Local photographer brings ‘Mom’s Touch’ to stress-free family sessions

A local photographer is using her experience as a mother to provide a stress free approach to family photos. 

3 Cord Photography owner, Erin Carsten shares three children with her husband, Drysen. “As a mom of young kids, I know how stressful it can be to book and prepare for a photo session,” Carsten said.

Wanting better for her clients, Carsten offers her services as a photographer who has been there. 

“I am big on making the process as easy as possible, and that starts with being patient with kids during the session to capture their real moments. Being able to capture the genuine family connection is important to me, so that you can remember it when you look back at the pictures in the future,” she said.

Building her business from the ground up, Carsten got her start in high school. 

“I didn’t know anything about photography until I took a class in high school as an elective. They let us borrow their cameras and gave us different shooting assignments, and I quickly fell in love and began saving up to purchase my own camera,” Carsten recalled.

After graduating high school, Carsten continued to follow the photography path through college. 

“I was studying at Southeast Technical College and again found myself taking photography electives which dove into some more complicated features and gave me great experience in lighting and equipment,” she said.

Getting in experience wherever she could, Erin would bring her skills to work with her. 

“I worked in a daycare in Sioux Falls and I would make cute little picture set ups for the babies and we’d take monthly themed pictures for the parents. Some of those parents convinced me to take their family photos, and my business grew from there,” Carsten said.

Since 2011 Erin has been capturing couples in love on their wedding day. 

“Love is in the air in all the rooms and my husband and I were lucky enough to get caught up in it. We met while I was the photographer and he was a DJ at the same wedding,” she said. 

After getting married themselves, Drysen encouraged Erin to become more serious in her photography business. 

“I was taking photos on the side but not very frequently, and finally Drysen gave me the confidence to take the leap and start a business. We were able to work weddings together for around 10 years before he retired from being a DJ,” she said.

Taking her talents to a studio of her own has given Carsten’s clients of all ages an opportunity to capture moments in time. “I have a wonderful space on the 2nd floor above Studio G Salon on Main Street where I specialize in newborns, families, milestones, and mini sessions,” Carsten said.

Carsten brings a motherly knowledge with her to every photo session that only comes with experience. “I know how important it is to have a photographer who embraces the chaos of wild children. The process is so much easier when we build time in for meltdowns or goofing off that you know are going to happen. I can pose you for pictures and capture the moments in between the poses,” she said.

With the holidays around the corner, Carsten is offering a timely option to the family photo. “I have Christmas mini-sessions available in the month of November at my studio in Lennox with different set ups geared towards kids to get those magical holiday smiles,” Carsten  said.