A woman patiently indulges a pair of dogs as they vie for the cumbersome pumpkin she obviously wants to place on the doorstep of a weathered coastal cottage. Rogue oyster crackers, some smashed, are scattered on a table ready for a casual outdoor meal of clam chowder. A mother of the bride gazes adoringly at her daughter with a look that warns of a precariously held floodgate of tears. While these moments may not make the cut in another photographer’s portfolio, they’re front-and-center for Erin McGinn, who embraces the imperfections of life with perfection.
Based in the Lakewood section of Warwick, McGinn’s winding path includes a BS in Marine Biology from URI, working as a travel agent in San Diego, and returning to Rhode Island to become a prolific wedding planner – planning 40 in a single year, including her own to husband Nic – all while discovering a preference for the editorial aspect of events and all of their beautiful minutiae. She soon embarked on hands-on training, which involved assisting other photographers, completing RISD’s Continuing Education program in photography, and, as she recalls, “Shooting everything I could get my hands on.”
Recently celebrating the 10th anniversary of striking out on her own, McGinn, who is well known for her alluring wedding and lifestyle work, is now setting her sights on a series she calls Maker’s Shoots. “I realized while shooting lifestyle work that my favorite part was documenting the process. Seeing how artisans make what they do: the arrangement of flowers, the sprinkle of salt,” she says. “Often, people invest in great shots of their final product, but the process is lost from their visuals. I think our society nowadays loves to see the experience of creation.”
In the Maker’s Shoots series, subjects are featured in natural light, shown busy contemplating and creating. Says McGinn, “The entirety of their process is so intriguing to me. But if I had to pick one part, I would say hands at work. I think hands tell us so much and are so expressive. So whether it’s painting jewelry, or flipping through a palette of color, or sprinkling powdered sugar – honing in on that is one of my favorites, especially when those hands are full of ink or charcoal or calluses or icing!” McGinn is also drawn to how someone moves through their space. “Whether it’s messy studios, crisp and clean cafes, their home kitchen table, every space will have its own spark and sentiment, which helps set the mood for the entire shoot.”
In true makers-gonna-make spirit, McGinn shoots using analog film for the series. “I personally love the softness of film, the true-to-life color, and the imperfectness which I think mirrors the artistry of the clients.” She explains that to her, digital photography can feel cold and removed. “Take 100 shots, look at the back of the camera to make sure it’s right, keep shooting. Film feels exciting and truly special. You don’t ever really know what you’re getting.” Pausing to reflect, she adds, “And if there is something one would consider a mistake like blurred motion or a light leak – those are often my favorite shots.”
Learn more at ErinMcGinn.com.
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