We were lucky to catch up with Sarah Gautiere recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sarah, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
For photography, I keep my creativity alive by setting up model calls where I am able to bring a creative idea to life. This is a chance to practice different lighting conditions, weather conditions, or even a different style of shooting and editing. Getting the opportunity to try out new gear or props. Shooting something outside your usually niche can be exciting and a new challenge as well. Whenever I feel like I’ve lost a bit of that spark, I plan a model call like this to get my creativity flowing again. Another way I keep this alive is by working with other creative artists and attending styled shoots or workshops.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a military spouse with a passion for photographing families at various stages of their lives. Moving every couple of years has taught me to really enjoy each move as a new chapter and with that wanting to document that journey. Whether it’s a military family or a local family the goal is the same, to document a stage in their lives in a way that locks those moments in time forever. I know when I look back on a photo it sparks a feeling of that time & that’s something I want to give to my clients. Whether they just got engaged or had their first baby, I want them to feel that spark from looking back at those photos.
The most exciting part about being a lifestyle photographer is getting to meet so many new people and learn about what stage of life they are in. Whether it’s their yearly family photos or maternity, it’s a stage of their lives that they want to remember and to be able to look back on and see how little their children were or how they felt weeks before having their child.
It’s important to me to deliver an excellent experience from beginning to end. I want my clients to feel appreciated and heard on what really matters to them. I want them to feel as though I have communicated thoroughly, took the stress out of figuring out what to wear and for them to leave their session excited and looking forward to seeing their final images.
I have a passion for photography and meeting new people that I hope to continue to grow and develop in this journey.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think the most important quality is having a passion for what you do. When you really love what you do, it shows up in your work. It shows up in the experience you provide. I also believe having strong communication skills is important so that you and your clients or even vendors you may work with are on the same page. It’s important to have clear communication to manage expectations, clarify what to expect and ensure the experience is smooth. Lastly, I think it’s important to want to continue to grow and challenge yourself. Taking courses, attending workshops, collaborating with others is so important in order to continue to improve and learn in this industry and is something I would advise others to do early in their career.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I am feeling overwhelmed, I take a step back and take a break. If it’s busy season and I’m shooting sessions every weekend and editing every free chance I get… this can definitely become overwhelming. So, I plan breaks like nightly walks with my family or trips to the park. And when it becomes really overwhelming, I take a full day with my family to decompress and focus on making memories with my family. I think it’s important to find work life balance for sure. Some advice I would give to others is to find that balance. Find what works for them when their business has them overwhelmed and starting to feel that burn out. In order to continue to show up and love what you do it’s so important to have this balance to show up in each avenue of life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sarahgautierephotography.mypixieset.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarahgautierephotography
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/sarahgautierephotography
- Other: Threads: threads.net/@sarahgautierephotography
Image Credits
Headshot Taken by Amelia Ruth Photography (Edited by me)
Portfolio of Work by Sarah Gautiere Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
