Check Out Erin Brown’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Brown.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Every summer my grandparents would take my siblings and I on a camping trip to Colorado for two weeks. Between my 7th and 8th grade years, I ended up taking some pictures with my grandpa’s 110 film camera, specifically of some hummingbirds. Now thinking back on it, the pictures probably weren’t very good, but apparently they came out just good enough because I was hooked. My freshman year in high school I ended up taking a photojournalism class with an interest in shooting for the school newspaper. My first assignment was a city event that included a fireworks display. This time I was shooting with my trusty Pentax K1000 and once again, somehow, someway was able to capture some great firework shots.

I remember feeling so excited watching those captured fireworks develop on my prints in the darkroom. That gave me just enough confidence to be a staff photographer for the paper, but as no one had filled the photo editor spot, it fell to me, a shy freshman with only a little photo experience. I’m so glad it did though because, over the years, photography took my once shy teen self and helped me to be more confident in myself and in my eye and in my heart for storytelling. I went on to get a degree in Photography with a minor in Art and Journalism from East Texas State University. I have been a freelance people photographer ever since. Telling the stories of others through photography and words is what I love most. And I hope to pass this on to my students as well through my classes at Lucas Christian Academy, where I teach Journalism and Photography. Everyone has a story to be told and celebrated. What a privilege it has been telling those stories through my eye, my heart and my camera!!

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?
It has not been a smooth road, but I know I’m not alone in that. When my kids were just three months and four years old, I went through a heartbreaking divorce and became a single mom. I have been a single mom now longer than I was married and my kids are now 17 and 21. At times I have had jobs that had nothing to do with photography and a few others that involved photography but not always of the most exciting of subjects (lightbulbs for instance). Yes, you heard me right… lightbulbs.

Probably the biggest struggle has been supporting my crew over the years and often needing to work several jobs, including doing my portrait business. But it has also brought me to where I am today: in the place of having built a portrait business over the years where I’ve seen, couples get engaged, photographed their weddings and am still photographing their families today. It has brought about wonderful friendships and a teaching job, teaching photography and journalism to high school students… which has become one of my very favorite jobs. And all of these jobs, the good and the hard, have helped me to support and raise two amazing kids!! At the onset, I’m not sure that I would have chosen this road if I had known what was up ahead of me. But God has used it to bring my kids and I so much closer to Him and to one another, and it has given us an outlook on life filled with compassion and faith. Because of that, I wouldn’t go back and take an easier road. I’m so thankful for how this road has changed my heart and my faith and my family.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Looking from the outside in I might look like your normal portrait photographer, but I’m a photojournalist at heart. So I think that what sets me apart from others is my storytelling eye and how I can capture the stories in others visually. I love to capture people in their element and on location and I love to capture moments. I think that I have a way about me that hopefully puts my subjects at ease and allows them to be more themselves in front of the camera. I almost want them to feel so comfortable that they forget I’m there. Two summers ago I was able to travel to Iraq with my friend Heather Mercer and photograph for her NGO Global Hope. Photographing for her and with her is some of the work that I’m most proud of and work that I’d love to do more of in the future. I’d also love to do more photojournalism and sports photography as well!

What matters most to you? Why?
Honestly, Jesus. He is what drives me to be a better human, mom and friend. Being His has always mattered most to me. Next in line would be my kids. Being their Mom has been one of my greatest gifts and my all time best job!! Having photography in my life has not only helped to support the three of us but it has always just allowed me to continually be creative and see things differently. I love being able to see things that others don’t always notice and I love seeing the beauty in things and in people and showing it off through my work. Jesus has always made things matter the most to this heart and I’m so thankful that He’s given me my kids, my relationships and my work!! What matters the most to me is a life well-lived for Him!!

Contact Info:

• Email: eerphoto@yahoo.com
• Instagram: @erinbrownimages
• Facebook: Erin E. Brown Images