We Speak with Erin from Silver Oaks Farm
If you have ever needed quality inspiration for curating a stunning instagram account, look no further; Erin’s account @silveroaksfarm is the pinnacle of what to emulate. Erin has two of her own horses, Austin and Anton, and two liveries at the very enviable, Silver Oaks Farm in Park City, Utah.
She balances riding and managing the yard with her success as a professional photographer and running her Etsy shop. We were lucky enough to speak to her about her journey with horses, sharing of her daily life at Silver Oaks and how this led to a whole world of business opportunities and community building. Click the images of some of her products featured to find them on Etsy. They are perfect Christmas gifts for the equestrians in your life (or yourself!).
Team EQ: We all have those 'my earliest horse memory'. What's yours?
Erin: I was a very lucky baby because Danny became a part of our family just after I was born. He was a bombproof Tennessee Walker that my parents bought after my oldest sister, who was 13, begged them for a horse. When I was a year old my mom use to trail ride Danny holding me in front of her on her western saddle. A few years later I remember singing the ABC’s to him on our rides. My mom use to say Danny was listening to our singing because he was moving his ears back and forth. When I was 4 years old my parents bought Cinnamon Buns, a very sweet Shetland Pony, who became my complete obsession for many years to come.
Team EQ: You are an award winning photographer. What was the moment when you decided to turn your passion into a career?
Erin: As a kid I was always taking pictures with whatever camera I could get my hands on. Photography was never something I thought I’d do as a career. Out of college I worked in medical research at a biotech company in Southern California where I met my future husband. I left that job when my husband and I moved to the Caribbean and England for his schooling. During that time I tutored undergrads in Genetics. Science was my focus. My husband’s job brought us to Utah and that was my opportunity to try something new so I enrolled in photography classes. After four years of studying I opened my business.
Team EQ: Alongside your work as a photographer you run a shop on Etsy. What sparked your interest in creating these items, and where do you draw inspiration from?
Erin: I’ve always been artistic. It comes from my mother. I’m the youngest of six kids and growing up my mom sewed a lot of our clothes. She had a sewing room in our home and let me play with all her fabric scraps, trims, ribbons, and other goodies. In high school I was an exchange student in Germany. Vintage Levi jeans were all the rage with my host sister and her friends. She had a pair that were embroidered. When I returned home I went crazy and hand embroidered all my jeans and a denim jacket. I’m self taught.
My shop includes items that I make, tees that I design, and my fine art horse photography. I’ve always loved to make and create. EVERYTHING inspires me! Fashion, art, interior design, food, nature, you name it!
Team EQ: On social media you are seen to work closely with brands such as Alexa Fairchild. How has your social media presence evolved over time, and can you share with us the ways you have found to be most rewarding in building relationships with other equestrians / business owners?
Head to @silveroaksfarm to follow Erin
Erin: I first logged on to Instagram in 2011 and created my photography account. My posts were a mix of business and personal. In 2015, my husband and I moved to our current home and I decided I wanted to start a strictly personal account as a journal of our new home and farm, hence @silveroaksfarm. Instagram is a space where I can go to be inspired and to inspire. It’s an escape that I look forward to. Each one of my posts is made with intention. I had no idea that the main focus of @silveroaksfarm would become my life with horses. I also had no idea that an Etsy shop would pop-up from my presence there. Instagram has been a great tool to “meet” and network with others in the horse world and I’m incredibly grateful for it!
Team EQ: Social media gives us the opportunity to create and be part of communities. Have you noticed the gathering of a community via your pages, and if so, how important is this to your business?
Erin: Networking is vital to any business. One of Instagram’s perks is the ability to bring the community of horse crazy girls and boys together by just entering a hashtag or liking an image. Instagram has been invaluable for my equestrian inspired Etsy shop.
Team EQ: Are there any future plans in store for Silver Oaks Farm?
Erin: As of right now Silver Oaks Farm is pretty content. My daily life is full of managing our property. I own a small horse boarding business so the farm work keeps me incredibly busy since I don’t have hired help. My photography keeps me incredibly busy too. As I have time to create I’ll continue to add new items to my Etsy shop and will continue to custom embroider the timeless chambray.
Team EQ: If you could go back in time, what would you tell your younger self?
Erin: I'd tell myself to trust your gut, and to wear sunscreen. I'd also tell myself...do what makes you happy because happiness is the most important thing in life!