Light Up Your Images

Light Up Your Images

Author: Steve Brazill April 23, 2020 Duration: 45:34

At WPPI this year I met a lot of great photographers, and one of those was Erin Holmstead. Skip Cohen had invited both of us to a party, and I was immediately I awe of Erin’s skill. Her photography is so clean, and impactful, and I asked her on the spot to be on the show.

Let me be clear here, that is not the norm. There are so many great photographers out with fantastic work, and I get suggestions often, but a great image doesn’t on it’s own translate into a great show. Sometimes you see a photo you love, even if you don’t really have any questions about how it was made. For a good show the image we discuss needs to be one where two things are true: it’s a great image, and I have questions about it. With Erin’s work the questions were in my mind even before I could say how wonderful the shot was.

Erin loves real, vibrant colors and clean, simple lighting. She started with family photo shoots and quickly escalated to commercial work, and that is where she thrives. Erin’s beauty portraits not only delight her clients, but create a sense of wonder in any viewer. Her self portraits will blow your mind, in fact you’ll wonder how they came to be and how you can get that kind of creativity in your own life. And Erin’s background is as versatile and delectable as her work.

Photography has been a mainstay in Erin’s  life for 15 years. She shoots for national brands like Paul Mitchel, runs a local photo club with over 1,000 members, and writes educational articles for Photofocus. Erin runs her business, and a household that includes her husband, two kids, and also children in foster care. Although she lives in Utah, she maintains the Kentucky sass she was born with.

You’ll know Erin Holmstead’s work when you see it, and I think you’ll enjoy it as much as I do.

Join beauty photographer Erin Holmstead and me as we discuss lightening up your photos with amazing creativity, on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Connect with Erin

Website: erinholmstead.com
Instagram: @erinholmstead
Facebook: @erinholmsteadphoto

Erin on Photofocus

photofocus.com/author/erinholmstead


Steve Brazill hosts Behind the Shot-Video, a series that goes far beyond gear lists and camera settings. Each conversation is a deep exploration of the creative and technical journey behind compelling images. You’ll hear working photographers unpack the entire process-from the initial spark of an idea and the challenges of the location to the critical decisions made in post-production. This podcast sits at the unique intersection of art and practical technology, offering tangible lessons for anyone looking to improve their visual storytelling. Rather than abstract theory, these discussions provide a real-world look at problem-solving under pressure and the artistic choices that define a signature style. Tune in for honest, detailed breakdowns that reveal how memorable shots are truly built, layer by layer. It’s an essential resource for visual artists seeking both inspiration and actionable knowledge, all grounded in the lived experience of accomplished creators.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 200

Behind the Shot - Video
Podcast Episodes
Making More Creative Portraits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:46
I have always been fascinated with the education side of photography. I don’t have a formal photography education myself, and I am very aware of what skill sets I wish I had been exposed to earlier in my photo journey. I…
Concert Photography Photo Releases [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:59
This is a show I have been thinking about doing for a while, and that I believe is an important subject for both new and veteran music photographers…. BUT even if you’re not a music photographer, this subject should matt…
Capturing Warbirds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
I will never forget growing up hearing my dad talk about his days flying P-51 and P-40 planes. His walls were covered in model planes of classic war birds, as though he was trying to relive his youth. When he passed away…
3 Guys Walk Into a Podcast [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:06:11
One of the things I love about the podcasting world is the instant camaraderie you sometimes feel when talking with other podcasters. It’s hard to explain the connection you get when you have something creative in common…
Photographing Spirits of Carnival [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:49
The photographers I am exposed to by doing this show never cease to amaze me. Recently, my buddy Ian Spanier told a friend of his that he should be on the show, and gave him my contact info. At that point, Jason Gardner…
Product Photography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:16
I never used to go to photography conferences. It’s not that they didn’t interest me, it’s just that none of them cover my genre of music photography. WPPI is all about weddings and portraits, and while Imaging USA seems…
Artistic Macros [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:22
One of my favorite parts of doing this podcast is that I get to discover and meet some amazing photographers, and L.A. based Nikon Ambassador Joey Terrill is a perfect example. We’ve all joked about a photographer we kno…
Architecture Photography Tips & Tricks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:44
I find guests for Behind the Shot in a number of ways. Sometimes it’s a referral from a friend, sometimes it’s a cold email I send after seeing an image I just need to know more about, and now and then it’s through a pho…
Portrait Composites [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:53
One look at the client list at the bottom of Paul Mobley’s About page and it’s quickly apparent that he’s one of the best commercial, advertising, and editorial portrait photographers working today. It’s a list of A leve…
Elevate Your Portrait Images [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:51
Zoe Rain is one of those photographers in the rare group of artists that was born to do what she does. Some people can learn to become amazing artists, while others, people like Zoe, seem to have a natural gift for seein…