Tell us a little bit about your business.
Hi! I’m Erica of Erica Dietz Photography and I take couples behind the scenes of their own weddings.
The secret is that I photograph it all. When your dad sneaks over and cuts himself a slice from your wedding cake, or your uncle rips his pants right before the ceremony and your wedding planner has to sew him up, I am right there documenting it all with my camera. There is more to weddings than just portraits; there are *stories*.
What makes your work unique?
After leaving my job as a photojournalist, I decided to take what I loved most about working at the newspaper – the stories, meeting new people, the excitement – and bring that to my wedding photography business. As a result of my time as a photojournalist, I am ruthlessly authentic and go beyond candid photos of the couple laughing to dig deep into the story of the wedding as a whole.
My voice is genuinely my own – bright, passionate, inclusive, generous, friendly, and professional. I am quirky, eclectic, and witty. However, I am able to adapt to the energy of my clients, making them feel safe and comfortable. Having photographed weddings since 2008, I am confident in my role as a wedding photographer and will speak the truth, but in a way that’s soft and non-aggressive (hello, Type 9 peacemaker enneagram!).
What is your ideal client like?
My ideal couple wants to *see* what their wedding *felt* like. Sure, they want great portraits of themselves, but they are also excited about photos that are REAL. It doesn’t matter if it’s a rural farm wedding or the chicest venue in downtown Pittsburgh, my couples are there for a good time.
What is your approach to photography?
As a former photojournalist, I can capture everything without being seen myself. Honest, hard-working, and reliable, I have a distinctive style that captures pure, unfiltered, spontaneous emotion. My ability to walk into any situation and find composition is unmatched, and my couples often find themselves feeling calmer in my presence. I shine as my own authentic, quirky self, and capture that authentic shine within those I work with.
Being vulnerable in front of a camera is no easy task, so I foster that by being as open as possible with my couples, and I am quick to break into a huge smile. I encourage friendship with my couples, and it is not unusual for that friendship to continue after the wedding.
