We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Erica Daniels a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Erica, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later?
I started taking photos and showing interest in photography in the 6th grade. I had no idea that photography was an art form and no clue that you could own a business being a photographer. I wish I had guidance back then, to push me towards my passion because I feel I would be so much more advanced in my creativity & photography skills. I ended up having corporate jobs that weren’t art based and going to college and majoring in something unrelated to photography, I started my business in March 2013, 4 years after graduating from college, while working for Swedish Medical Center full time. Taking photography classes in high school and majoring in photography would have been a game changer! Allowing me to learn so much more early on, embrace my passion and advance my skills.
Erica, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a Seattle native and proud graduate of Garfield High School and the University of Washington. After completing half of my masters degree in early childhood education, I ditched my plans to start my own learning center and decided to follow my heart and do what I love.
Starting Emazing Photography, LLC in March 2013, was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have been a full time photographer since 2018 and I now have a beautiful natural light photography studio in the downtown Seattle, Lower Queen Anne area.
What I enjoy most about my job is making people feel beautiful and providing people with high qaulity images that will last a lifetime. Maternity & family portraits, weddings and branding photography are some of my favorite things to capture. Photographing people during some of the most important & special moments of their lives does my heart good.
Freezing time and creating priceless images for people is my life purpose and passion.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
I was a full time employee when I started my business. I created a check list of everything I would need to start my business and each paycheck, I would pay for something on that list. If you look at the long term goal and see that you need $20k you may get discouraged, but when you break everything down and get what you need bit by bit, it seems more obtainable.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I changed my personal instagram into my business instagram when I first started. Then I used hashtags to help connect with others that have similar interests. I also ask that all of my clients tag me when posting images that I have captured online. Word of mouth is great.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.emazingphotography.com
- Instagram: emazingphotography
- Facebook: emazingphotography
- Twitter: emazingphotos
Image Credits
Emazing Photography, LLC