Meet Kerri + Erin!

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I was born into a loving family who was always close – my mom’s family is Italian, and I’ve always grown up with her wholeheartedness, honesty, and sense of taking care of one another. My dad’s family is German, so he’s pretty relaxed (most of the time), has a zest for life, and is competitive playing sports. I’m pretty much a hybrid of both of my parents. I have my mom’s sensitive, warm heart with my dad’s zest for life and adventure.

And of course, adventure for me includes travel! I was so blessed to travel to so much of the United States and outside of it at such a young age – our family would always prioritize taking vacations in the summer. That gave me a real appetite for the big, beautiful world God created and how much there is to see and explore! I’ve always been driven like this. Driven to find my purpose in this life as I seek to serve God. My mom always tells me, “You don’t need to do it all by the time you’re 29.” Sometimes I push myself a little too hard, because I desperately want to live this one life well.

I am an older sibling – my brother is 3 years younger than me – so I have that natural sense of taking responsibility and caring for other people. But I also took on a desire to keep peace and make other people happy. Over the years, I naturally would seek others’ approval and my own voice would at times become dim. That’s why as a teenager, I was drawn to photography and the arts. I can express the deep pieces of myself and create beauty to pour into the lives of others. I’m a natural encourager and champion – I’ll find the good in people anywhere I can.

Daily, I’m a deep person and find inspiration in nature. I love to hike – it’s most likely what you’ll find me doing on a Saturday – exploring God’s creation. But I can find natural beauty any day of the week. A flower growing between cracks in the ground will inspire me to think about rising through challenges. The way that wind blows leaves off the trees in the fall and they flutter to the ground so gracefully, makes me think about surrender. I think messages from God are everywhere, and I love when I can be in tune enough to hear His voice.

I am a wedding photographer in the Hudson Valley region of New York – and I truly love what I do. It’s been a God journey from the beginning, and choosing to live a creative life was a fight. But it feels good on my skin – the way that sunlight does when it seeps into your pores. Something about holding a camera in my hand makes me come alive. Seeing the best in people, seeing honesty, capturing beauty that’s fleeting and temporal but ever real, and touching a piece of heaven through it all.

I don’t know where my journey will lead next, but I want to keep living it honestly and adventurously, never losing the ability to savor life and encourage other people.

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Hi girls! I’m Erin, the other half of the Be Real section of the blog every week! When Kerri asked me to tag team with her several months ago, something about it just felt right. It challenges me to show up every other week, get vulnerable, and share my heart. Even when I don’t feel like it. Even when I don’t know what in the world I can give. It’s God’s way of forcing me to slow down and to listen, to see what He’s trying to say and to really sit in what He’s doing in my heart. I’ve loved sharing with you and love, even more, when I hear that it touched one of you.

A few fun things: I’m a free-spirit, love exploring the world, and have a ridiculous obsession with music (making Spotify playlists is my JAM). Things I love: Dirty chai lattes, sunflowers, meaningful conversations, overflowing bookshelves, and any kind of adventure. I live in central Illinois but California will always hold a special place in my heart. I’m a pretty excitable person and I have a lot of “favorite” everythings. And laughing is most necessary.

I’ve always had a deep passion for all things creative. I picked up a camera when I was probably 12 years old and it became a part of me. I never considered it as a career to pursue, which is why I majored in creative writing, the other love of my life. Halfway through college I began to shoot a lot of portrait sessions, and that’s when a business just fell into my lap! I had no idea what I was doing, but it’s been an incredible journey of trying and failing and trying some more.

Last year, I took a break to work a day job for my parents’ business. God has taught me so much through that experience — to dwell in the season He’s placed me in and to be faithful with what He’s put in me. It’s been capital-H HARD, but I see the way God is providing. I’m learning about patience and peace and surrender, and it’s oh-so sweet.

I have an intense obsession with traveling, probably the aftereffects of so many family vacations as a child. I’m always thinking about my next trip and planning travels a year in advance. If you invite me to visit you, I will absolutely take you up on the offer. My favorite part is connecting with new people and being in new spaces. There’s something God does in the unknown — I learn so much about Him, about myself, about life. Trusting Him as I step out of comfort zones, it makes me feel alive.

My heart is for true community, one where we dive deep into the gritty and beautiful mess that this life can be. I’m all about open hearts and vulnerability and just being for and with each other. I want to create the space for that pause, to connect with God, to connect with each other, to be reminded that we’re not alone in the fight. I’m not always good at it, because I can easily let life distract me, but I’m learning.

That idea of community and rest is why Kerri Lynne and I are friends. We met at the Pursuit Conference in the fall of 2014. We were chatting at dinner and when one would speak, the other would say, “Yes! Oh my goodness! I know how you feel!” Over and over again. And I just knew, that our hearts were cut from similar beats and that God orchestrated our meeting, like a long-awaited reunion of a forever friend.

We still have conversations like that. Even on days I don’t want to talk about how I feel or what’s bothering me, we will catch up on the phone and I’m so thankful for a friend that sees and a friend that knows. So it makes sense that we are sharing this Be Real section. Because that’s all we really know how to do. That’s what brought us together. And we’re so happy to serve our Creator and all of you in that way.

And I hope that this space is exactly that for you. A place where you are seen, where you are known, where you’re gently reminded that you’re not alone.

We are a so blessed to be here and we love you, friends, so much. <3