Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Mravle.
Hi Erin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My first career had nothing to do with photography. Out of college, I enjoyed many years working as a High School History teacher and in 2011, I was provided a unique opportunity to teach all my classes online. With this new flexibility, I found my day allowed for more time explore hobbies and passions.
During these years, I’d describe my relationship with photography as a hobby without any focus or direction. I loved capturing well-composed images, exploring light, and learning about editing. Lucky to live in Central Austin, I took advantage of informal classes at the University of Texas and attended various workshops. In 2016 after the birth of our first baby, I discovered the delight of capturing little ones on camera. From there, it spun out quite quickly and I had what felt like a true calling to use this talent as a real business venture with a baby/family focus.
I decided to start promoting myself and accepting clients shortly after our first son was born. We created a newborn photography studio out of a room in our home and I began meeting clients for outdoor family sessions all over town.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been struggles in every aspect of this journey. Making the decision to pursue photography as a career was easy. Making it happen in practice has been consistently challenging. I was never schooled in business and learning as I go has been a major source of frustration. Never before had I needed to market myself, get my name out there, advertise, or bill for my time and talent. Confidence in my pricing has been a journey all its own and the entire business side of my business is an area that is constantly evolving and improving… Creative struggles also abound. In the early days of my newborn and baby studio, I got overwhelmed by props and overly decorated scenes. I wasted a lot of time and money thinking I needed every little backdrop, basket, outfit, etc. I spent more time focusing on those items than what really mattered: taking excellent pictures. Once I was able to edit those distractions out of the way, I saw a major improvement in my work.
A similar struggle has been creating an aesthetic and identity. I see so many photographers who create uniform images and in turn, I felt like I needed to copy that and nail down a look: light and airy, moody and contrasty, rich sunsets, etc. I flailed for a few years trying to force myself into one or the other. I have finally reached a place where I know what my style is. I’d describe my newborns as simple, sweet, and smushy and my family portraits as natural, fun, and “you”. In terms of editing style, I aim to enhance and perfect the conditions we were given. If we shot during a sunny morning, let’s play that up and embrace sun flare, whites, and yellows. If we shot on a cool, cloudy day perhaps in editing, the image looks best with tones that are richer and deeper.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am known for newborn, family, children’s photography. I capture everything from an eight days old baby to a one year cake smash to large family sessions. I am most proud of my newborn business. Creating a studio in our home, stocking it, learning studio lighting was an incredible undertaking and major investment.
What sets me apart is my ability to make families and kids feel comfortable in front of the camera. I am photographing little kids, moms, and dad as opposed to professional models. There can be a lot of quiet and slow starts to a photoshoot and it’s up to me to find their personalities and capture their family dynamic. Years of teaching experience and the skill to connect to all personality types in the classroom has translated seamlessly to working with all different ages and personalities in a photo session. Knowing how to reach that unsure six years old and capture their genuine laugh is something I am able to do every time.
With me, you’re getting a professional but you’re also getting a teacher and a mom. During my shoots, you’ll quickly see that you’ve paid for an outgoing, cheerful person who will crouch down to your kid’s level, knows how to speak to toddlers, will jump around and sing to make them laugh, wipe their noses, etc. I am not stuffy. I am not fancy. And I’m proud of that.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
How I make people feel is a fundamental key to my success. After a family session people will leave the shoot smiling because we had fun, we laughed, and the kids played. During a newborn shoot there’s a lot of downtime as we patiently feed the baby, swaddle, rock, and pose for sleep. In that downtime, I chat with mom about labor and delivery, lack of sleep, transitioning to mom life, and on and on. I’ve been there. There is always a personal connection and I make us comfortable. Quality imagery is an absolute but creating a positive memory out of the experience helps clients to love the photos even more because they remember they enjoyed taking them.
Contact Info:
- Email: erinmravle@gmail.com
- Website: www.byfivephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byfivephotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ByFivePhotography
