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Photographer

Photography: Erin Johnson Photography, Minneapolis, MN
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Do you want to become a Photographer?

Is photography your art of choice? Do you have a knack for capturing beautiful images? Have you ever dreamed of building a successful business around your favorite hobby? Then plan to spend two days with Erin Johnson, owner of Erin Johnson Photography, for a photographer VocationVacations dream job holiday in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

After spending years as a painter and drawer, Erin sort of fell into photography. She took one photography class in college and later got a job oil painting over photographs for a children’s photographer. One thing led to another, and Erin found herself photographing weddings.

“Once I got into weddings I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” Erin recalls.

She launched Erin Johnson Photography in 2003.

Erin started out charging inexpensive rates, and the brides she photographed referred their friends. Soon her business was growing. Despite her success, Erin says it took a full year of photographing weddings for her nerves to subside. During that year, she would come home from a wedding and be unable to sleep. “I’d think, ‘Oh did I mess this up? Did I mess that up?’” she remembers.

The art of photography combined with the unexpected nature of weddings make for a career Erin thoroughly enjoys.

“I love art, and I would consider this an art form,” she says. “To produce something creative … there is so much reward in giving that to someone to treasure.”

Erin also enjoys the lifestyle of wedding photography. She typically shoots a weekend wedding, then spends about 10 hours editing down 3,000-4,000 images to about 800 that she will show the couple. She spends approximately another 10 hours preparing prints and albums. The schedule leaves her with lots of time to stay home with her children.

One aspect of the wedding photography business Erin didn’t anticipate is the amount of time it takes managing the business and answering all those e-mails! Erin says it’s practically a part-time job answering e-mails – everything from answering inquiries from potential clients, to handling specific requests from current clients.

She also didn’t anticipate how isolating the photo editing process can be. Erin was drawn to wedding photography in part because she is such a people person. So spending 20 hours per wedding alone in front of a computer can sometimes be challenging, she admits.

Erin’s path led her to wedding photography, and now her business is evolving again. Because of referrals and repeat business from wedding clients, Erin also photographs couples who are expecting babies, family portraits and senior portraits. She has even photographed the birth of some babies born to couples whose wedding she photographed.

The ever-changing nature of weddings and every new project keeps Erin energized.

“Every event involves new people, new places,” Erin says. “There is an adventure every time I go. You don’t know what to expect. It’s always new and unanticipated.”

While on your Photographer VocationVacations® dream job holiday with Erin Johnson at Erin Johnson Photography, activities will include some or all of the following:
  • Participate in scheduled photo shoots or develop and implement concept shoot
  • Discuss various techniques, particularly with on-location photography
  • Focus on marketing ideas
  • Practice customer and vendor relations
  • Utilize self-promotion techniques in establishing professional identity
  • Engage in philosophical talks of art and commerce
  • Shoot with a variety of equipment
  • Portfolio review of Vocationer’s work
The Photographer Vocation Vacations® dream job holiday with Erin Johnson at Erin Johnson Photography includes:
  • Two days of one-on-one mentorship in your dream job as a photographer
  • The option to participate in a total of one hour of pre- and post- VocationVacations career coaching from an accredited, affiliated VocationVacations career coach
  • A pocket-size VocationVacations journal so you can document your dream job coming to reality
  • Light lunches with your mentor

Available: All year based on mentor's availbility

Price: $949 Per Person

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Suggested Accommodations

The Chambers Hotel

Hilton Minneapolis
(Not included in the price of your VocationVacations holiday)

Other activities and tourist destinations while on your VocationVacations adventure:
Reservation, Cancellation and Rescheduling Rules and Conditions:
Full payment of the VocationVacations dream job holiday is required to make a reservation. A $100 non-refundable fee is assessed if a VocationVacations experience is cancelled or rescheduled prior to 14-days of the scheduled VocationVacations holiday, based on the approved availability of the mentor to reschedule. A VocationVacations adventure cannot be rescheduled and is non-refundable if cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled VocationVacations holiday. Written notification of cancellation or rescheduling is required in all cases. In the US, Grounded Nomads, LLC and VocationVacations holidays encourage all customers to acquire travel insurance to cover any unforeseen expenses due to cancellation or rescheduling. In the UK, Grounded Nomads, Ltd and VocationVacations holidays must require all customers to acquire travel insurance to cover any unforeseen expenses due to cancellation or rescheduling and provide verification of such travel insurance to Grounded Nomads, Ltd.