Daily Inspiration: Meet Erica Ross

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Ross.

Hi Erica, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My professional creative journey began after college during the summer of 2017. I studied English for Corporate Communications at Christian Brothers University, but was still unsure about my career path. However, I held on to my hobbies of photography, fashion, poetry, and graphic design. Photography has been at the forefront of my creative success, from working with local models, musicians, and social media influencers, to shooting the cover of the Memphis Fashion Week magazine; but fashion and streetwear is my current passion that I’m working to cultivate with my brand, Agent of Change.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The journey to getting to where I am today hasn’t been easy, and there are still challenges that I face. Being a young black girl in Memphis with a dream to be a creative entrepreneur in predominantly male industries can get lonely. After college, there weren’t many female photographers or creatives that were at arm’s reach to mentor me, and it was a struggle to find male creatives to take me seriously. Therefore, I took on the task of teaching myself the ropes, which, in my opinion, has taken me longer than I like to reach certain goals. However, in hindsight, I’m appreciative of the course of the journey because I have managed to form a few genuine connections on my own, and now I can be a resource for other female creatives coming along.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a creative of four years. I specialize in photography, fashion, graphic design, and poetry. However, I’m most known for my photography company, Erica’s View Photography. As of now, I’m most proud of my work with Memphis Fashion Week. I was granted the opportunity to shoot the cover of their 2021 magazine, “The Edit, as well as a few photos within it. What sets me apart from others is that I strive to be inclusive in all of my work. No matter the medium, I want every person to find themselves in what I do, but with a positive point of view. My goal is for every person to identify with their higher selves within the art that I create. My favorite thing to hear when taking photos is “I didn’t know I could look like that.” With Agent of Change, I hope to create a fashion culture where people feel fashionable, safe, and comfortable regardless of body size, gender, and sexual orientation. My brand is unisex.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Covid-19 taught me the importance of slowing down to realize what actually matters. Before the pandemic, I was hustling and bustling like the rest of us, working my way up the corporate ladder while trying to build my creative businesses. I had sharp tunnel vision, and I wasn’t planning on slowing down. Once quarantine commenced, all that I had was time and my thoughts, which, to me, were my enemies. Being home all day meant that I had to sit with the feelings that I had been running away from. However, that turned out to be a blessing in disguise. With that time, I was able to read more, exercise, eat better, and heal old emotional wounds. These things also led me to new creative endeavors, like Agent of Change. Ultimately, I learned that material success can’t fully manifest without getting my spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional well-being together first.

Contact Info:

• Email: aoc.culture@gmail.com / ericasview409@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.ericasviewphotography.com/
• Instagram: instagram.com/agentofchangeclothing
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgentofChangeClothing / https://www.facebook.com/iamericasview
• Other: instagram.com/ericasview

Image Credits
White crop top photo – Photographer: Edward Sims Red sweater photo (personal photo) – Photographer: Monique Harris