Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Reas.
Hi Erin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was in high school, I was on the yearbook staff all four years. That’s where I found my passion for photography and graphic design. I actually was the Layout Designer which gave me my first taste of what graphic design really was. Senior year of high school, I decided to attend the University of North Texas with a declared major in photography.
After a few years at the University of North Texas, I transferred to St. Edward’s University in Austin and changed my major to Graphic Design in the process. Even though I changed my major, I still had a deep passion for photography and still kept up with it throughout my studies. After graduating from St. Ed’s with my graphic design degree, I started my first graphic design for another company. However, I had a stirring desire to create in other ways than the day-to-day responsibilities of my job. This desire is what led me to start a photography side hustle. I took photos of everything – weddings, families, seniors, parties, any sort of gig I could get. Along with side hustling in photography, I also took on freelance graphic design clients; the majority of the graphic design clients were for logo design.
From 2016-2019 pouring into my side hustle took up all my free time; this is partly because my side hustle income was helping me pay my bills, but also because I was still living a path I set for myself in college. While I was at St. Ed’s, I was an overachieving student; I was part of multiple organizations, I made a 4.0, and I kept up with friends. When I graduated college, I still had that busy mentality because it’s how I lived for four years.
For the three years after graduating college, my side hustles allowed me to explore other creative avenues and find out what I liked and didn’t like working on with low risk considering my full-time job always supported me financially. Then 2020 happens, and we all know what that was like on a global scale. For the past few years, I’ve grown in finding work that I really enjoy doing as well as thinking of my side hustles more like businesses. I’ve stopped hustling and now only say yes to work that I truly enjoy.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
For me, the mindset has always been a struggle. It took me six years to call my business an actual business. I was always nervous to do so because most entrepreneurs that claim their own business are doing it full-time. For me, my business has always been part-time. However, I learned that it doesn’t matter which is your main source of income, if you are creating work on your own and profiting from it – no matter how big or small that profit might be – you have a business.
Staying away from calling my work a side hustle also helped me keep in mind to hustle less and rest more.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve found passion in working with small business owners and entrepreneurs through brand and product photography. I love how photographs are a powerful way to tell the story of a brand and the people behind it. For graphic design, I am going back to my roots and exploring layout and editorial design. While I know the importance of niching down, my multi-passionate creative heart loves being able to find so many avenues to create and serve others. Ultimately, I want to use the creative gifts God has given me to help others!
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
It’s ok to change and grow. Just because you start off in one area of your business doesn’t mean you have to stay there. You can change your mind and do something else if you want to try something new or if you aren’t enjoying what you’re currently doing.
Contact Info:
- Email: erin.reas@gmail.com
- Website: erinreascreates.com
- Instagram: @erinreascreates
Image Credits
TLC Photography
