Meet Erika Peterson | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erika Peterson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erika, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Growing up, my mom used to make us take family portraits every year. And it was consistently a miserable experience. I always felt so awkward in front of the camera, and that was reflected in the photos that came back. Then one year, when I was in middle school, my mom hired this super fun + artsy photographer. Not only was her work incredible, but she made me feel so seen and comfortable during the photo session. I decided that I wanted to be like her. So I began recruiting other kids in the neighborhood to “model” in portraits for me, sourcing inspiration from editorial shoots of my favorite celebrities at the time. By my sophomore year of high school, I had gained a reputation as a photographer and started booking paid gigs (mostly senior and family portraits). I continued photography as a side hustle through college, but pursuing it as a full-time career felt unrealistic. Then COVID hit. Amidst the isolation, I signed up for a virtual wedding photography summit to see my favorite photographer give a presentation. I hadn’t thought about weddings as a photo niche, but by the end of the summit, I was hooked. Not only would photographing couples add a new layer of emotional depth to my work, but I could finally envision a future for myself doing photography full time. I honestly feel like I’m still figuring this whole ‘business’ thing out. But as I continue to evolve + expand, I always come back to that feeling of being the awkward girl in front of the camera. I strive to give others what she needed—empowerment, connection, and space for her creative visions to come to life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As both an entrepreneur and an artist, it’s been easy to lose myself in what I “should” be doing or what my work “should” look like. There was even a point when I was so burned out from trying to keep up with all the “should’s” that I was ready to give up photography entirely. Since then, I’ve had to make some radical mindset shifts about what it means to show up in my business. The biggest has been seeing myself as a human first, photographer second. I’m here to share people’s stories, and in order to do so, I first need to hold space for those stories to surface. I want my clients to feel seen and empowered in front of the camera, because when they do, it comes through in the photos. Approaching my work from that place—rather than getting hung up on publicity or profit margins—has allowed me to not only serve people better, but also to fall back in love with my art. It’s all about that human connection. That’s also what I’m most stoked about: I’m expanding my brand beyond weddings to include more space for individual + family portraits. Those stories have been pulling on my heartstrings lately. Even with weddings, I plan to approach my work from more of a photojournalistic perspective going forward, getting to truly connect with people before documenting their lives.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We’d start by exploring some of the more nature-forward attractions around Denver, like Red Rocks and Estes Park. Then we’d take a nostalgia tour around DU (my alma mater), grabbing takeout from Illegal Pete’s or Tastu Izakaya and having a picnic at Wash Park. When we need a pick-me-up, we’d swing by Kaladi Coffee Roasters and walk around South Pearl Street. There’s usually some local festival or market happening in the city, so we’d hit up as many of those as possible. The farmer’s market on W 32nd Ave is one of my favorites. After that, we’d probably spend most of our time eating our way through town. I love the restaurants along W 32nd Ave, especially family-run places like Taqueria La Familia. To top it off, we’d grab a drink and catch some live music in RiNo, stopping by Pon Pon, Larimer Lounge, or any place with a cozy outdoor patio.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh my goodness, there are so many people. First and foremost, I have to thank Cathy Walters for inspiring me to pick up a camera in the first place. Same with my earliest photography idol, Dani Brubaker, and my high school photography teacher, Mr. Moore. Thank you Mia for being my first model, Devynn for being my first paying client, and Taylor & Hunter for taking a chance on a girl with zero wedding photo experience to capture the big day for you. Huge thanks to Jai Long for hosting the wedding photography summit that allowed me to see a future for myself as a full-time photographer. Your content + mentorship has been integral in freeing me from the “starving artist” mentality. Even more thanks to D’Arcy Benincosa for coaching me through my biggest business breakthroughs and holding space for my dreams. Thank you India Earl for being my number one expander and a living example of what true success + abundance looks like. Thank you To Be Magnetic for providing me with the framework to manifest many of my business successes. Lastly, I owe a ridiculous amount of gratitude to my parents and grandparents for encouraging me to pursue my passions, even when it wasn’t the “safe” or “rational” thing to do. I love you all!!!

Website: https://www.erikapetersonphoto.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erikapetersonphoto/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erikapetersonphoto/

Image Credits
Erika Peterson