We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Erica Richards a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Erica, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
What a great question. Sometimes being optimistic can be a struggle. My family wasn’t very religious while I was growing up but I’ve always had a true belief in a greater power. And I’ve seen and felt things that confirm that for me. Besides the fact that I have always been a sci-fi geek, one of the things I love so much about the Star Wars saga is the whole idea of the Force. As Yoda explains it to Luke, “For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter.” The first time I saw Star Wars, the idea of the Force just resonated with me since I believe that what you put into the Universe is what you get back. Are there moments when I lose that optimism? Absolutely. I don’t punish myself for it, though; I allow myself a short time to go through the feeling, then I get back on track.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Hi! I’m Erica, an equine and equestrian portrait photographer and I love what I do! I have been horse crazy all my life and have owned a horse since my university days. I fell in love with photography late in life and to be able to combine photography with my love of horses was a dream-career come true. Riders and their horses have a unique bond. They are a team that has triumphed through sweat and tears. I capture that. My brand is also unique as I lean toward creating magical and romantic photos that capture all the unique and special features of you and your horse. And my aim is to take your breath away.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
A photographer needs to have an eye for composition and the use of light and needs to know how to use their camera to make the most of both. But a photographer also has to use their heart to create the story and this is how you develop your own personal style.
Being a photographer is really about so much more than just snapping a picture. A camera records facts about light and colour but it doesn’t tell the story or evoke emotion, that is up to the photographer. As a photographer, we take in everything around us before we close that shutter, it is our eye, our heart that sees the story to tell and the tools that process that data that makes the story come alive. Photographer Jonathan Reader said it perfectly, “I am the one who listened to the waves of light, and told you what it had to say.”
People skills are also important. A photographer will often find their client may feel awkward or shy in front of the camera and it is up to the photographer to put them at ease so that their personality and soul will shine in their photos. Ryle had this to say about our session together: “Her patience and calm aura make you feel very relaxed around the camera and she really takes the time during your consultation to nail your vision!”
My best advice for new photographers is to know your camera like the back of your hand, know light and composition and develop skills that will create sessions your clients will walk away from thinking how much fun they had.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
Are horses in your blood? Is the barn your happy place? Is your horse your best friend? If you can’t imagine anything better than having magical and captivating artwork in your home that captures the essence of you and/or your horse, then I am your photographer!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ericarichardsphotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ericarichardsphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericarichardsphotography
Image Credits
Erica Richards Photography Patti Monson Photography
