Photo by JD Clayton
Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Gilliatt.
Hi Erin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I first became interested in photography when I was in middle school and I started taking pictures wherever I went. It was then that I became fascinated in the act of capturing my surroundings and the process of image making as a whole. When I got to high school, I was thrilled to discover that they offered a four year photography program. There, I explored the creative side of photography and fine tuned my camera skills, lighting, and more. The pursuit of this passion continued throughout high school and into college. In the photography program at the University of North Texas, I dove further into fine art photography and learned some of the non-digital photographic practices. In college, I got to use film cameras and develop my prints in the darkroom, as well as learn about the camera-less methods of image making such as cyanotypes. In my personal work, I have enjoyed photographing landscapes, portraits, still life, and abstract images. I especially took interest in exploring different patterns of light and the ways in which photography could alter or enhance them. In May of 2020 I graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art with a concentration in Photography. I currently live in the DFW area and I work full-time as a photographer and photo editor. For many years now, photography has been an important part of my life and will continue to be for a very long time.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are definitely some challenges that come with pursuing a creative passion like photography. Finding a job for one is more difficult, as there are fewer of them than most. I faced such a task as I graduated in the middle of the pandemic in the Spring of 2020. While the world continued to spiral, I faced the task of looking for a job as well as adjusting to life after college.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Right now I work full-time as a wedding photographer and photo editor in the DFW area. I enjoy photographing weddings because each one is a new experience in a new place with new people. It allows me to exercise my creativity in capturing a full wedding day while giving me the fast-paced experience that not a lot of other jobs offer. Included in my work shown here are a couple of vintage bridal portraits. I have come to enjoy portraiture more and more, especially when I can combine the art of portraits with abstract elements and image manipulation. Also shown are some pieces from a couple of my favorite projects. As seen through my work, I enjoy creating and photographing abstract still lives that produce or alter the patterns of color and light. Also featured are a couple of images from a series I did involving dreamlike landscapes. In these photos, I took existing natural landscapes and re-imagined them as surreal spaces. Overall I have enjoyed many different types of photography, and I hope to branch out even further in the future.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My friends and family deserve credit as well. They have shown their support by attending my art shows and giving me feedback on my work. They push me to be my best, and encourage me when I need it. I also want to recognize the amazing professors and faculty at the University of North Texas. My professors pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged me both creatively and conceptually.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eringilliatt.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eringilliatt.photography/
- Other: https://eringilliattphotography.smugmug.com/
