Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Martin
Hi Erica, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey as a creative began as a child, I was always crafting and creating. Instead of playing with toys you would find me with a pair of scissors, cardboard and glue, creating. Fastfoward to my time working at a movie theater, I discovered my fascination with design. The movie posters captivated me and set me on the path to graphic design. I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Cal State Long Beach. While I was in college I picked up a camera to photograph my artwork then began taking pictures of my nieces. I eventually started taking clients for photography to get me thru college. What began as a simple interest soon blossomed into a freelance business. I love exploring experimental styles that blend photography and graphic design, allowing me to push the boundaries of my creativity.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Amidst COVID, working from home and becoming a first time mom, my creativity kinda took a big dip. When I went back to work in person I found myself wanting to spend more time at home but also feeling the pressure to work like I was working prior to becoming a mother. That was impossible; the on going challenge for me is fighting imposter syndrome. I find myself constantly comparing who I am now to who I was. Working moms are definitely super humans. It’s incredibly difficult to balance both worlds and not fall into an identity crisis. I think this is heightened when you’re in the creative field. Working in the creative field is not based of logic and numbers. It’s based off originality and ingenuity, when you’re nursing two babies, extremely sleep deprived, it can be hard for the creative part of your brain to function lol. It’s almost like you’re on autopilot, and some days quite frankly you’re just surviving from the sleep deprivation. Now that my oldest is three years old, she has taken an interest in art so it’s been fun to explore basic art once again like painting, crafting, etc. I’ve been tapping into the world that led me into this journey in the first place and I can’t help but to feel elated.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My first professional role was as a graphic designer was for the Athletics department at CSULB. From there I interned with the Los Angeles Lakers for 2 seasons which led to a full time job. For 8 incredible years I worked alongside some of the best creatives in the sports industry that taught me invaluable lessons and fueled my creative growth. I was also fortunate enough to work alongside legends like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
I am currently freelancing (photography + graphic design) and a stay at home mom. As a freelancer, I cherish the freedom to work on projects that inspire me while being more present for my daughters. They motivate me to be someone they admire, both personally and professionally. My goals remain steadfast: to grow as a versatile artist while raising my babies…in the process I hope to inspire other mothers looking to blend work and passion.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk taking is very subjective in my opinion, there’s risks that can have negative outcomes like cutting someone off on the freeway to get ahead that can result in an accident. Then there are risks you take to get ahead in life that can result in a positive outcome and I think we all take those. I definitely think risks in a professional setting can have positive outcomes and should be taken. An example in my professional life was when I was shooting a game. Kobe and his daughter showed up; I was on the floor that night and saw them arrive. I really wanted to get a picture of them and greet them. I could have got a photo from my floor spot but it was an interaction I couldn’t pass up. When the buzzer for a timeout went off I quickly made my way over and introduced myself. Coincidentally I was wearing a pair of Kobe Bryant shoes so it was easy to spark up a swift conversation. I took the picture and rushed back to my spot since the timeout was over. That was the last game Kobe attended before we tragically lost him, I will forever treasure that moment I shared with them and I have a photo to look back to.
Pricing:
- $130: 15 Minute Photo Session
- $170: 35 Minute Photo Session
- $210: 60 Minute Photo Session
- Graphic Design: $40/hr- Price is subjective to type of project
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ericamartinstudios.mypixieset.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericamartinstudios/
