From your small moments to the great ones-to the emotions you’ll want to feel all over again- we want to be there to help you remember them.

We’re Erica and Erik
(aw, how cute!)

We are a husband and wife team based in Chicago. We met each other in the third grade (crazy, right?!), became besties our freshmen year of highschool, then fell in love our senior year, bonding over vanilla cokes and getting yelled at in history class for talking too much (of course, that was Erik flirting hard). Our lives are all about Jesus and our amazing children. We absolutely love getting to work together cause “Erica without Erik is just “a”!” (so the running joke goes).

It’s our truest hope that every client we get to capture walks away with images of beauty, strength, and grace that they can cherish for a lifetime and share across the generations. It’s a bonus hope that every client we get to meet will also walk away with new friends! We can’t wait to meet you!

How Can We Serve You?

My promise to clients who stands before my lens is to give them have an incredible experience, one in which they leave feeling empowered, happier, and more aware of the beauty in their world.

So, who am I? I’m a giver and server who will work hard for you. I’m not happy until you’re happy. I married the boy I met in third grade, whose name is Erik (no, we didn’t plan it). I am mama to three handsome boys; they are wildness mixed with laughter. I do have a beautiful girl, my niece, who has lived with me since she was four. I was adopted by two incredible parents; they gave me a second chance. And I am a follower of Christ; He changed my life.

I am someone who stumbled on photography during a season of searching. I have one photograph of myself as an infant. The first time I saw that photograph, I was thirty years old. I cried. I cried because I have spent years searching for this picture-any picture of me as a baby. And I cried because when I saw myself, I realized my second son looks just like me. I knew this photo would someday mean as much to him as it did to me.

In that instant of seeing myself as a baby, I knew what I wanted to do with my life: I wanted to be a photographer who gave people memories for all of time and helped them see what I see when I look at them: someone beautiful, strong, and brave, with a story worth remembering.

I’m excited to meet you and collaborate with you and to reflect your beautiful light back at you.

Hey! I am Erica Nicole, the creator of Light Held Love and storyteller behind the camera. I’m hopefully your new friend and the one who helps you see that special beauty within you and in your own life. I’m going to remind you that you’re perfectly fine and worthy right now! So what if you could lose X pounds. Me too, friend! And it’s okay if you don’t feel photogenic or don’t know how to pose. I have news for you: it’s not your job to be photogenic or know how to pose! It’s my job to help you look like the superstar you are! You’re fearfully and wonderfully made! I’ll say it louder for the doubters: YOU’RE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE! You’re God’s masterpiece! I want to help you see just how incredibly beautiful, powerful, talented, and worthy you already are! Oh, and friend, it doesn’t matter if your kids don’t sit still for photos; mine don’t either. But they have taught me all the tricks to help your babies shine in front of the camera!

I am here to make sure you have the best, most meaningful, authentic, and stress-free session! From start to finish, I am here to serve you by helping you plan every detail. My mission is to help you value yourself and take notice of the beauty within you and around you while providing you with one of the most unforgettable experiences!

Hey! I’m Erik, but when on shoots, I’ve started to introduce myself as the team mule. I’m the one pulling the overly crowded wagon of props, holding the shader, testing the water before sending clients in them for an epic photo, or running around and dancing silly to get a genuine smile out of the kiddos (or, let’s be real, the spouse who complained about having to take photos).

I am also the guy taking video, second shooting, when needed, looking for creative angels, and helping with ordering sessions.

From your small moments to the great ones-to the emotions you’ll want to feel all over again- we want to be there to help you remember them.

We’re Erica and Erik
(aw, how cute!)

We are a husband and wife team based in Chicago. We met each other in the third grade (crazy, right?!), became besties our freshmen year of high school, then fell in love our senior year, bonding over vanilla cokes and getting yelled at in history class for talking too much (of course, that was Erik flirting hard). Our lives are all about Jesus and our amazing children. We absolutely love getting to work together cause
“Erica without Erik is just “a”!” (so the running joke goes).

It’s our truest hope that every client we get to capture walks away with images of beauty, strength, and grace that they can cherish for a lifetime and share across the generations. It’s a bonus hope that every client we get to meet
will also walk away with new friends! We can’t wait to meet you!

How Can We Serve You?

My promise to clients who stands before my lens is to give them have an incredible experience, one in which they leave feeling empowered, happier, and more aware of the beauty in their world.

So, who am I? I’m a giver and server who will work hard for you. I’m not happy until you’re happy. I married the boy I met in third grade, whose name is Erik (no, we didn’t plan it). I am mama to three handsome boys; they are wildness mixed with laughter. I do have a beautiful girl, my niece, who has lived with me since she was four. I was adopted by two incredible parents; they gave me a second chance. And I am a follower of Christ; He changed my life.

I am someone who stumbled on photography during a season of searching. I have one photograph of myself as an infant. The first time I saw that photograph, I was thirty years old. I cried. I cried because I have spent years searching for this picture-any picture of me as a baby. And I cried because when I saw myself, I realized my second son looks just like me. I knew this photo would someday mean as much to him as it did to me.

In that instant of seeing myself as a baby, I knew what I wanted to do with my life: I wanted to be a photographer who gave people memories for all of time and helped them see what I see when I look at them: someone beautiful, strong, and brave, with a story worth remembering.

I’m excited to meet you and collaborate with you and to reflect your beautiful light back at you.

Hi, I am Erica!

Hey! I am Erica Nicole, the creator of Light Held Love and storyteller behind the camera. I’m hopefully your new friend and the one who helps you see that special beauty within you and in your own life. I’m going to remind you that you’re perfectly fine and worthy right now! So what if you could lose X pounds. Me too, friend! And it’s okay if you don’t feel photogenic or don’t know how to pose. I have news for you: it’s not your job to be photogenic or know how to pose! It’s my job to help you look like the superstar you are! You’re fearfully and wonderfully made! I’ll say it louder for the doubters: YOU’RE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE! You’re God’s masterpiece! I want to help you see just how incredibly beautiful, powerful, talented, and worthy you already are! Oh, and friend, it doesn’t matter if your kids don’t sit still for photos; mine don’t either. But they have taught me all the tricks to help your babies shine in front of the camera! I am here to make sure you have the best, most meaningful, authentic, and stress-free session! From start to finish, I am here to serve you by helping you plan every detail. My mission is to help you value yourself and take notice of the beauty within you and around you while providing you with one of the most unforgettable experiences!

Hi, I am Erik!

Hey! I’m Erik, but when on shoots, I’ve started to introduce myself as the team mule. I’m the one pulling the overly crowded wagon of props, holding the shader, testing the water before sending clients in them for an epic photo, or running around and dancing silly to get a genuine smile out of the kiddos (or, let’s be real, the spouse who complained about having to take photos). I am also the guy taking video, second shooting, when needed, looking for creative angels, and helping with ordering sessions.