And in 2014 I had the opportunity to work with some of the best wedding photographers in the state line as a second photographer having 20 weddings that first year. It was brand new to me, it stirred a passion, and I realized I wanted to do this for a living. I found my calling, but that first year was rough, until...

On December 13, 2014, as an assistant at a wedding, I met my wife Samantha. She wore a red dress and I stared at her all night until she asked me to dance with her. It was the single greatest experience of my life and it made me realize why people got married. I finally understood what love was, and after two months, I bought a ring.

After we wed, I understood that documenting love was only successful if I treated each couple I worked with as if their relationship was as important as mine was with my wife. Once I started believing and implementing that vision, my business exploded with success. Over these past six years, I could care less about money, and that's true because I thrive on seeing other people relive the experience I had and have with my wife. It makes me have a purpose and it makes me humble. I document God's work and I couldn't be more grateful.

MEET ERIK

I grew my business after a desperate venture as a newspaper photographer over six years living with student loan debt in my father's basement. But, that soon changed...