Erica M Photography »

My mind has been a bit all over the place lately. Long lists of things to do and unable to prioritize these lists, I find myself wandering from task to task not staying on one for too long. I remember my mom getting upset at me in elementary school because it would take me so long to get ready in the morning. Not because I was oversleeping or didn’t know what to wear. I would simply sit on the edge of my bed for a good twenty minutes and just let my mind wander from one thing to the next before being snapped out of it and hurried along into clothes. Any clothes at that point. I don’t consider myself spacey (although I’m surely making it appear that way) but just curious. Having many inspirations and ideas often got me in trouble when I was younger. I now see this curiosity as a blessing. No longer do I have the confines of having to catch a bus or do school work.

The same was true throughout college. Though it was a fine arts school you were asked to be more specific. My college had fifteen fine art degrees to be procured and I wanted a little piece of almost all of them. I took drawing, painting, sculpture, graphic design, fibers, art history, printmaking, video, and of course photography. Photography has always been a love of mine. I would take my mom’s point and shoot film camera out on adventures with friends and go thorough whole rolls of film. My mother would be furious. 20 pictures of clouds and 16 more of designs I would create with dirt, stones, feathers, and flowers. I had no idea who Robert Smithson was at the age of 8 but I was already unknowingly making my way to art school. Photography is my first and my best but I have also always been keen on design and color. The people I shoot of course are an inspiration to me and every shoot is a new experience but photographers need inspiration from other sources to start a shoot stimulated and bursting at the seems with ideas, creativity, and energy! And now I feel ready to tackle my to do list for the day, just needed my creative outlet first :)

This is my first color inspiration board…all the images are from Jaci and Dusty’s wedding a few weeks ago. This wedding was an inspiration unto itself. Jaci is a non-traditional girl and her wedding aesthetic reflected that. I want to show brides that you don’t have to pick a trendy color scheme or limit your self to lilac, and only lilac. You can expand your palate and keep things tasteful and beautiful. Jaci’s main colors were plum and fuchsia seen throughout the bouquets and her matron of honor’s dress. Espresso was seen as an anchoring color in her table cloths which allowed all her gorgeous floral arrangement to really pop, especially with their hints on tangerine here and there. Seafoam was another great accent color seen in the fabulous antique door used as a prop and in all the girls jewelry.

I really enjoyed doing this and want to continue, not just with my wedding photos but with inspiration drawn from all facets of life :) Let me know what you think!

Kayci Spaulding! I met her at Michelle and Clay’s wedding this past June, she is the beautiful blonde bridesmaid below. And she recently got engaged! Congrats Kayci! This contest was so much fun I’m going to do another in the near future so look out for it!

They come into the library weekly to peruse the internet and search the shelves for new finds. Today they approached me silently. The girl greeted me and reached into her mother’s handbag, fumbling through it, then pulling out a wallet. She looked up at her mother to get an indication of which pocket the library card was in. They communicated silently. Through looks and minute gestures that are unreadable to anyone but them. But they communicate just as quickly as any two people would when speaking aloud. I too am speechless, but smiling, just watching the small scene unfold. The daughter can’t be more than ten years old but there is already so much patience and understanding in her eyes. Her mother can not speak, only soft inaudible murmurs, her body has experienced some sort of illness, probably a stroke. She relies on her daughter to understand her. To speak for her. To fold a piece of paper for her. And her daughter does all these things not just willingly nor begrudgingly. She is happy to do it, but not overly happy. She is not taking pride nor being boastful in her tasks. She looks at her mother with respect. They communicate, again silently. The mother smiles. The daughter laughs. And the only person the joke is lost on is me. And it was so beautiful.

I am thankful for what I have. Not only for my health but for my family and friends. And I want to remember to help them. Not just willingly. Not begrudgingly. Without taking pride. Without being boastful. But with a sense of understanding and patience.

A few of the people I am thankful for…Dad, Mom, me, and Fred on a trip to the Wichita Mountains :)