Daily Inspiration: Meet Erin Nicole

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Nicole.  

Hi Erin Nicole, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Hello, and thank you for reaching out to me. My name is Erin Nicole of Erin Nicole Brown Photography. I am a portrait and family photographer located in Northern Virginia outside of Washington, D.C. You might be wondering why a photographer from Virginia is being interviewed. I was born in Macomb County in the 80s and have family residing all over Michigan. I visited my family every year growing up and then sporadically as an adult.

I was 14 when I first entered the black and white darkroom and began learning all about developing film, photograms, and pinhole photography. When I was 15 years old, I moved to Northern Virginia, where I started a new high school and gravitated immediately to their art program. As a senior, I earned a scholarship to The School of Art Institute of Chicago. From there, I earned my BFA from The School of Visual Arts in Manhattan.

In early 2000 I was assisting several photographers in Manhattan and working part-time in studio in the Financial District. It was then I graduated college, and several of my friends were getting engaged and asked me to take their engagement photos. As their lives evolved, I captured every moment from their weddings and then families prompted the start of my business.

By 2005 I had gained 10 years of knowledge at a small photography agency in Soho, where I worked as a website and project manager. This position strengthened my understanding of both the commercial and artistic side of photography while providing my fundamental understanding of the business. While working full time, I was still photographing life events, focusing more on families and portrait work.

During 2012 (and in my first trimester of pregnancy) I photographed my cousin’s wedding at a waterfront cottage located on Glen Lake. The reception followed in Empire, MI at the Cottonwood Inn, a bed & breakfast located in a historic farmhouse. That day, the light from sunrise to sunset astounded me. With the sun shining from the blue sky onto the colorful rocks within the water and across the green earth of Northern Michigan, I knew one day I would be back.

Our family relocated to Northern Virginia in 2015, where my husband and I had first met in high school and where our extended families live. As our family expanded to five, we met other families, and family photography became my focus. The last two summers our family has vacationed in Empire. We have fallen in love with all of the outdoor recreational activities such as cycling, hiking, swimming, and spending time with our extended family who reside there. Next year we are hoping to close on a lot in Empire in the same community as my cousins.

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?
Moving into a new area and building a business from scratch is always hard. I am grateful for the clients from high school years in Virginia who helped jump-start my business and spread the word. Knowing to reinvest in my business to save for new equipment and technology are lessons I learned. Always have backup equipment!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am most known for my portrait and family photography. I currently have been photographing headshots and branding for small businesses; but as I gear up for the Fall season, my family clients have already reached out. Most of my business is by word-of-mouth, and I do little advertising. I pride myself on my honesty, sense of humor, communication, approachability, and the ability to guide my clients through our sessions together. I am most proud of building my business in another state after living in Brooklyn, NY for fifteen years. I am very grateful for the client base I have built the last seven years living in Northern Virginia and for the referrals I’ve received. My photography offerings include half-hour and hourly family sessions, senior and branding sessions, and a few weddings a year.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I connected through local photography Facebook groups, meet-ups, and coffee chats. Having connections with working professionals in the industry is vital. I have always been in a community of photographers and creatives to meet, grow, critique work, learn, and to refer out photography jobs when I was not available. It’s important to have those relationships. I donate a few photography sessions every year in the local community. It has been a great way to meet people, and it benefits our local schools or organizations.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.erinnicolebrown.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinnicolebrownphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinNicoleBrownPhotography

Image Credits
www.erinnicolebrown.com