Who is Erin
Erin Douglas, is an experienced self taught travel, culture, and portrait, documentary photographer, creative consultant and the Founder of Black Burner Project. She creates and produces visually moving imagery to help brands and individuals in the Travel, culture, & lifestyle space convey a more organic and compelling brand story, helping them to connect, inform, inspire and ignite their audience to action. As a creative culture consultant Erin specializes in inclusive storytelling and thoughtfully curated experiences for companies with diversity and inclusion goals, helping brands speak in pivotal cultural moments with authenticity and impact, healing them with a vision and ideas to bring diversity to the visual forefront of their marketing.
Erin’s work has been featured in Essence, The Baltimore Sun, Artsy.com, Sotheby’s, Baltimore Magazine, The NYTimes listed book "Shut Up and Run", Travel noire and Conde Nast.
However, She’s most well known for her groundbreaking photography initiative-“Black Burner Project”, where she’s been documenting the growing presence of Black people who attend Burning Man through stunning photography & personal interviews since 2018.
Over five years, Erin has become a voice for awareness, and support for those both in and outside of the Burning Man community and a prominent advocate for change.. Thus, Black Burner Project has made a significant impact in the Burning Man community by elevating its reach through photography, inclusive storytelling, community building, education, and art.
Through Black Burner Project, Erin’s encouraging words, de-mystifying explanations, and beautiful photography inspire BIPOC to consider coming to Burning Man and help others embrace & understand the uniqueness of the Black Burner's experience.
And its working- Erin’s passion & dedication towards creating awareness and highlighting the importance of inclusive & authentic storytelling has single handedly impacted the increased attendance of People of color at Burning Man.
Erin is one of the first Black Women to receive an art honorarium grant from Burning Man to build her art installation, Black! Asé, which debuted at the 2022 event. The project was the first large scale photography art installation led by a black woman to feature portraits of Burners of Color at Burning Man. The structure included two interactive 30 foot image structures of Burners of Color and required a team of 40 people to bring to life.
Erin aims to find new ways to support People of color creators with ambitious projects; and has a continued mission of community building and inclusive storytelling to show the unlimited possibilities we have as Black and Brown people to encourage them to take up space in travel, art & in life.
Erin is also a regular speaker on the importance and transformative power of traveling, going after your big ideas, and inclusive storytelling
What’s Next For Erin?
Well she’s taking her experience and expertise to the next level with creative consulting services. Helping organizations with challenges authentically reaching diverse demographics and integrating relatable and authentic diverse stories into their marketing. She provides guidance on how to develop and execute inclusive brand strategies through authentic, relatable and compelling storytelling and visually inclusive imagery, that help increase your reach and representation of underrepresented groups throughout your organization's brand. Learn more…
“Erin captures the essence of the moments happening around her.”