Eric's business card says a lot about both him and his work. A business card is
often an important element in making a good first impression, and the story
behind this one in particular reveals Eric's love for
travel and photography, his genuine ease in any setting, and his extraordinary
talent at finding those unique images only found once in a lifetime. Hired by a
client to shoot her daughter's wedding in Venice, Italy, Eric stayed on for a
month living and photographing with his dog Shimi, a rare breed from Japan. He
made many friends and captured hundreds of stunning images of this ancient city.
One day he stumbled
upon the shop of a gentleman who makes beautiful, yet simple business and
calling cards for people all over the world. Eric is now one of them; his card,
a custom design which includes a view camera on a
tripod, is a true find.
I met with Eric in his Seattle studio on First Avenue
just a breath away from Safeco Field. It is an old building that has come
to life, filled with artists and plenty of character. His studio is light
and bright, with twenty foot ceilings, and it is a showcase for Eric's work.
He has been in the industry for over 20 years, starting his career in San
Jose, California, and moving to Seattle to open shop here in 1991. Eric was
an instant success and hasn't looked back. Shooting about 25 weddings every
year allows him to give utmost consideration to each client. He loves what
he does, and it shows. "I get paid to take photographs
and to tell a story. How many people can say that they get paid to do what
they love?" To Eric it's also about the bigger picture, the business
of photography. He clearly is interested in making his clients happy
with the complete experience. From start to finish, Eric gives all of
his clients his full attention. His services are sold as packages, but
Eric doesn't believe in holding clients to any one thing; packages can
be tailored to meet just about anyone's needs.
Eric's success in the industry is evident, as he has
established great relationships equally with vendors and clients. One caterer
recalled his calm nature and ability to work with a team. A client echoed
sentiments that I hear consistently when people speak of Eric's work:
In
the days leading up to the wedding, Eric was great at making himself available
to us to answer any questions or concerns we had. He was on time and ready
to go on the big day and helped keep my husband calm when the usher was late.
The best part about Eric was that he was totally invisible during the wedding
and reception. I never felt like he was standing too close, poking or prodding
us. I never felt like he was in the way of the wedding. Once we got the pictures,
I was amazed at how many amazing shots he got!! Especially since I felt like
he blended into the woodwork so much. The candid shots were great!! He even
got an action shot of our flower girl flying through the air as her Dad spun
her – the picture was at the perfect
point!
