Kelly Erwin is a family photographer & filmmaker based in Orlando, Florida and also one of our valued FilmingLifers here at the FilmingLife® Academy + Network

Tell us a bit about yourself…

I currently live in Orlando, Florida, where I basically grew up, and met my husband working as baristas at a local coffee shop. We have a little furry child named Tucker, and a sassy little 3 year old named Ava. The four of us love to travel and explore, and are getting ready to move to the beautiful Azores Islands in Portugal to be near my husband’s family.

Tell us about the kind of photography & films you create…

I create documentary, storytelling style family photos and films, both as a professional for other families, and as a hobby for my own family.

How did you first get started in photography?

As long as I can remember I have loved capturing and documenting moments, but I got my first DSLR in summer of 2018. I started photographing other families and fell in love with the ability to freeze time in a moment and to be able to do that for others.

What made you decide to learn video? What was your motivation?

I wanted to book someone to create a film for my own family, and had trouble finding someone in the area I was in to do that. I decided to start learning myself, and took the Creative Live course by Courtney. I then signed up for FilmingLife® Academy and the rest is history, haha. The more I created the more I wanted to learn and create.

What was your biggest challenge when you first started learning video and how did you overcome it?

My biggest challenge in learning video was probably stabilization, and editing. I overcame it by spending hours and hours learning and practicing, making mistakes and learning more from those.

Did you find it a challenge to educate clients on the value of films, how were they first received by clients?

I did! When I first started, I wanted to scream how valuable they were, but I didn’t know how to put that into words. I did a model call for a day in the life session, where I did photos and film, and afterwards asked my client (who is now a great friend!) what she would have wanted to know prior, what she thought about films before our session and now after, and other questions that helped me to put into words the true value of these sessions and to educate future clients.

Tell us about your favourite film and why it's special to you…

My favorite film is the one I created for my beautiful niece. It is special because my sister and her wife went through so much to have her, and she is truly just the most incredible baby. Getting to create memories for the people most special to me is the greatest honor.

Kelly’s favourite film

What is your best piece of advice for those just getting started with films?

PRACTICE. The more you just do it the easier and more fulfilling it becomes. Learn – watch other filmmakers films, take courses (FILMINGLIFE® ACADEMY IS INVALUABLE and LOADED with such amazingly helpful content), and play around with different parts of whatever editing software you use. I promise, the more you actually do it the more you’ll learn and the more you’ll love it.