Meet Sarah Peterson

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Peterson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.

Hi Sarah, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

I don’t think anyone in a career like photography ever fully overcomes imposter syndrome. It’s all a game of confidence, really. Some days are easier than others. I always like to remind myself (and my team) that photography is fully subjective just like any art form. It’s very easy to take things personal when your brand is a one man show. There will be people that are obsessed with your work and what you bring to the table who make you feel like you’re a superstar, and there will be people who don’t totally vibe with your style, and that’s more than okay! The other tricky part about photography is that it’s often viewed as a hobby instead of a career which can easily downplay your credibility. When you’re going to school to become a doctor, lawyer, accountant, etc – there’s usually a test or certificate at the end that tells people you’re a professional. That doesn’t exist with photography, you just have to have the confidence in your own abilities and skillsets to start telling people you’re a professional. I see so many talented people that definitely have the skillset, but lack the confidence to go all in and represent themselves. If I had one piece of advice for anyone starting out it would be that delusional confidence can get you extremely far! Work on your confidence just as much as you do your skills and marketing efforts and you’ll go far.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m Sarah and I’m the owner of Sarah Peterson Photography. I started my brand over 12 years ago in commercial swimwear & reality television while living in Los Angeles. My brand has evolved SO MUCH over the last decade! Since you guys last interviewed me I’ve actually fully transitioned to Wedding & Event Photography, and have grown my business from a one-man-show to a team of 8 photographers located all up and down the California coast! I hope people perceive my brand as fun and candid, while still maintaining that trustworthy professionalism you need in a wedding photographer. I’m very type A when it comes to my work so I love being able to streamline a clients’ experience who usually haven’t been through the wedding planning process – since planning a wedding can be daunting! I want my clients to feel like my team and I can be their trusted best friends on their wedding day. It’s not lost on me how special it is to be included on someone’s best day!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

This is a tough one! Off the top of my head, I think my background in sales and customer service gave me a massive leg up in this industry. I was in fashion management for years before going all in on photography. Managing those huge brands and a slew of employees taught me more than I can even begin to explain, but definitely gave me the confidence and skills I demonstrate in my approach to landing new clients and dealing with different communication styles which is so important. I know that’s kind of broad but pinning down those three qualities I’d say: Leadership – because without that I wouldn’t have the incredible team I do. Confidence – because how else are you going to get people to think you’re awesome and they need to book with you if you don’t believe it yourself. Thirdly, my knowledge of sales & business – thinking strategically about the wedding market and adjusting your business model to match it, learning how to price yourself successfully, the art of marketing yourself to the right audience to find your dream clients, etc. So many aspects of the job fall under learning about business and marketing best practices. The funny thing about all of these is that none of them have to do with actually taking photos. I think that’s what sets me apart from a lot of photographers. I don’t just view it as strictly art, it’s the behind the scenes stuff that excels my business!

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

Other photographers & wedding vendor friends! I encounter a lot of photographers who think this whole industry is a competition. The second you put your ego aside and realize you can learn something from anyone, your business will be a whole lot more successful. Being a photographer can be lonely. Many of us are one-man shows. We don’t work in group settings or get to brainstorm with other employees, so it’s incredibly refreshing to make friends in the industry and have a place to go to bounce ideas off someone else or even just to vent through how to handle a stressful situation. My vendor friends actually account for a lot of my clients booking with me! Everyone knows someone who’s about to get married, has a baby on the way, a recent engagement, anniversary, etc. By maintaining those relations, you are front of mind when someone needs a trustworthy photographer. My photographer friends are also the first people I refer when I’m previously booked for a date, need a second shooter for a big event, or a photographer for myself. Everyone wins when you work together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sarahloupeterson.com
• Instagram: @sarahpetersonphoto

Image Credits

@SarahPetersonPhoto