Erica Perreaux - Visual Storyteller for sports
Erica Perreaux, Team Photographer for the Lethbridge Hurricanes, covers a Canes game from between the benches. Photo by Hunter Duncan, Lethbridge Sports
Lethbridge Sports started out in order to tell the stories of the people that make up Lethbridge’s vibrant sports community. Although we mostly focus on the players and teams that make up that community, there’s a large supporting cast behind the scenes helping ensure games happen and fans can enjoy them. One of those behind the scenes faces is Erica Perreaux, of Perreauxphoto. Erica is a team photographer for the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Bulls, and is a familiar sight on the sidelines of lots of games here in Lethbridge.
Erica has had her images featured in the Hockey Hall of Fame, across the WHL and WCBL, the NHL, and even on Rogers Sportsnet. Since moving to Lethbridge 10 years ago from her hometown Brandon, MB, Erica has been thankful for the opportunities Lethbridge has made possible for her. “Lethbridge is very much like a small town feel.” She says, “It reminds me of my roots in Brandon. It’s very community based, and I love how everyone here supports each other. Word of mouth really gets around, and I think that’s really helped me grow as a member of this community too.”
Erica got into photography very young. She started playing hockey at the age of 11, and picked up a camera when she was 12. “I just had fun shooting everything from flowers to my brother skateboarding.” She tells us. She took 4 years of vocational classes in photography through her high school, which game her the opportunity to learn more. “I did film first,” she says , meaning film cameras, “I did that for about 2 years, and then 2 years of digital SLRs.” After high school, Erica booked her first wedding for a family friend and that was the start to her career. “Wow, someone wants to book me!” She laughs. “But even then, it was never something I thought I’d make a living at. Someone actually told me I’d never be good enough to make a living at it.”
One of Erica Perreaux’s early photos of her brother and Draisaitl on the bench together. Photo c/o Erica Perreaux, perreauxphoto
One of the things that has contributed to Erica’s success is her unique approach to photography. “I’ve always had a different eye for things.” She explains. “I’ll be just driving around and I’ll see something, and I can envision what the image would look like as soon as I see it. I do like catching action, but I’m a candid photographer, which helps when shooting sports.” Another strength is her background in hockey, which lets her read and predict the plays. “There might be a battle going on against the boards in the corner,” she says, “But I’m watching the D man on the point because I know there’s a good possibility that is where the puck will be going.” Her final differentiator she identifies as her editing style. “I see an image and I can see right away it’d be a perfect black and white, high contrast image. I just started doing double exposures on my camera during the Bulls’ games. I love playing around and making things look different than expected. I think that’s always been my craft.”
In her career to date, Erica has had a few close calls getting close to the action. “I’ve gotten a couple sticks for sure!” She says. “A guy gets hit into the box and then I’m getting a stick somewhere. I’ve only been hit by 1 puck during Rookie Camp in 2019. Usually when the puck is on my side of the boards I’ll duck behind the glass, but for some reason that one time I didn’t and the next thing I knew I was getting a puck to the stomach. I was lucky it didn’t hit somewhere else, but that was my first time getting hit by the puck.” She pauses and thinks about it some more. “I’ve been lucky in baseball, even though a few pop flies have been scary, I haven’t been hit yet. And overall, I’ve not had anything tragic happen yet.”
Being a part of Lethbridge’s two biggest franchises has given Erica lots of memorable experiences. “The two Hurricanes’ playoff runs in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018”, she reflects, “that was an amazing two seasons. The game were absolutely crazy. We weren’t supposed to go far that year, but just being with the team through those really good times were very memorable to be a part of so early in my career experience. It felt like being part of the team.” She isn’t done yet though. Erica is currently covering the Bulls’ 2021 season, is off to Nashville to cover some IndyCar action in a few weeks, and is working with the Boulet’s to help out with the Logan Boulet Memorial Golf Tournament in August. Then hockey’s back in September.
Erica’s regular view from between the benches at the Enmax Center, in Lethbridge, Alberta. Photo c/o Erica Perreaux, perreauxphoto
Sports photography, like most professions relating to organized sports, is still primarily a male-dominated field. Erica is one of only 4 women who are team photographers in the WHL. Although she knows other organizations have created barriers for her colleagues, Erica tells us, “I’ve actually - thankfully - never had to go through anything where I’ve been rejected for a job because I’m a woman. I’m very thankful for that. I think this shows the type of community Lethbridge is. I have never felt like I don’t belong because of who I am.” Erica is a firm believer that the quality of work she produces speaks for itself, and that combined with the word of mouth in Lethbridge has led to her success. “I hope women in sport photography can grow.” She says. The biggest hurdle of her getting into the field was confidence. “I never had confidence in myself before.” She tells us. “Back in the day someone did tell me I’d never be good enough. That makes me want to be better and prove to myself what other people say doesn’t matter. I’m constantly proving to myself the things I can do.”
We asked Erica if she had any advice for other women trying to break into the world of sports photography. “Personal connections is the biggest thing, I think.” Erica says. “We all have to start somewhere, I mean, I started shooting in the Art Hauser Centre in Price Albert, SK, from my seat while watching my brother play with the Raiders. My family knew the Raiders’ photographer, Perry Bergson, and I got to shoot by the glass with him for a game. Perry was really my first connection and he showed me how to shoot the game with a telephoto lens. Also,” she adds, “Don’t try to force it. Don’t force people to hire you for what you do. Let people know you’re available, show your work, and don’t force things because that’s when you get turned away. Build that personal connection with someone and it can lead to greater job opportunities.”
In her own career, Erica credits Kathy Hong, Marketing and Community Liaison for the Lethbridge Hurricanes, for getting her started. “Kathy was the one who asked me 7 years ago if I wanted to job shadow her. That got me game night volunteering, which soon led to team photographer. I learned a lot through her and having that woman-to-woman connection’s been important. I’m appreciative of everything she’s helped me with.” She adds quickly, “And I wouldn’t be where I am today without my family, Mike, Joanne and Carson supporting me and being by my side through the highs and lows.”
An example of Erica’s unique take on sports photography from a recent Lethbridge Bulls game. Photo c/o Erica Perreaux, perreauxphoto
We asked Erica what role she sees sports playing in the Lethbridge community. “I think it really put things in perspective having no sports at all in 2020.” She says. “Sport does more than just get kids active. It’s a team thing. It’s a community thing. Seeing everyone so upset and down that there were no sports proves how this community values healthy lifestyles and I’m so happy the community is coming back stronger from this.”
Erica is looking to play a bigger role in that community this fall, as she takes on a new challenge as a coach for the a Lethbridge minor female hockey team. “I want to help coach because I want to help these girls as a team on and off the ice, and help them grow into young women. I think that’s huge because it’s usually a male coach, and if I can be a female role model I’m looking forward to that.”
Personally, Erica is a diehard Oilers fan through and through. Her brother played junior hockey in PA with a young Draisaitl, so “every jersey I own is a Drai jersey” Erica laughs. “He’s the one I root for.”
An example of Erica’s favorite photos, candid shots of players laughing or smiling. Dylan Cozens, pictured above, has a bloody smile after taking a puck to the mouth. Photo c/o Erica Perreaux, perreauxphoto
What sport means to Erica personally can be portrayed well in the photos she takes. “My favorites are candids.” Erica tells us. “If people are laughing or smiling, I want to show that side of the game. I also like showing the intense action. Goal cellys are great ,the excitement and passion throughout those make me smile. I know how those guys are feeling and how it feels when you’re helping your team. And the warm-up superstitions - little things that mean a lot to players so they have those photos to look back on.”
Erica will be covering the rest of the Bull’s season, and then be back in action with the Hurricanes in the fall. Keep an eye out for her distinctive ball cap and if you get a chance, say hi or like one of her pictures on social media to show her some appreciation for all the hard work telling the stories of our local athletes.