By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
NILES – As an art form – photography is part watchful eye and part focused lens. Part observation and part action. A photograph may capture that which happens in just a blink of an eye – but it also captures the person behind the lens – the photographer, with every shot.
For Erika Pickles it is the exhilaration and personal reward of capturing those moments that has led her from Niles Daily Star reporter to entrepreneur to the grand opening of her new business Creative Images Photography on Main Street in downtown Niles.
The Niles native received nothing but praise at the grand opening of her photography studio Friday. "She definitely has a natural, I think, talent," said Ronald Sather, president of the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce.
Lisa Croteau, of the Niles Main Street (DDA) thanked Pickles "for being so wonderfully creative and choosing to do it on Main Street in Niles."
In addition to senior portraits, wedding packages and family/children packages, Creative Images Photography is coming together with Pic-A-Dilly's DJ Entertainment to offer a special wedding package. And starting June 27, during the Arts in Motion Festival downtown, Pickles said she will also add "Old Time Photos," with saloon and sitting room scenes, wanted or reward posters and vintage clothing to accommodate small or large groups.
Such ambition seems to suit Pickles' own persona. It was just nine months ago when the Niles High School class of 2000 graduate made the decision to look at going into business for herself. She met with a business counselor and researched options and opportunities. But after having trouble reaching the owners of another space along Main Street, Pickles said she stopped her search and stepped back for a moment.
That's when the space next to Kitchen Connection at 223 E. Main Street in Niles became available.
And though right now she's available by appointment only, she says undoubtedly that the business will switch to regular hours.
Inside, Pickles' photos adorn the walls. They rest in a photo album for display on the coffee table in the lobby. They play out on the screen of a laptop computer. One after another, different moments captured in time.
And Friday was Pickles' moment to step out from behind the lens and take a little bit of that focus on herself.
"I will say it's definitely different being on this end as opposed to being in the background," she said.
After thanking family and others who helped her business become a reality -Pickles also spoke with a sense of gratitude for her native city. "The city of Niles is absolutely a phenomenal place to do business," she said.
Anyone interested in more information about Creative Images Photography can check it out online at micreativeimages.com.