Hi! I’m Erin. I am a married mother of two and the Owner/Operator of Erin McBrine Photography. My husband rocks my world and my kids keep me on my toes but all three fill the otherwise empty spaces in my heart with love and joy. I say the “empty spaces” because they are the pieces that finish the puzzle that is my life. The other pieces are compiled with self love, my drive to create, my purpose, health, family and friendships. All of those things make me who I am. Sometimes I take the puzzle apart and the sizes and shapes of the pieces change, sometimes I even lose a few but they are always there...somewhere... waiting to be found.

If you  follow me on social media or you are a part of my daily life you might know that recently I took the plunge and left my full time job to become a full time Photographer/Entrepreneur. What I am hoping to accomplish with this blog is to tell you my story. The story of how I came to the realization that I needed to change my life and my journey along the way. I will be talking a lot about photography, my family, my travels,  the dynamics of being a full time entrepreneur and everything in between.  

After working a “9-5” type desk job for the last 15 years I finally realized that that career,that life, was not for me. I was eating too much. Sitting too much. Worrying too much. I was dulling my emotions.  I felt myself losing touch with humanity even. It was exhausting in the worst way. Day in and day out I would go through the motions just to get through the day and hope that by the end of it I would have the energy or the will to enjoy my time with my family. Being confined to a desk for 8 hours everyday was not serving my physical health, mental state or my constant urge to create. I wanted to be a better mother, a better wife- a better me. I felt myself yearning for more out of life. 

I know in my heart I was not born to sit at a desk. I was meant to explore and create. I was meant to move. I was meant to see (and I mean really see)all the beauty the world holds. I am an artist after all. 

Life can get so busy that often our own ambitions can be clouded by the pursuit of success. Growing up I was always taught to strive for success. I came from two good hearted, hard working people who sincerely wish for all of their children to live a secure and successful life. My dad used to say “ I don’t care if you want to play tiddlywinks. I want you to find success in life”. 

What is success? 

Everyone has their own definition.  For a long time I defined success as making money. Plain and simple. I thought that if I could make enough money to pay my bills and live a somewhat financially comfortable life then I was all set! But what about the rest of what life has to offer? What about passion? What about fun? What about happiness? Happiness. Have you ever told yourself “ I just wish I were happy”. I have said that to myself more times than I can count.

So one day I woke up and decided to change my definition of success. For me- now -living a successful life is to live a happy life. I finally have realized that my happiness and therefore my success is created by me and only me. It’s all in my attitude, my actions and how I see the world around me. Life is full of possibilities and opportunities if you are open to finding them. 

Why not take control of my life and really see what the world has to offer? I deserve to live a life I love. My family deserves to have a wife and mother who wakes up every day ready to 

LIVE. If I could teach my children anything-it’s to be brave and to love themselves enough to know that they deserve to live a happy life too. Whatever that means to them.  Life is short but can be oh so sweet if you just let it.