Meet Erin Shine | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erin Shine and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Erin, what are you inspired by?
Simply put, I am inspired by the world around me. I am often asked about my style of photography, and it is hard to pick just one focus. I bring my camera along on road trips I take across the country, I photograph concerts in Colorado’s thriving music scene, and I set up photoshoots for people who want to capture meaningful moments in their life. I am inspired by the heart and soul of the land as well as the people who inhabit it, and film truly captures the emotion behind these scenes.
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.
I am a photographer who primarily shoots film. At a time when so much is immediately accessible at our fingertips, the delayed gratification of film teaches me a lot of lessons. You have to be patient: once you finish a roll, it can take a few weeks to process the film and get your photos back. You have to be intentional: at most, you have 36 exposures on a roll so it’s important to make every shot count. You have to let go of the expected outcome: there have been so many moments in which I took a shot expecting it to be the best one, only to find that it wasn’t as strong as I thought but another shot was. Adjusting to the lack of control over a desired outcome isn’t always easy, but I find the payoff to be worth the practice.
With all that being said, I have had to learn the hard way how to carry out indoor/concert photography or photoshoots where I experiment in my methods. These processes have been trial and error, and I have always appreciated the trust of those I have worked with. I always get a little nervous when presented with an idea that I haven’t had experience executing, but I find my confidence in knowing my camera and knowing how to make a shot work for me. A good attitude always helps, too. Focus on what could go right!
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Live music- Red Rocks Park and Ampitheatre, Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, Larimer Lounge, Mission Ballroom, The Ogden, Hi-Dive, Bluebird Theater, Milk Bar, Wildflower Arts Collective.
Food- Kumoya, American Elm, Lucile’s, US Thai, Liks, Sassafras, Potager, Somebody People, Rise and Shine.
Learn/Art- Denver Art Museum, Molly Brown House, History Colorado Center, Mirus Art Gallery, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Museum of Contemporary Art, Spectra Art Space.
Walk around Rino, look at murals.
Spend a weekend day at Cheesman.
Roller skate around Sloans Lake.
First Fridays at Santa Fe.
Sunnyside Music Festival in September.
Free summer concert series at Levitt Pavilion.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my Dad, Kevin Shine, who put the camera in my hands. When I started showing an interest in photography in high school, he let me borrow his Nikon for the three years I took classes. He was always patient in explaining the inner workings of the camera and how to set up a shot. Growing up, my Dad introduced me to Ansel Adams, who I still consider a great inspiration. Later in life when I expressed an interest in getting back into film, he gave me his Nikon outright, and that is the camera I primarily use for most of my work. I can certainly say that without my Dad’s support and encouragement, I wouldn’t have made it this far. Thanks Dad!!
Website: https://www.erinshinesphotography.com/
Instagram: erin_shines
Image Credits
Photo credits: Erin Shine