Meet Erica Dunlap

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

Erica, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My creative journey started with poetry and spoken word. I started writing short stories as a little girl and that lead to a love of poetry and art. I was always a little actress, so I was drawn to the theatrics of the stage. I was deep into the poetry scene when photography came into my life. A friend who was a photographer at the time put a camera in my hand. The moment I hit the shutter, I felt all kinds of fairytale buzzes, whistles, and light flashes. I heard God tell me that this would be my vehicle to achieve my desires. Within a month, I had saved enough to purchase my first camera off Craigslist and the rest is HERstory.

My photography is my way of capturing the beauty I didn’t see as a little black girl growing up in the south. I saw glimpses of it in magazines and flashes on television, but it wasn’t enough for me. I love fashion and adore black women, that has become my focus. To remind women how beautiful we are.

Wanchy Wisdom was birthed as my online accountability partner. As I learned things or manifested things, I needed to release them, so I made statuses on my Facebook page. My ups and downs seem to resonate with others and thus, another tool in my creative belt. Wanchy Wear came purely due to demand of my online friends and family desiring some of the same vibe of wisdom for their own, so I designed some tees and hoodies to premier my fashion design venture. I recently began teaching myself to sketch and I am excited about where it could lead. I have always loved fashion, so having my own collection is high on my list of things I want to accomplish.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Hell no. Being creative is a daily struggle. And a libra. An working someone’s job all while you are trying to become this phoenix ready to rise from the ashes. I have bumped my head several times. Had to stop and refocus. I have had to reshape my focus and shift my mentality. On top of all of that, I still don’t have it all figured out. It’s a work in progress, no, I am a work in progress. Each step is an opportunity to learn and be better. One of my biggest struggles is the business end of the creative business. It’s all fun until you realize your contract is lacking or you have to figure out if you should be an LLC or when that first chargeback hits that personal account because you didn’t have your business separate from your coin. Let me tell you! After I had a client to reverse a $900 session that was already done and delivered, I knew I had to sit down and sink my teeth into a bit more of a business minded mode before I was broke, homeless, and crazy!

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am a boutique photographer providing experiences for businesses, brands, and personal clients who want a little bit more than just a regular photo shoot. I know for my fashion and beauty styled shoots. I am most proud of my growth as a photographer and how my clients value the experience of a session with me. They value the creative energy, time, and thought put into every shoot. What sets me apart from others? Me, I am my brand and what I provide no one else can do. It is my signature that my clients want when they hire me and I do my best to give them a unique experience every single time.

Wanchy Wisdom is all about empowering yourself and your crew to levels of greatness you only aspire to. It is the personality, sass, fashion sense, and fierceness that sometimes get lost in the shuffle of our daily lives. It is the remnants of our ancestors that pushed beyond physical and mental pain to get shit done. It is the conversations we have in our sister and brother circles that spills tea, builds self-esteem, and crowd funds our dreams. Wanchy Wisdom is our tribe, our village, and a movement to building our mental stamina while embracing the good of who we are in every way.

Wanchy wear is a collection of dope tees, hoodies, and mugs for the masses all inspired by Wanchy Wisdom.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up as an only child, I had a lot of time to pretend. I used to make up my own commercials during tub playtime and force my mother to listen to them. I created clothing lines for plus size women because I was always the biggest girl in my class. I got made fun of a lot which made my school years not the most positive experience. I created these imaginary worlds that I would retreat to that kept me sane. I think back and I realize that I was always entertaining and dreaming. I wanted to perform on Broadway, do one woman shows, sing, dance, draw, act I wanted it all. At 43, I think I’m just believing that I can still do all of those things now. It’s not too late.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ericadunlap.com
• Email: INFO@ERICADUNLAP.COM
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericadunlapphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArekahtheGoddessPhoto/
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/WanchyWisdom/

Image Credit:
Models/Clients Pictured: Shambrika Randle, Nami the Muse, Asia Rose, Taiya Hill, Tiffanie Tucker-Henderson, Hannah Franklin and Baby Kaje
Makeup: Britaine Bell( Tiffanie blue), EJae Coleman (Nami burgundy), De’Adrian Jones (Taiya in pink)
Photo of me (wanch tee)Taken by Nicka Smith MUA EJae Coleman
Nicka Smith of https://www.ns2photography.com/

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