My name is Eric Shaffer, and I'm addicted to wrestling...
As far as I can remember, I've been watching wrestling since about 1977, and attending live events since the mid 1980's. Since then, I've come a long way from the days of taking dark pictures with a Kodak Disc camera from the fourth row in some high school gymnasium. My latest expensive toy is a Pentax ZX-7 outfit, which I'm still figuring out how to use. So when the flash goes off, don't move until the shutter snaps because it's on automatic for now!
I honed my photographic craft at ringside for World X-Treme Wrestling and the World Wide Wrestling Alliance in Pennsylvania...the first of many promotions to let me into their inner squared circles. On any given weekend (which sometimes start as early as Thursday in wrestling), I can be seen somewhere on the Eastern seaboard at indy wrestling events.
As a Distinguished Member of the International Society of Photographers, my work has been published in several of their books, including the prestigious America at the Millennium: Best Photos of the Century. Checkerbee Publishing used fifteen of my pictures in their wrestling collectibles guide. Of late, I've done freelance work for New Wave Wrestling Magazine and the Wrestling Update of Nigeria, Africa.
The number of wrestlers' and promotions' Web sites that have displayed my pictures are too numerous to mention. But I am proud of the fact that the first-ever G.L.O.R.Y. Picture Of The Day was one of mine, as was the Web site's First Anniversary picture.
At a recent event, I was approached by three other promoters, requesting my services for their shows--all this while waiting for three other people to return phone calls about doing promo work for them. It's no wonder that one independent superstar called me "The hardest working man in show business".
See you at ringside!
Contact Eric Shaffer at shafferic@aol.com. Due to the vast number of independent promotions in the Pennsylvania area, I cannot guarantee that I will get to you immediately...but believe me, I want to.