Who i am

I’m Erich. My professional background is a seemingly non-linear trajectory combining the creative and the analytical. I began in marketing where I worked with campaign analytics and developed business partnerships. Writing has always been deeply ingrained in me, and I quickly developed a love of branding and creative messaging. I then took a foray into technical program management, analyzing data to further science. That led to a consulting gig, helping set up and grow a federal contracting company. Then, I landed at a tech startup (you can’t make this stuff up!), building a revolutionary software platform to change the way the world builds, uses, buys, and sells web software. Crazy? Absolutely.

Several years ago I also had the opportunity to invest with a few friends when they founded an awesome local coffee shop that's now thriving. Beyond the equity is the reward that comes from hands-on involvement. I have the privilege of contributing creative content and marketing, as well as advising on various ops and growth strategy. Through this experience I've learned a tremendous amount about retail, audience engagement, and an entirely new perspective on managing costs, employees, and P&L’s. Another ancillary benefit is that I've become an insufferable coffee snob.

My most important roles, however, are child of God, husband, and father. I always seek to do everything in accordance with Ephesians 4:1-2. My wonderful wife and I have six children (yes, the photo at right is woefully out of date)… well, nine counting our Great Dane, German Shephard, and Standard Poodle pup. I’ve learned more about communication and conflict resolution through marriage and parenting than I could ever hope to learn in a thousand books. It’s not without its challenges, but it is amazingly fun!

Hobbies? I play a few instruments, write songs, and I'm fascinated by film. Soccer is the greatest sport on Earth, and I watch or play it as often as I can. I write sporadically as well. I also love getting to know people and hearing about their lives and businesses. I truly enjoy learning what makes them who they are.

writing with light

Photo (Greek, phōtōs) - light
Graphy (Greek, graphia) - to write

Photography is literally writing with light. I love this! I am, first and foremost, a storyteller.

why Photography?

My father always knew what he wanted to do upon turning 18 years old: apprentice under Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright’s death in 1959 changed those plans, but my dad’s love of architecture remained unabated. He eventually went on to practice law, but our home was a treasure trove of books on the greats like FLW and Richard Neutra, as well as works on architectural design and theory. I grew up with photographs of some of the finest architectural creations in existence perpetually at my fingertips.

Then when I was about 10 years old, we took a summer trip to visit family friends in New England, making a stop in Mill Run, Pennsylvania, on the way. There we visited Fallingwater, the masterpiece originally commissioned by Edgar J. Kaufmann and now owned by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. This experience was eye-opening. It provided a completely different perspective on all the photos in all the books I'd casually thumbed through growing up. The following year we visited Oak Park and other famous FLW sites around Chicago. These two trips birthed a deeper fascination with architectural design and the photographic representations thereof.

My love of light writing has long since transcended structural spaces. Whether I’m shooting portraiture, editorial, commercial work, or just taking photos of my family and friends, it’s my hope that my work evokes in viewers an emotional experience that defies explanation.

working with me

So, what can you expect when working with me? I can make you these promises:

Passion: I will give you everything I've got. I love what I do, and it shows.
Professionalism: I will treat you the way that I want to be treated - kindly, fairly, and honestly.
Attention to Detail: I never overbook and will always take the time necessary to create beautiful images, both on site and in post-production.
Quality: I use Canon professional bodies and lenses, and professional lighting (when necessary), post-process using Adobe software, and always back up files.
Convenience: I provide a proofing gallery for every client with easy downloadability in multiple files sizes.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss a project, please contact me.