Erin Schmerr: We All Look Good in Pink
CALEB SCHAFTLEIN,
Could you please provide us with a professional introduction about yourself and your photography work?
Full name
My name is Erin Tate Schmerr and I am an editorial portrait photographer from Cincinnati. I create ethereal and imaginative portraits that blur the line between reality and dream. My goal has always been to use light and color to create images that evoke emotion and tell a story.
Can you tell us about how you got started in photography?
My father was a hobbyist nature photographer. When he passed away in 2011, his camera sat on my dresser for 6 years untouched. I had always wanted to learn photography but I was intimidated to try. When my daughter was born, it was the push I needed to learn. My close friend took the time to show me the ins and outs of photography and I ran with it from there.
What was your passion driving you during your journey? Who or what prompted you to begin?
When I powered my father’s camera on again for the first time since he had passed, it touched my heart to see the last photo he had ever taken. It was a picture of the fall leaves from our kitchen window. It made me feel like even though he was no longer with me, that he still had a heart and a story through his photographs and that story would live on. I started photography because I was afraid of forgetting it all. I was afraid I would forget exactly how it felt to experience my life and family in those exact moments and I wanted to capture every little detail so I could live in those memories. As time has gone on, my photography has become less about holding on to the past and more about creating what could be. It’s no longer just about remembering my story but also expressing who I am.
Could you walk us through your photoshoot planning process?
Something will inspire me and then I obsess over the idea until it comes to be. I collect vintage clothing and often I’ll see a certain piece and the photographs start materializing in my mind. When the shoot is a passion project, I start recruiting models that I know will deliver the emotion I’m looking for in the set. I love working with people who also have a history with theater because I love models who can emote! Once I gauge interest with my dream team, I scout a location and then set a date. I usually like to have control over the wardrobe and makeup choices as they are important to the vision of the shoot. One day I would love to have the experience of having a whole creative team to work on a shoot with like set building, costuming, and styling. But for now, I’m mostly a one woman show.
As a photography expert, what sets your work apart from other photographers?
A genuine love of people. I am interested in every person I meet and I wish to really see who they are. This comes across in how I capture their portraits. I never prioritize beauty standards. I want to capture a person’s essence.
Where do you get your ideas for photoshoots?
I love fairy tales and history. I find ways to create these stories using whimsy, light and color. I love creating a space that doesn’t belong in our current reality and making it come to life with my photographs.
Can you tell us about the most memorable moment you've had as a photographer and what experience you gained from that?
I was once asked to come to the bedside of a dying man in Hospice so I could take one last photo of their family together. We all are afraid of forgetting. The experience just showed me how photography can help bring comfort.
What are the most important components of an extraordinary photograph, in your opinion?
Vulnerability, intimacy, light and emotion. I once saw a documentary about a legendary ballerina. She said that with every movement, she tried to make it feel warm. The symbolism of that statement has always stuck with me. Make every movement warm. I try to do this with my photography.
How do you strike a balance between your artistic expression and your client's expectations during a shoot?
I always ask my clients to send me examples beforehand of what kind of look they are hoping for in the images. The inspo pics really help me see if our ideas are aligned or if I’m capable of creating the look they’re wanting. My style is usually dark, moody and ethereal but I will ask most of my clients if they are ok with my style or if they want more true to life color grading. I always love getting creative freedom but if someone is paying me, it’s important they’re happy with the end result. I usually end up doing a variety of images and deliver what the client asked for along with some that satisfy my personal preferences. If the shoot is TFP, I only collaborate with models that are aligned with my artistic ideas. I tell my TFP models that my goal is not to create something pretty. Some people are not comfortable with that idea and that’s how I know if we will be a good fit together.
How do other artists influence your work? Are there any other photographers you look up to? Who?
Tim Walker is the photographer that I most admire. His dreamlike images inspire me on every level. I love the way he designs his sets and how he styles his subjects (the colors and textures!). I love how he plays with scale and perspective. I love how every image tells a unique but familiar story. I love that his work takes ugly things (giant skeletons, dilapidated buildings,unconventional makeup) and uses them to be a part of something beautiful.
How do you enhance your vision after a session by post-processing your photos? Do you have a best-kept secret for editing processing that you'd like to share?
I try to get things right in camera as much as possible. My go-to though in post-processing is: Lightroom- Mask/select subject -invert layer mask- lower clarity- lower texture- darken exposure- lift blacks. This really creates that expensive lens, large F stop, bokeh style that people love. It also brings focus to your subject.
Can you tell us about the most difficult photographic challenge you've ever had, including lighting, unexpected situations, and how you managed the issues on set?
This is probably an unconventional answer to this question but the most difficult photographic challenge I’ve ever experienced occurred this October when I had a stroke and lost partial eye sight in my right eye. I woke up one day with a blood clot that was directly behind my right retina. I thought at the time that I might not ever do photography again. It’s been a long road to healing and I’ve accepted that my eye won’t ever be the same. The biggest thing I’ve done to manage is get comfortable with asking for help. Sometimes it can be really hard for me to tell if an image is focused where I want it to be. I just ask someone else on set to be my second pair of eyes. It’s helped me reclaim a passion that I thought I had lost. I’m very grateful in so many ways.
What are your top tips for aspiring photographers on skill development and finding their own creative voice? How did you develop yours?
Shoot everyday. Look back at old work. Be honest with yourself on what you can improve and what you need to learn more about. A lot of photographers are bad about this. No one realizes in the beginning what they don’t know. If you aren’t constantly acquiring new knowledge, you probably aren’t improving. Don’t compare your work to others or judge your talent based on social media. Try different styles of editing or niche photography types. You don’t have to latch on to the first aesthetic you try as your personal brand. I’ve evolved in so many different ways through the years and I’ve ended up in a place I couldn't have imagined when I first started shooting. I went from kid portraits to quirky editorial photography.
What is your favorite piece of work you've ever shot?
That’s a super hard question! One that sticks out to me is a set I did called, The Reluctant Saint, which was loosely based on Joan of Arc. We were given permission to shoot in an old church with teal blue walls and gold detailing. I remember the light was coming in through the windows a certain way and I told my model to act like she was dipping her toe in the sunlight. The images turned out so beautiful and they were my first images that were accepted into PhotoVogue which is a huge honor to me. You can find the image on my instagram @tatefineartphotography or on PhotoVogue under the photographer name Erin Schmerr.
Can you tell me about an upcoming project you're working on and the idea behind it?
I am planning a shoot that is inspired by The 1966 George Balanchine’s New York City Ballet “ A Midsummer’s Night Dream” performance.
Can you tell us the story behind creating the photographs you submitted?
I read a story about two runaway flamingos that had escaped together from the Wichita Zoo because their keepers forgot to clip their wings. People spotted them together for years all over the US afterwards. Their loyalty to one another and their resilience touched my heart. The photos we took are my imagining of their life together on the run.
Where can we view more of your work and connect with you?
Instagram: @tatefineartphotography
Facebook:
Website: You can view some of my work on PhotoVogue under the name Erin Schmerr
Photo: @tatefineartphotography
Model: @donnaheartcle
Model: @gretchenisamodel
Model: @jeremyswalton
Via @officialkavyar
