Photographer
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Portfolio
Campaign
Q&A
Q: What song do you play on repeat?
A: "Cleaning Windows" by Van Morrison.
Q: What's the best way to start the day?
A: Trail running or good workout at the gym.
Q: What are you most looking forward to this year?
A: Working on exciting projects with new clients and watching my beloved Dodgers win the World Series!
Q: What is the most impactful project you've worked on and why.
A: I absolutely loved working with Smiths Agency out of Pittsburgh on a recent campaign for sports nutrition company, Dymatize. We shot for three days in San Diego at homes, gyms, parks, and a city college. I especially enjoyed working with the athletes - one, in particular, was a Marine vet who lost a leg in battle and is doing great things athletically...such an inspiration. I appreciated my client giving clear direction, yet allowing for spontaneity when something unexpected happened. And my crew was first-rate. Great things happen when we're all in sync. I'm looking forward to shooting for Dymatize again next month!
Q: Which art/photo exhibit that you've seen has impacted you the most?
A: One of my favorite places to visit is Monterey CA. I go there for work annually and the galleries in nearby Carmel, CA are just amazing. There are many works there from Ansel Adams and Edward Weston since they photographed so much in that area. It's always inspiring to study their work.
Q: What are some things you had to unlearn?
A: Years ago when I graduated from BYU with a photography degree, I felt like I was well on my way to a
successful photography career and knew what I needed to know. What I've really learned through the
years is that each shoot brings a new challenge and some obstacles to overcome. It's a constant learning
process throughout my career and you never "arrive." Staying humble and teachable is key, while still being able to draw from years of experience to come through with solutions in the end to make a great
photoshoot.
Q: What fictional place would you most like to go?
A: Santa's Workshop at The North Pole.
Q: What risks are worth taking?
A: When you put yourself in a position to grow and stretch yourself and try something new, those are the
types of risks I like to challenge myself with. Sometimes taking risks and failing is still every bit as
valuable as the risks that you succeed at.
Q: What are the first 3 chapters of your autobiography titled?
A: 1. In the Begining: Life on the Plains and in the Mountains
2. Discovering my love for sports and photography
3. Lessons learned as a son, husband, and father
Q: What do you spend the most time thinking about?
A: I spend a lot of time thinking about what I need to do to improve myself spiritually, physically, mentally,
professionally, and financially. That's a wide swath, but improvement and learning to do and be better are
things I think about.
Q: Best and worst advice you've ever received.
A: My first job out of college was working with a commercial photographer and mentor, Jerry Garns. One day while researching some rather complicated props for an upcoming shoot, I told him I was running into problems with this and that. He quietly listened and then said; "Erik, I don't want you to come to me with problems, I want you to come to me with solutions." I took that to heart and from then on I took on the mindset of "finding solutions" instead of roadblocks in what I'm wanting to accomplish. There is always a way to get it done right.
Q: How has your work evolved over the past few years?
A: My work through the years was much more "sports lifestyle" centric. And although that is still my first love, I have also really enjoyed all the work I've done over the past 4-5 years for Samsung in the tech lifestyle space. I've enjoyed the challenges of finding great locations where we can showcase the various
Samsung devices in the best way possible - really using subtle lighting to make that product look great
and be the hero of the image. In the past several years I've also really enjoyed doing a bit more
automotive work and the numerous challenges that come with that.
Q: One thing you can't show up to a shoot without - Besides a camera ;)
A: My new Beko tripod :)