We recently connected with Erika Packett and have shared our conversation below.
Erika, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
My mom! She has always had an incredible work ethic and drive in her own career but also in her passion projects. She never complains and is incredibly patient with anything she works on.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Currently I am growing my business photographing intimate weddings and elopements. I specialize in the mountains of North Carolina and am starting to serve the Colorado area after falling in love with the state. I love to travel most anywhere for weddings when I’m not traveling for fun in my free time. As I’ve continued to grow my business I’ve narrowed in on who I’m meant to serve. My business has shifted to really focusing on couples who love nature and want to plan an intentional wedding day. That isn’t specific to a location, or guest count, or wether you use a venue or not. It’s less about the logistics and more about the experience and having nature play a big role in their day. Nature is where I feel most at home and it’s typically the same for my clients. So sometimes they’re eloping just the two of them with only the mountains as their witness, other times weddings take place with a handful of guests they’re super close to at a peaceful venue surrounded by epic views. And 9 times out 10, they have their dogs with them. At this point in my business my passion is making a genuine connection with my couples and serving them as best I can. That’s most fulfilling to me.
As I’ve continued to grow, the reality of work life balance has also become a tip priority and while balance is never achieved, it is always maintained, with ebbs and flows, it has served my business well to find more work life balance.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. You don’t have to be THE best. We are always comparing ourselves and doing ourselves to be a disservice by competing to be the best. You need to be better than the version of you a year ago, yeah of course. You need to be growing and getting better. That’s the goal. Being THE best is a moving target that is a distraction. And likely, there will always be someone out there that is better than you. That’s ok. Your own best is still valuable.
2. Perseverance. Every aspect of running a business by yourself is a challenge. At the end of the day it’s me, myself and I. Which means there isn’t anyone to help make the hard decisions, there isn’t any one else who is going to help you fix a problem, there isn’t any one else going to be standing next to you cheering you on. Yes, I outsource and yes my husband it so so supportive of what I do, and yes I have friends in the industry, but it’s still isolating. Your motivation, determination and success comes from you, day in and day out.
3. Having a mentor. I got started because I first interned with a wedding photographer. I knew nothing about the career or industry and she taught me everything and it’s why I am where I am today.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
When each of my mom’s daughters turned 12 she took them on a trip wherever they wanted to go in the world. This was her first step in showing us the wonder that is the world and teaching us the value of travel. Since then I’ve had the travel bug and we’ve traveled a ton together. I am so grateful that she saw so much value in traveling and gave me that gift. It has taught me perspective, resilience, independence and gratitude. And ultimately has greatly impacted my career path and business now as a photographer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://erikaelphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikaelphotography/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/erikaelphotography/
Image Credits
Erika Packett of Erika El Photography
