I’m Eric Bussing
About Me
Photography is my passion
Get To
Know Me
I can’t describe the excitement I feel when I pick up a camera. It’s what fuels my creativity and passion. I have been fueling that passion for over 20 years and will continue to do so for many years to come.
I believe that old adage “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.” So much is said about you in a portrait. My passion is to tell that story of “You.”
Let my creativity work for you. Let me be your storyteller. Let me up your brand.
In simplicity, a great portrait can bring great opportunities.
I am based in Chicago but a fun photo trip is always welcome.
Start a photo journey with me and let’s write your next chapter.
Eric Bussing
Photographer
Practice Makes Perfect
Experienced Photographer
Family
I come from a large family. There can be upwards of 100 people at my extended family’s Thanksgiving dinner. I am the youngest of 5 kids. I grew up in the Midwest (West-Central Indiana) in my father’s hometown. We settled there after my dad’s service in the Air Force.
My maternal grandparents passed before I was born. They were immigrants from Mexico who came to the U.S. for a better life for themselves and their children. Raising 11 children in a 1 bedroom house was not an easy task, but they succeeded and I am proud to be of Mexican descent. To this day, I have a close relationship with mi familia from Mexico.
Growing up, family gatherings brought about happy memories. On any given Saturday, my mom would make fondue, or one of my sisters would cook a new dish they wanted to try. My siblings (who were much older than me) were always up for card games, laughs, and sharing memories.
Experience
I have worked for a few studios in different areas of the Midwest and the South. It has helped me to really grow my vision in photography. Photographing everything from yearbook photos to Senior portraits and landscapes to headshots.
I started in a studio in Northern Kentucky working for Lifetouch National School Studios. For the next 10 years I worked to develop my base knowledge of photography. From there was a year of travel in the Southeastern U.S. focusing on family portraits.
The next 4 years were spent in a small, privately owned studio on the Gulf Coast. The time there was spent improving my individual style. Learning more about the manual functionality of the camera and using that knowledge to showcase my talents.
In 2013 I took a leap of faith and moved back north to Chicago. The time spent here has proven to be what I needed to move into a style of portraiture that put me into the realm of some of the best photographers in the city. It has also pushed me to move out on my own to create my own studio and show this city that I’m ready to take on the needs of the many who need incredible portraits.
Education
I have an AAS in Visual Communications from a small technical college in Indiana. The majority of my education has come through the studios I have worked in and my own research. I have had a few mentors who shared their knowledge and worked with me to mold me into the photographer I am today. I still to this day have mentors but I also work with other photographers to help bring their skills to a new level.
more about me
extra
stuff
I draw inspiration from many places. I am a very visual person. I like to put what I see into my art. Read on to see what inspires me.
Travel
I love to travel. Being the visual person that I am I love to see new things, people, and places. My parents are a big reason why travel is in my blood. They were never afraid to explore. Living in the U.S., Europe, and Japan, they and my older siblings always explored and immersed themselves in the local culture. I am the same way.
Rule #1 – Never eat at someplace that you have at home.
Rule #2 – Talk to the locals. Find their favorite local museums, restaurants, etc.
Rule # 3 – Take pictures, whether it be with a camera or just mentally, do it.
I have traveled extensively in the United States. There are still lots of places I need to see. My biggest travel dream is to go to Paris and recreate some of the pictures my parents took while they lived there.
music
Pop music. It’s what motivates me when I am photographing. Whether it be Lady Gaga, Lizzo, Britney, or Gwen, it moves my creativity. I remember my first introduction to pop music in middle school. Duran Duran, Prince, Pet Shop Boys, etc. They were pioneers of their time and I watched them all grow and hone their crafts and take over the world one song at a time. I love going to concerts. I have seen some of the best live acts out there. From Foo Fighters to Imagine Dragons to Garth Brooks. There is nothing better than hearing and seeing your favorite musical acts show you their craft, their vision and what moves them.
Art
Spending the afternoon exporing an art museum is a thrill for me. Seeing a Frida Kahlo, or a Salvador Dali painting in real life is bliss. Looking at and deconstructing their vision helps me to work on what I see and how I put those visions on “film”. To see a painting that looks like a photograph and understand how these painters can “see” the light, the shadow, and the colors in their head before putting it on canvas is a feat I will always admire.