Instagram Interview — Erica Spin Simas

Origins

When I was really young my grandfather always lugged around a film camera when we traveled. I would always sit on his shoulders, it was my favorite thing to do. I always admired him and his camera, he always had it with him. He was always obsessed with taking pictures and capturing memories, even if it was just a vacation. When I was young, I only used to shoot disposable cameras, back then it was too expensive and my parents didn’t get me a digital camera. I upgraded to this one camera, a Samsung Impax 2001, I actually still have it! I loved it so much because it took 3 different crop style shots, including panoramic, so at that point I thought I was super cool. I brought it on field trips and used it very often actually. It was then that I wanted to really buy a nice camera but couldn’t afford it. When I got older and started working I finally started doing some heavy research on what kind of camera I wanted. I asked my grandfather if he would help me buy my first camera so he did. I gave him a hard earned check of $1,000.00 up front and told him I would pay him back slowly. When my birthday came around he told me I didn’t owe him anymore, he said he knew that I was good for it since when I got my camera he could tell that I was really using it and it wasn’t just collecting dust on a shelf. That was my 5D Mark II which I still have. I began to carry it around with my everywhere I went, much like my grandfather used to. I started to take photos of everything, even if now when I look back at them, they’re pretty bad. We all start somewhere! I think my influences definitely started with my grandfather. From there I had friends that were into photography that really helped me learn how to properly use a camera, and just being able to document everything from my own perspective really meant something to me. I became obsessed, much like he did.

Experiences

I think the best experiences I have are when I am out shooting. Sometimes I feel like the most incredible things happen around me when I have a camera in my hand and that’s what makes it so satisfying because I was there to capture it. I also love where it takes me. Photography makes me more adventurous, daring, and social all at the same time. My biggest accomplishment was being able to have clientele of my own in Miami when I lived there. I was shooting weddings, parties, headshots, and even some of my own concocted creative scenes. I enjoyed being sought out for my work. That in itself, when people want you, when they are out looking for your style, it’s very satisfying. It definitely makes you feel accomplished. It was sort of a set back for me when I had to move away because I had a lot of pre-bookings that I had to cancel. I pretty much had to start from scratch. I have had great opportunities since moving out here though, and the people that I have been able to meet have been the greatest opportunities to me. I have met people who really enjoy photography like I do, and being able to get together with them to do the same thing, they understand. When you go out with people who don’t like to take pictures, and that’s all you’re doing, it becomes very boring for them. So, surrounding myself with people who love the art as much as I do and being able to venture to some of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, really make everything about photography worth it. It’s not just about the photographs sometimes.

Currently

I am hoping to make it out to a few places this year. I promised myself that in 2016 I would travel more. I just got a new job at a company where I can work remotely so I am hoping it gives me more freedom to travel and also be creative. I don’t have any photo projects currently in effect but, I guess you could consider building a darkroom to be one? I am hoping to really be able to build one so I can seclude myself and really devote myself to making prints. A lot of the times I shoot film but I hardly ever get prints. Sometimes my husband tells me “What good is it to take all of these pictures but no one ever gets to see them?”, and it’s so true! I really want to change that, I really want to be able to start making prints and putting them up in my house, and also gifting them to friends plus my family of course.

Future

The only goal I have for myself in photography is just to never give up. I want to continue to shoot as I have been for almost 9 years and continue to love it just as much as I do now in the future. I hope to maybe one day be able to see my work somewhere renown but, if that doesn’t happen it’s still ok because in all honesty the reason I shoot is for myself and the way it makes me feel when I capture a precious moment in time, I’m not really doing it to gain fame or attention, it’s my therapy, my happy place.

Gear

I use an array of different mediums. I mostly use my iPhone, different film cameras, and my Mark II. I think out of all of my film cameras I would say my Rolleiflex is probably my favorite simply because of the story of how I got it, the fact it was my first film camera, and also because it’s the camera my favorite film photographer used when she created. As for software I mostly use Lightroom and Photoshop to edit. I primarily edit in camera Raw cause I don’t really like to over edit, honestly I don’t even know how to edit that well so I just don’t even try. For accessories I use the essentials: tripods, filters, sometimes off camera flash if needed, and maybe anything I find laying around for props or to use in foreground to really make some images pop. I hardly do any of that though, mostly it’s just me, a camera, and a bag with some rolls of film.