Erica Sledge Photography

Rain, rain. Don’t go away.

ERICA — Mon, 14 May 2012 22:31:52 +0000

We’ve been in one of the worst droughts in West Texas history. So, naturally, when it rains, we FREAK. OUT. and do the jig. :) Suri went out for a quick splash. So fun!

The Chevron Chair.

ERICA — Sat, 12 May 2012 19:49:29 +0000

I’ve been wanting to use this chair for a child session for a month now. These sweet cousins were perfect for the job! It was a fun evening with this wonderfully adorable family!

The Cavitts | Midland Family Photographer

ERICA — Sat, 05 May 2012 02:42:49 +0000

I’m sad that my sweet friends are moving away. Shortly after I moved to Midland, I met Leah. She was and continues to be the most kind, encouraging person I know. That is no exaggeration. That girl has joy in her heart like no one I’ve ever met. As sad as I am that they’re moving, I’m equally as excited for their new adventure! I’m excited for the fun experiences they’ll have within a short distance…aquariums, museums, parks, lakes, sporting events. It’ll be perfect for this loving, dollhouse family. :)

It’s his “Bermp” day…

ERICA — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:05:12 +0000

“Bermp” is a funny word my husband has made up and uses all of the time…for no reason at all. :) Anyway, today is his birthday AND it’s the first day of Spring football. So, he gets to work really late tonight for his birthday. Not sure that’s a good thing, but he is a good sport about it. The girls and I made this super-sized birthday card and hung it on the garage. He’s still not home to see it, so I don’t have a report. Think he’ll notice? Haha.

Sunshine.

ERICA — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:38:20 +0000

It’s a rare thing for me to take pictures of my own kids. I was so tired, but I took them out to our front yard and did it anyway. So happy I did!

The little things.

ERICA — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:14:44 +0000

Those are the things that are so easy to forget. It’s the moment she looks up at you with her big, brown eyes that is so special to a mother. Her little fingers, ears…her innocent face. My goal with *every session* to catch this kind of imagery for my clients. I want these mothers to look back on my images 18 years later and remember that time in their lives. I do believe it’s one of the things about this job that keeps me striving to work harder.

A baby!

ERICA — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 03:23:18 +0000

Our backyard is FULL of turtles. Today, Bryan found a “funny-colored pecan” in the grass. Only, it wasn’t a pecan. It was actually a baby turtle. She (Suri decided it’s a girl) is just a tad bit bigger than Bryan’s wedding ring. Ah-ha-ha-mazing. Meet our newest…

Peaceful.

ERICA — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:30:54 +0000

Everything about this session was so calm and peaceful. He was the sweetest, little thing and his parents..well, I can see where he got his sweetness from. Mom was so accommodating. Dad was so easy to pose. Brandie, the fur-child, was so excited to hop in for her photo-ops. They are the perfect, little family. It’s such an exciting time in their lives and I couldn’t be happier for them.

Gratitude.

ERICA — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 23:41:21 +0000

I made it through last week. I made it. I felt like I had been hit by a freight train today. I will finally get to rest a little bit this week. By “rest”, I mean stay at home and work on the computer.

After my busy, busy week, Bryan and I headed out to Marfa, TX. No, not just for a relaxing, artful weekend. I shot an engagement session at the Singleton Ranch, south of Marfa. Aside from the gusting winds and dusty haze, it was magical! I can’t wait to share those images! The ocotillo’s bright orange blooms were perfect.

Being on that ranch, on top of those mountains, I couldn’t help but take in the wonder of it all. My great grandmother was a young girl when she came from Mexico nearly 100 years ago and settled in Alpine. She came on a mule-drawn cart. A mule-drawn cart. That, alone, amazes me. Back then, coming to the United States from Mexico wasn’t illegal. It wasn’t a big deal. It was just what people did. Standing there, on that hill, I realized that my grandmother quite possibly traveled a trail on the very land I was looking down upon. I was supposed to be working, so I fought back the tears welling up in my eyes just thinking about it. What hardships did she and her family go through to get here? Why did they decide to leave Mexico? How hard was it to face the unknown? At that moment, I had so much gratitude for what my ancestors did. I stood there with the understanding that the reason I live a fulfilled and comfortable life is because of something my ancestors did 100 years ago. What would have happened if they had never left Mexico? Given the current state of Mexico’s drug cartel war, I’m eternally indebted to my great, great grandparents who picked up their family and life as they knew it and came to an unknown place. I’m not sure I could have done it. America has a lot of problems right now. These are turbulent times and it’s easy to get frustrated. Coming to the realization that I could have been born a Mexican citizen and living in a war zone (virtually) right now, puts it all into perspective for me. It’s a tough time in America, but I was born a citizen of what is still the greatest country in the world. It’s fascinating that I never had any appreciation for any of this prior to now. Wow.

On our way back home, we stopped in Alpine for breakfast. We drove around town a little bit. I drove by my great grandmother’s house. The new owners (my third cousins) have modified the house quite a bit. I didn’t even recognize it. It makes me sad that I have no pictures of what it used to look like when she lived there. I remember the tin ceiling tiles, the high ceilings, the squeaky wood floors, the super high cabinets in the kitchen…I wish I had appreciated it. I have the pictures in my mind, though. That’ll have to do. This is the little shop behind my great grandmother’s house. My mother remembers going to this little shop for ice cream when she was a kid. Pretty cool!

That’s my schpill. It was a nice weekend. What a cool job I have…

Where the heck have you been?

ERICA — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:40:29 +0000

Man. It’s been a really long 4 weeks of working, working, working. I spent a week sick with kidney problems somewhere in there. My dad was hospitalized for heart problems. So, editing, blogging…life…is a little behind. I had an exciting week this week, though. I did a 2-day, commercial shoot in San Angelo with 7 newborn babies. Yes. seven. It was exhausting, yet unbelievably rewarding. The host home I shot at was inexplicably beautiful. It sat on the Concho River, surrounded by orchards. Breathtaking! I’m excited to see how the images are used in Shannon Hospital’s new campaign. Anyway, this is all I have for now. I’m hoping for a very productive, uninterrupted week in front of the computer next week. Have a good weekend!