Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Marton.
Hi Erin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 2018, I was working a 9-5 job in marketing that I absolutely despised. While I supported the mission of the organization, I felt like I was a cog in a machine and unable to create or do what I loved at work. After only two and a half months of this particular job, I quit with no plan and decided to try freelance photography and marketing on a consulting basis. I knew a few friends who photographed weddings and began reaching out to meet people who owned photography businesses. I was so fortunate early on to meet people who wanted to help me grow my portfolio and allowed me to come with them to weddings and shoots where I shadowed their work. By assisting other photographers and setting up lots of free shoots with couples I knew, I was able to break into the wedding industry. After just 3 months of quitting my job, I photographed my first wedding solo and began to see momentum. Now, four years later, I’ve had the privilege of photographing weddings in multiple states and even internationally. Analog film has become a huge part of my photography process, and my work has been published in dozens of publications. Looking back, the experiences I’ve had in four years would have brought 2018 Erin to tears in the best way!!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Owning a business can feel like a rollercoaster. 2020 was definitely one of the craziest times the event industry has ever seen. For a year, I photographed on a limited basis (tiny elopements, backyard weddings) and with tons of safety precautions. Then, post-covid we experienced an event boom and practically had two years worth of work in six months. Sometimes, it can feel like a struggle to just keep going because you are both the artist and the business owner. You have to tap into both of those sides of yourself every single day to serve the clients and continue to hone the craft. It’s a lot! But it’s so worth it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I photograph weddings! The best parties in the world, if you ask me. I’m known for creating candid, story-driven photos that show what was really happening on the wedding day. I care most about the kinds of photos that look like they could have been taken in any era and will be valuable to the couple 20+ years from now. While sunset photos can be great, the moments of little kids spinning on the dance floor and people’s laughter (or tears) during toasts appeal to me far more because they are so real and unstaged. I like to think I’m a bit of a chameleon on wedding days too, I know how to read the room and figure out what clients need before they even ask. Personality massively impacts photography, I’ve learned!
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The biggest lesson I learned is to be a kind human. Literally, every single person during covid was dealing with something hard, and it was absolutely nobody’s fault. With weddings, that meant working with each individual couple to understand their needs and find a solution that worked for both of us. I’m proud to say I walked away from the fiasco of 2020 with all my client relationships completely intact. Whether couples made the choice to postpone or downsize their weddings, we managed to work it out, and it’s because I have the best people in the world that hire me. Knowing if I’m the right fit for someone also made a huge difference during covid. I can’t imagine how much harder that would have been if I had a roster of clients who didn’t really care about me as a person! I’m so fortunate.
Contact Info:
- Website: erinmartonphoto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinmartonphoto/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinmartonphoto
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/erin-marton-photography-newport-beach
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@erinmartonphoto
Image Credits
Erin Marton Photography
