We recently connected with Erick Bech and have shared our conversation below.

Erick, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I think it takes a lot of belief and investment in yourself to be successful. Also, it depends on what you personally think success is. But whatever your definition of success is, it takes courage, strength and tenacity to achieve it, especially during the lows. Having the will to find a way forward despite facing challenges is very important. It’s easy to give up, but it takes strength to keep going. I also think it’s important to learn from others that have experience doing what you want to do. We can learn a lot from others successes and from their failures.
It’s also important to adapt to a changing market if you want to be successful in business. Being able to adapt quickly and be resilient is very important. You have to be smart and take advantage of opportunities when they arise.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a commercial photographer. I shoot people and products for branding and advertising.
I’ve always been a visual person and very much into mechanical things and technology. Originally I thought I wanted to be an engineer, but after I took my first engineering class I quickly realized that was not what I wanted to do, I had to be honest with myself and choose a career that I thought I could do for the rest of my life. I’ve always been a visual person and into photography, so I thought, “I’ll be a photographer and shoot for magazines!” So while in college I switched my major to Photography.
After I graduated college I found an opportunity as an intern at a food photography studio in Culver City, California. I interviewed for it and was accepted into their program. Even though food photography was not the exact discipline I wanted to learn, it did help me see the inner workings of a busy commercial photography studio. Back in those days digital photography had not been invented yet and I was trained how to load film for 4×5 cameras. I got to be on set shooting for national restaurant menus like iHop, El Torito and Denny’s. I found it fascinating how there was so much technical aspects that went into commercial ads. It takes a lot of creative and artistic methods to make food look so appetizing.
After my internship I was connected to automotive photographers that had national clients and I was hired as a freelance photo assistant. I got to travel to many unique locations and work with lots of cinema equipment. After a few years digital photography became prevalent and the film labs started going out of business. Soon after that computer generated images started to replace the work of commercial car photographers. A whole industry started to disappear. But I learned a lot about lighting cars in studio and on location. I took that knowledge and applied it to shooting smaller products, not just cars. I then opened up my own studio and offered product and people photography. I also rented my studio out to other productions.
I spent many years in my studio photographing people and would also shoot castings for national ad campaigns. I’ve always been a people person and got really good at directing people in front of the camera. It takes a certain rapport to make a person feel relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera to bring out their best.
With the knowledge I gained with lighting I’m able to light people and products in a compelling way that sets them apart from the rest. I like being able to apply my years of knowledge in a creative way and surpass my clients expectations.
I also enjoy the unique experience of each person I photograph and typically walk away from each shoot with a new appreciation for each new person I meet.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I had my studio business for 15 years, but then things changed. The owner of the building my studio was in sold the property and the new owner decided to increase my rent 250% overnight. No amount of negotiating could change his mind and I was forced out of business. At first I was devastated, but then I realized that there was a silver lining. My studio partner at the time had become untrustworthy and backstabbing. This new chapter gave me the opportunity to end my partnership and move my business to a better location. Though I was financially burdened, I was helped by a good friend. A luxury real estate broker friend of mine allowed me to use his facility to shoot for my clients while I looked for a new place to set up shop. My friend helped me find a new studio in a fantastic location and I signed a new lease. With his help I was also connected to some celebrities and my business started to take off.
Though I couldn’t have predicted that things would work out the way they did, I did have the determination to find a way to keep going. I knew that somehow someway, If I just kept trying, I would eventually find a way to start anew and keep my dreams alive.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think my people skills helped me build my reputation within my marker. That, and my mastery of lighting. I spent a lot of time learning how to light people and products effectively and that has set me apart from a lot of other photographers. I’ve developed my ability to make people feel comfortable in front of the camera. I build good rapport with them and have a way of connecting with people . When they feel like they’re talking to a friend then they put their guard down and begin to relax. Most people get stiff in front of the camera and I’ve learned how to get them to relax.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ErickBech.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erickbechphotography/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erickbech/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@erickbechphotography6288