Hi Erin! It's nice talking to you! First, would you like to tell us a little about yourself? Who are you, where are you from, where do you live now? Tell us a little about your personal background!
Hi everyone! My name is Erin, I'm a content creator and graphic designer from Ontario, Canada. I was born and raised in Canada and have lived here my entire life. My husband and I recently traded in our downtown Toronto condo for a 150 year old house in the country and we love it!
Your Instagram profile says you are an art director, content creator and story teller. What exactly do these jobs entail? When did you start taking photos and realize that you wanted to work with them in your future?
When I originally signed up for Instagram in 2016, it was with another account called @erinlightfeather . I made art using ethically sourced Canadian feathers, which was very fulfilling but also incredibly niche and a lot of work. While working on my portfolio, my passion for photography and photo editing developed. I immediately fell in love with Photoshop and the endless possibilities it offers. At the time, I met other content creators on Instagram who were creating bright, fun and colorful images for brands and I was hooked. I didn't even realize it was possible at the time! It wasn't long after that before I started getting more serious about photography and photo editing. I started my second Instagram account (which is now my main account) called @erinsummer_ as a sort of portfolio to post my latest experiments. The rest is history!
My job is two-fold - for the commercial side, I create visual content and advertising for brands looking for playful and colorful advertising content. I've had the opportunity to work for some amazing companies such as Adidas, Benefit Cosmetics, Pizza Hut and Perrier. For my personal side of work, I love creating creative, colorful and uplifting art that I license for greeting cards, art prints, posters, puzzles, etc. My very first licensing agreement was with Pickmotion and here we are, three years later with over 25 images licensed from Pickmotion. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to work with such a wonderful company.
Your pictures are so colorful and magical and make us happy just looking at them. How did you develop your style? Do you have any tips for aspiring photographers?
Thank you for the kind words about my work! I have always been drawn to colorful, happy and cheerful images. Making people smile and spreading a little joy is my biggest passion. My work has definitely evolved over the years, but playful, magical art with a sense of humor has always been the main core of everything I do. I start each new piece with an optimistic outlook and I don't take my work too seriously. It's mostly about putting a smile on people's faces.
There are so many opportunities for aspiring creatives to show their work to the world! Join social media, start connecting with other creatives and have fun. Don't worry about everything having to be perfect, because development is half the battle. It's never too late to start if you're passionate about your art. Now is the best time to get started!
You seem to love rainbows! Do they inspire you in your work? What else inspires you and why?
I love rainbows because to me they represent hope. I love colors, sun, all kinds of animals, architecture, retro nostalgia, minimalism, humor and fun.
Would you like to tell us a little about your work process? How do you come up with ideas and how do you edit your pictures? Do you plan a lot of things in advance or do you prefer to take photos spontaneously?
My work process is a bit of a mess hahaha! I try to stay organized, but I get easily distracted by new themes or concepts. I have a folder on my desk with photos and graphic design pieces that I'm always adding to, revisiting, or playing around with. Sometimes an image comes together easily, other times I work a little here and there for months until it finally clicks.
When I'm working with clients, I try to be more focused because there's a deadline. During my creative process, I give my clients the opportunity to be as active or passive as they want. Sometimes they have very specific ideas about how something should look in the end. Others want me to take care of all the little details from start to finish myself. Balancing commercial work and my own passion keeps me motivated and inspired. My goal, no matter what, is to create something charming that stops people from scrolling down and makes everyone smile.
When and why did you start using Instagram as a platform to share your photography?
I used Instagram for my first artistic venture and quickly realized that it was the ideal platform to share all kinds of visual art. To this day, 99% of my new work comes directly from my Instagram account.
Do you have a favorite picture of yourself? Can you tell us the story behind it?
My favorite images are those that feature balloons. Balloons are one of my favorite subjects because they are light and airy and colorful, which is what my work is all about. (Note: I never let the balloons fly away in the wild, but instead add them to nature scenes using Photoshop after I have photographed and edited them.)
What do you think about the IG community you've built over the years? Have you been able to connect with them through Instagram? Do they help you find new ideas?
I love my IG community because they have been one of the most positive, creative and encouraging influences I could have ever asked for. I have always felt so lucky to connect with other passionate creatives online. Watching their success and development over the years has always been a real source of motivation and admiration for me. This year I have spent less time online, but I always know that I can log on and lovely friends and inspiration are waiting for me.
Your last name is Summer, but is summer your favorite season?
Yes, summer is by far my favorite season! I love the warmth and the sun and the long days. We have a family cabin on a pond in Ontario and some of my fondest childhood memories are of the summer days I spent there with my family.
Can you tell us some of your favorite Instagrammers who inspire you?
Oh my goodness, there are SO many - way too many to really name them all. I love illustrators, travel photographers, graphic designers, textile designers, makers, bakers, content creators... I must have a list of around 300 favorites! Some that immediately come to mind are: @jenannhandmade , @cestmaria , @creativeamme , @lizzie_darden , @luxeandthelady
Do you have any cool plans for the future that you want to share with us?
I'm currently in the process of redesigning my website from scratch, which will launch in August and will finally include a shop with prints! Hurrah!
Do you still enjoy sending and receiving postcards?
I do! Especially when they are Pickmotion postcards!
Did you know about Pickmotion before our cooperation? If so, how did you discover us?
You know, I'm not entirely sure! It's been a few years now since we started our cooperation! I may not remember how I first got to know Pickmotion, but I do know that through Pickmotion I've discovered many new and exciting creators over the years, and I just can't get enough of them!
Finally, would you like to share a little anecdote or story with us? You can tell us whatever comes to mind!
I didn't really start picking up a camera until I was in my 30s. I taught myself everything I know now by watching YouTube videos and playing around with photography and editing in my free time. You don't need a degree or a lot of fancy equipment to get started, all you need is a creative streak and a curiosity to learn something new. The possibilities are endless and it's never too late to start!
In our online shop you will find a large selection of motifs from @erinsummer_ in various sets! Take a look around and spread colorful joy to your loved ones!
