Erin Combs

Erin Combs (born 1952 or 1953), also known as Erin Combs Pearl,[1] is a photographer who worked at the Toronto Star. Hired as a photojournalist in 1974,[2] she was one of the first women photographers to contribute regularly to a major Canadian newspaper.[3]

Early life and education

Born in Illinois, Erin Combs moved to Canada when she was three years old.[4]

She was photographed for a girls' fashion story in The Globe and Mail in 1964.[5] In high school, she was a photographer for the school's yearbook. In college she contributed photos to the college newspaper.[4]

She attended York University in Toronto, Ontario.[3]

Career

Combs worked as a freelance photographer while she was a university student in the early 1970s, at a time when no women photographers worked at major Canadian newspapers.[6]

In 1974, the Toronto Star hired 22-year-old Combs as a photographer, where she became known as "Shorty"[2] as she stood 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m).[4] She worked as a photographer in the fashion section, as a photo editor[7] and as Head of Photography Department (1992 to 2000).[1] During her time at the newspaper, Combs also judged photo contests[8] and won the Judy award for journalistic coverage of the fashion sector (an award shared with the Toronto Star fashion team).[9]

Toronto Star photographer Dick Loek, reflecting on Combs's tenure at the newspaper, wrote that her father had said "if she got hired to watch out, because she would be running the joint in no time". Loek added that those words "turned out to be a pretty accurate prophecy".[2]

From 2001 to 2004, Combs worked in public relations and marketing for clothiers Zenobia Collections.[1]

References
  1. Combs Pearle, Erin. "Erin Combs Pearle". LinkedIn. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  2. Loek, Dick (20 February 2000). "[Shorty...]". Toronto Star. p. 1. ProQuest 438070694. Her old man warned me about her, said if she got hired to watch out, because she would be running the joint in no time, which turned out to be a pretty accurate prophecy. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  3. Worthington, Helen (5 February 1974). "Feminists welcome camera woman". Toronto Star. p. E3. ProQuest 1434831764. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  4. Bull, Ron (10 July 1980). "Erin puts focus on new look". Toronto Star. p. B5. ProQuest 1397797217. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  5. "Girlish Styles For Hot Days". The Globe and Mail. 14 July 1964. p. 10. ProQuest 1282845056. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  6. "Exposed: Featuring Highlights from the Toronto Star Photograph Archive". Toronto Public Library. 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  7. Harvey, Robin (24 December 1994). "Photography can be a snap in festive season". Toronto Star. p. H2. ProQuest 437159298. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  8. Pron, Nick (4 June 1998). "Holiday snap nets Mediterranean cruise". Toronto Star. p. 1. ProQuest 437784193. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
  9. Wilkes, Jim (9 September 1986). "The Star's fashion team wins award". Toronto Star. p. A7. ProQuest 435490918. The Judy, sponsored by the Garment Salesmen Ontario Market, was presented to The Star last night at a dinner at Toronto's Westin Hotel. [...] "It's great to be part of the fashion team that puts our section together each week," Star photographer Erin Combs said last night. – via ProQuest (subscription required)
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