Meet Erica Hurlburt | Newborn & Family Portrait Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Erica Hurlburt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Erica, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
Doing something for my business each day – even if it’s small or only involves replying to an email – has been one habit that has made a big difference for me. I should mention that I started my business during a time in my life when there was very little free time to pursue it. I had our first baby, and then I had our second baby and in the middle of all that my husband was gone a lot because of his Navy career. We moved from Virginia to Japan just as my business was starting to grow, and then we moved again to California from Japan when my business was, yet again, starting to really take off. I’ve had to start over and build new client bases in each place we’ve lived, so showing up each day for my business, even when I have little time to do so or little energy to do so, has been the game changer for me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am at my core someone who places a high value on simplicity. It’s important to me when I create photos for both myself and my clients that I provide images that are meaningful, that maybe tell a story or convey an emotion, and that are edited and composed in a way that’s not too fussy or trendy. I want the work I create to stand the test of time and not be the kind of photo that 20 years from now will show its age other than the fact that the people in that photo have grown or changed.

I have gotten to where I am professionally because of the encouragement I’ve received from my family and friends and from working really, really hard. It hasn’t always been easy. After I had our first baby, I spent hours upon hours in online classes and photo critique forums on my phone while feeding her. After I had our second baby, I spent that one precious hour of nap time a day where both kids were sleeping either editing photos or continuing to learn more about whatever aspect of the business I felt I was weak on. There were nights that I would get both kids to bed, my husband would be away, and I’d edit photos because again, those were my only free hours in the day. I guess what I’m saying is – nobody just becomes a great photographer without working their ass off. Behind the beautiful images you see from photographers you love is hours and hours of training, practice, bookkeeping, styling for sessions, location scouting, e-mail follow-ups, etc. The learning never stops, which is actually something I really like about photography.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Camarillo, so most of my knowledge of where we’d explore is a little farther north of LA. Cafe Ficelle has the most delicious breakfast and coffee, so we’d definitely go there. If my friend wanted to shop at some cool, locally owned shops we could go to Passport Habits in Ventura. We’d get dinner at the Wine Closet. We’d spend a day in Ojai grabbing lunch at The Nest and drinks at the Ojai Vineyard. We’d get ice cream at either Ojai Ice Cream or Sanders and Sons Gelato. I love shopping at Fig, too. Then we’d get dinner at one of the great restaurants at Ojai Valley Inn. We’d probably also spend a day in Santa Barbara and would eat at The Scarlett Begonia, walk down State Street and hit the Funk Zone. Maybe take the kids to the Moxi Museum.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband deserves just as much credit as I do when it comes to my success as a photographer. He has always encouraged me, always believed in me and loves that I love photography. When you have a partner who gets excited for you about what you’re excited about there’s nothing more you could ask for.

Website: https://www.ericahurlburtphotography.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericahurlburtphotography/

Image Credits
Erica Hurlburt