Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Coe.
Hi Erin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Growing up, I always knew I wanted to travel, I just needed to figure out how I could make that happen. When I picked up my camera, I realized photography could give me the freedom to work from wherever I wanted.
I’m a creative portrait photographer, but over the past five years I’ve spent just as much time chasing sunsets and capturing the beauty and creativity of the outdoors.
A lot of people say you can’t focus on multiple things, but I disagree. I love the outdoors, nature photography, and wildlife just as much as I love photographing beautiful, smiling faces and strong, creative women.
Over the past three months, my partner and I built out and converted a 2015 Mercedes Sprinter van into a home on wheels so we could travel across the United States and create art through photography. I’ve loved getting back into the outdoors and photographing incredible people along the way.
My partner and I have a long and exciting road ahead, and we’d love for you to follow along on our journey at @jimmyanderin on all platforms, and TikTok has the full build on it @erincoephotography
I’m also selling my fine art prints at www.herhorizonsphotography.com and booking creative photography sessions nationwide, with upcoming stops in Seattle, Portland, San Jose, and many more cities.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Converting a Sprinter van is no easy task, especially when you have no prior experience. Throughout the process, we learned how to do so many things ourselves. We had to learn plumbing, electrical work, framing, and so much more that went into building our van. Beyond all of the physical labor a project this big requires, it also comes with a huge mental load.
When I started telling people what we were doing, we were met with a lot of mixed reactions. Some people were incredibly excited for our journey, while others told us we would never make it. Every opinion flooded my mind, making me question whether this was a horrible idea. Was I crazy for leaving my full-time job, a job I truly enjoyed, and saying goodbye to my friends and family to chase a career I wasn’t even sure would work out? But with the support of my partner, our family’s, and our friends we chose to give this a chance,
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a photographer, my landscape and portrait styles are very similar. I love vibrant colors, dreamy light, and a sense of shimmer in my work. One element I find myself drawn to over and over again is movement. Whether I’m photographing portraits or landscapes, I love using techniques like shutter drags and long exposures to bring motion into an image.
I think movement adds a unique perspective to landscape photography. I’m not a naturally calm person, life often feels like a whirlwind of anxiety, energy, and emotion. When I create movement in otherwise peaceful scenes, it feels like an honest reflection of how I experience the world. Sometimes that emotion and energy bring a sense of magic to an image, allowing me to share not just what I saw, but how it felt.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My Advice
1. Take every opportunity you get. You never know if that chance will come around again, so don’t let fear stop you from saying yes.
2. Put in the work. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t put in countless 80-hour work weeks, woken up early, and stayed up late. Success rarely happens overnight.
3. Dream big.
4. Everything takes longer than you think it will, and that’s okay. Building a following takes time. Creating a body of work you’re truly proud of takes time. Building a van took us three times longer than we expected. The best things in life usually aren’t built overnight, so be patient with the process.
5. Practice, I have had a camera in my hand for over 8 years, and I am still teaching myself, and learning new things all the time.
Pricing:
- Creative portrait sessions start at $350
- Prints start at $60
Contact Info:
- Website: www.herhorizonsphotography.com and www.erincoephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jimmyanderin/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JimmyandErin
- Other: https://linktr.ee/erincoephotography
