it. We finished the design stage a while ago but the developer is just sort of dragging feet but I'm hoping it'll be ready to share with you all soon.
I have over 50 posts to share so there'll be no shortage of great stories to delve into... stay tuned! Both my wedding and headshot portfolios will be getting a thorough updating after the season is over as well - it'll be fun fun!
in the meantime...
seek the joy
eric
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1 comments so far
ralph says:
What a fantastic moment, and shot. Ha. Love it.
(11.11.11 @ 07:59 AM)
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So the two ended up getting married in front of this gigantic window overlooking the vineyard which made for lovely silhouettes and clean photos [you all know how anal I am about photos either being purposefully busy or otherwise keeping them clean]. Anyways, these two are pretty serious music badasses - Jess with her pipes, Mike on the 'Bone. Expect to see their names in orchestras and opera billings sometime in the not too distant future...
We seek the joy in the each others company. We love to experience new things together, but we also love the comfort of known things and the simple things. We find joy in music, delicious food and drink, laughing, and loving,We seek the joy in each other and are made better and more joyful because of it.
seek the joy
eric
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sally says:
love the second shot.
(09.18.11 @ 08:51 PM)
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Actually, the skies did open up something fierce at one point. The day went like this. Wake up beautiful sun, beautiful sun, beautiful sun, THEGODSARETRYINGTODROWNME, beautiful sun beautiful, lovely moon, eat some caramels made by Will's mom as I drive home. It was an amazing day, truth be told. We were in Rye, NY and I was enjoying all that the charming area had to offer amidst granddad's Leica M3, some incredible Scottish traditions [and scotch, mind you], a breathtaking moonrise, and remarkable friends and family celebrating together. One of my favorite things about weddings has always been how the support of friends, family, and loved ones can transform a relationship. Loud wide angle moments, quiet echoes that emanate from the main thoroughfare, and at the end of the night, you are guided home by light.
This is a tough one to pin down to one specific event or action that we do; it's more so seeking the joy in each other. Having been together for eight and half years now, you really become a part one another's life to the point where things lose a bit of their shine and appeal when your other half is not present to share in the experience with you; even if it's just a relaxed night hanging out with friends. It's the little things that really bring the most joy for us like going for a hike in the woods or a walk together through the neighborhood (we sound like we're 80 years old), an email on a stressful day when she says she's thinking of you, or waking up early on a Sunday but staying in bed for hours talking and laughing together. I feel it's these things that most people take for granted but help us continue to appreciate each other and find the joy in life.
seek the joy
eric
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3 comments so far
Sally Ervin-Mabry says:
the second image is fabulous.
truly a work of art.
Sara Sun says:
Hi Eric,
I really like your work and your philosophy about weddings.
Sara
(08.13.11 @ 10:28 AM)
ralph says:
I've been back to this one a few times since the summer. Not just one of the most amazing wedding photos ever, one of the most amazing photos I've seen. Pure joy, love it.
(11.11.11 @ 08:03 AM)
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