CHCA Eagles Eye Annual Report 2022

An interview with
ERIN (TATE) SCHMERR ’02
Photographer
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND
YOUR HISTORY WITH CHCA.
My parents enrolled me in
kindergarten at CHCA the opening
year and I graduated in 2002. My
class was the first to attend CHCA
from Kindergarten through 12th
grade. We were the original “Lifers”.
CHCA has always had a special
place in my heart and I have so
many fond memories of my time
there.
After graduating from CHCA,
I received my BSW at Xavier
University. I currently live in West
Chester with my husband (Daniel)
and 5-year-old daughter, Adela.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED
IN PHOTOGRAPHY?
My dad was a hobbyist nature
photographer. When he passed
away, his old camera sat on
my dresser for about six years,
untouched. I had always wanted
to learn how to shoot but didn’t
know where to start. When my
daughter was about 8 months old
(4.5 years ago), my good friend and
fellow alumni, Alyssa Konermann
’06, took the time to teach me how
to shoot with my dad’s camera.
It’s been a passion ever since. I
started out photographing family
portraits but over time my skill
set has leaned toward editorial
and conceptual portraits. My
friend and I run a group called the
Cincinnati Image Makers. We hold
monthly photography workshops
that have grown our group to over
300 members. This has given me
the opportunity to have plenty
of clients who are interested
in creative portraiture for their
modeling portfolios.
WHERE DO YOUR
PHOTOSHOOTS TAKE
PLACE?
Most of our shoots take place
in Cincinnati or surrounding
cities. I try to be very creative
with locations since I feel like the
location pulls a lot of visual interest
in the photo. I’ll spend hours
researching unique locations for
our shoots. 54
WHAT IS THE BEST THING
ABOUT YOUR JOB?
Photography has helped me
express creativity inside me that
lay dormant for too many years. It
also helped me see and appreciate
beauty all around me. Now
when I’m out and about I notice
beautiful things that I had always
overlooked. It’s always the simple
things. I’ll notice the pretty way the
light comes through the kitchen
window, or the color of the tall grass
on the side of the road. Everything
to me is a potential shoot location!
My absolute favorite part about
my journey so far is all the people
I’ve met along the way. I’ve met so
many creative people outside my
usual circle and they’ve all pushed
me to grow in different ways.
TELL ME ABOUT THE PHOTOS
THAT ARE IN VOGUE – HOW
DID THAT HAPPEN?
Recently, Vogue has allowed people
from all over the world to submit
photos to be considered for their
website. They have limited times
and limited quantities they accept
for review from each potential
photographer. The Vogue Italia
editorial team then will select the
photos they wish to publish on the
site. It’s an amazing opportunity
for someone like me (a mom living
in Ohio) to see some of their work
watermarked with the Vogue label
and on the Vogue website. I always
joke that it’s like the cool kids at
school let me sit at their lunch
table. It’s a great feeling!
ANYTHING EXCITING ON
THE HORIZON YOU CAN
SHARE?
I have a few fun, high fashion
styled shoots coming up. One
shoot will be in the ornate theater
at Memorial Hall in OTR. I’m also
in talks with a local artist/ fashion
designer about photographing their
upcoming museum exhibit. I’m
very excited for both. I also have
an interview coming out soon in a
New York fashion magazine.