visual stories of Love, community, and the dreams that give us life in the Rustbelt.
What does it look like to be thoroughly, joyfully, un-self-consciously alive?
To care for your people, your purpose, and your passion?
To be seen, valued, and celebrated?
From childhood dreams
that become a lifelong passion,
to finding your person,
your purpose,
your place,
sharing your gifts
and love
and time
and joy
is what makes
this life
worth living.
One day, 80-year old you will ease into a soft space on a quiet day and wonder:
"did I use my time here well?"
Inside my camera is the answer.
but first, introductions:
Who am I? What are we doing here?
Smile by Sergeant Squeaks, photo by Christina Colontino. All people, couples, and families are celebrated here. 🏳️🌈
(Zero tolerance for hate, othering, and meanness, obvs.)
I’m Erin (Ninehouser), wife of Dave, cat mom to Beans, Callie, and Sergeant Squeaks, easily amused human that delights in helping people see how much they mean to their friends, family, and little corner of the world. Every photo I make is rooted in a deep love for the parts of us that push forward through grief, struggle, and hardship toward peace, purpose, and connection.
As a documentary photographer and storyteller, my work centers the question: “what does it look like to care?” for your people, your purpose, and your place. I’m here to affirm the things that actually give us life - being fully present with our loved ones, giving back to our communities, helping young people find their way in this world - and to offer the visual evidence of the joy and meaning we derive from being our most generous, authentic selves.
Who are you? How can I help?
You are someone who wants more than “pretty pictures.” You get that it’s really not about the photos. What matters is being able to remember those moments that profoundly shape us, to preserve our stories, to honor the people and experiences we cherish, and to bring awareness and inspire action on the issues that shape our everyday lives and realities.
You want a photographer who will ask about the special people who’ll be at your wedding, what parts of the day you’re most looking forward to, what sweet little quirks or routines your kiddos or partner has that you never want to forget, what your small business or community organization’s hopes and strengths are and how we can best communicate that visually. You want someone who can truly see you and appreciate your story.
Visual Storytelling for:
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Non-Profits & Small Biz
Ready to show, not tell the story of your mission and impact through authentic, professional, emotional photos? Let’s talk!
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Lovebirds
Want to spend your wedding day fully present in the moment, free from any pressure to conform? You’ve come to the right place.
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Families
Looking for intentional time to make new memories, celebrate traditions, or simply honor the beauty of ordinary days? Me freakin’ too.
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You deserve a break from wearing all the hats! Let me help you with:
All-inclusive storytelling and communications support tailored to your needs, goals, budget and capacity
Project-specific storytelling that could include stills, video, documentary event coverage, testimonials and headshots
Creative problem-solving of current communications and storytelling challenges that build long-term internal capacity
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I can’t wait to hear your story! But first, make sure to:
See my portfolio and collections
Share a few details and your date through my inquiry form
Look for a follow-up email from me (erin@rustbeltmayberry.com) with links to full galleries and an invitation to Zoom or meet up!
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Get ready to enjoy a beautiful time making memories! Here’s what to expect:
First, let’s connect to talk about who’s part of your family and what would be meaningful to document (see my portfolio for examples of what others have chosen, understanding that there is no formula - your session should reflect what’s unique and special to you!
Next, choose your collection and we’ll set a date.
During the session, I’ll be there as a friend with a camera - no stress, no expectations, no forced posing or fake anything. All you’ve got to do is enjoy being fully present with your most special people!
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What do we do with them?
Enjoy them in an album or on your wall
Keep them on your phone to replace doom-scrolling with dopamine-scrolling
Put prints around your house and use them to prompt memories or write hand-written notes about that experience or time in your life
Share them with friends and family digitally
