THE WOMAN BEHIND
THE LENS, Erika.

I'm guessing you aren't here to read about my wonderful family & adorable dogs, my boring desk job, or how I ended up in You might expect a story about how I discovered photography through some life-changing moment. But my journey began simply - in the streets of Summerville, South Carolina, with a disposable camera and a seven-toed cat named Pumpkin. (He was pretty badass, but that's a story for another day.)

Back then, I was just Erika Staples, better known as Nicky and Cory's little sister, spending my allowance on Friday night pizzas and film development. Those endless summer afternoons capturing moments with friends shaped how I see the world through a lens.

There's something magical about the way a camera melts away social anxiety. When I feel the shutter release beneath my fingertips, everything else fades into soft focus. That calm has transformed into a passion that now allows me to help others preserve their most precious moments.

While I love chasing perfect light and creating still life compositions, portrait photography holds a special place in my heart. There's an indescribable joy in capturing images that stir emotion and preserve memories that might otherwise slip away.

In our rush through daily life, we often forget to pause and appreciate the beauty around us - and within us. That's what I do through photography: I stop time, if only for a moment, to create and document that beauty.

Now based in Baltimore, I'm still that girl from Summerville at heart, just with a different last name and a more professional camera. What started as an unexpected move turned into a love story with Charm City - its historic neighborhoods, vibrant culture, and the way the light plays off the harbor at sunset. After 15 years here, Baltimore has become more than just where I live; it's become my home, adding its own chapters to my story. But the joy of capturing life's moments? That hasn't changed a bit.