I would love to do more personal work. Just find the time for one or two photos without no pressure, just because I think it’s beautiful. I spent four nights at Alicia Swedenborg‘s sofa when I went to New York, just before the wedding in San Francisco. She showed me around in the city and we had a lot of time to talk about some new great plans that I hope that I can share with you shortly.

Thank you Alicia for being my friend and inspiration.

Jenny Hammar took this happy photo of me (edited by me).

I’m happy to be a part of a network together with five other talented wedding photographers. We support each other, hanging out and talking about our life as photographers. We do want to make changes in the industry, but most of all we want to have fun. So December 2 we invited Swedish wedding photographers for a mingle in my studio. About 36 photographers were gathered for some “glögg” and gingerbread. Check out the photos that were taken in our photo booth during the evening (and if you want to know who I am – I’m the one with long blond hair and a fringe).

The magazine Kamera & Bild have interviewed me about the wedding photographer network that I’m a part of together with five other Swedish weding photographers. Read the entire article here. If you want to know more about the network make sure to check out our website www.weddingphotographers.se.

Check out our website!

I few weeks ago I went to Las Vegas with my colleague Lieselotte van der Meijs for the worlds biggest convention for wedding photographers – WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International). I didn’t attend to any trade show in Sweden this year, simply because my type of clients are not there. I wanted to do something else that could take my business further. Something that could develop me as photographer, both artistic but mostly learn how run my business even better.

WPPI is including two parts, a trade show with new products and platform classes when you listen to top photographers and other people in the industry speak. It’s really inspiring and it’s necessary to get a perspective on your own business. There is also something special to get together with people who share the same vision and work. 

I cried at two platform classes. As I don’t consider myself as a person who easily cry I was completely overwhelmed when I left these lectures. The two photographers that touched my heart were Jesh de Rox and Jonathan Canlas. They both cried when they were doing their speaking and I think they got the entire classes crying as well. I’m a true believer of that you have to have a strong connection to your emotions if you are a photographer documenting love. And these two guys really got that connection.

Are you a photographer you have to ask yourself if you are an image taker or if you are an artist? I’m an artist. I have a high level of artistic integrity and I want my client to feel that I give them something unique. They pay for my time and for the artistic value. I’m definitely not a photographer that give away lots of photos and is cheep. I get hired because I put my soul down in every single photo and that I deliver uniqueness and quality.

Something that was very much discussed at WPPI was the important thing to stand out, specially since the industry are full of people who call themselves “photographers”. It’s important do your own thing and to do those things that are signifcative for your style. My favorite photographer Jonathan Canlas talked about the problem that everyone in the photographer industry are looking at each others work. I couldn’t agree more. Follow his example and take a few weeks off from blogs and websites. Go your own way. No one elses.

To see behind the scenes photos from WPPI have a look at my Facebook page.

I’m in the town with the big shining lights – Las Vegas! It’s my first time in the States and I’m here for a convention for photographers called WPPI. The days are long here and my head is filled with new inspiration after all these classes I have been to. I’m glad I made it here! It’s been an awesome journey with laughter and tears which I will tell you more about later.

For more updates from my Las Vegas trip check out my Facebook page!

Please be patient if you have tried to contact me through email or by phone. 

Photos of me by Lieselotte van der Meijs.

Now it’s countdown to my trip to the States and to WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International)! It’s a convention for wedding and portrait photographers in Las Vegas and I can’t tell you how super excited I am! I’m going to travel with my dear colleague Lieselotte van der Meijs from Stockholm and we really long to get inspired, find new products for our clients and meet other photographers in the business.

Are you going too? Please send me an email to erika (at) gerdemark . se so we can meet and have a chat or a few drinks!