We recently had the chance to connect with Sheryl Sabol and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sheryl, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I’d say I’m doing a bit of both. I’m walking a path that continues to reveal itself as I go.
Each day brings quiet confirmations that I’m moving in the right direction, even if I don’t always see the full picture yet.
I’m learning and discovering along the way, and I’ve come to trust that the wandering is part of how my path unfolds.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Sheryl Sabol Photography
“Finding beauty in stillness, and inspiration in the everyday.”
Interview with photographer and artist, Sheryl Sabol
“I don’t set out to stage perfection — I aim to capture presence.”
I’m Sheryl Sabol, the photographer and storyteller behind Sheryl Sabol Photography — a creative space where I explore the quiet beauty woven into everyday life. My work often begins with a feeling rather than a subject — a flicker of light, a pause in time, or the subtle sense that something ordinary is whispering a story worth hearing. I aim to capture these moments exactly as they are, letting the natural light, color, and textures speak for themselves.
Over time, this approach has shaped more than just my photography, it’s become my way of seeing. I believe inspiration doesn’t always arrive in grand moments; sometimes it’s tucked inside the smallest details we almost overlook.
That belief inspired my latest project, “Inspired Impression.” This collection features some of my favorite photos from my Fun With Water series, each framed in clear acrylic and paired with an original message of inspiration on the back, inspired by the photo itself. It’s a fusion of image and emotion. A way to bring the calm, wonder, and beauty of these moments into people’s everyday lives, exactly as they appeared when I captured them.
What makes my work unique is its quiet honesty. I don’t chase perfection or trend — I follow the feeling. Whether it’s through texture, shadow, or stillness, I want my images to invite reflection and connection, encouraging people to slow down and rediscover the beauty already surrounding them.
Right now, I’m continuing to explore how emotion, story, and artistry intertwine, and how a single photograph can carry not just an image, but a moment of meaning. My hope is that every piece I create leaves people feeling a little more grounded, inspired, and seen.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
There was a time when I lived as the people-pleaser, the one who followed everyone else’s rules, who stayed quiet when I wanted to speak, and who dimmed her light to make others more comfortable. I was proud, guarded, and careful not to step outside the lines. Those parts of me helped me fit into the world, but always on someone else’s terms.
Looking back, I can see how they served me. They taught me how to listen, how to understand people, and how to find my place even if it wasn’t quite mine yet. But fitting in and truly belonging are two very different things.
In time, I realized I didn’t need to carry those old versions of myself anymore. Letting them go felt like a quiet kind of freedom, not loud or dramatic, but deeply peaceful. Releasing who I thought I had to be allowed me to rediscover who I’ve always been.
Now I live by my own terms with curiosity, creativity, and joy as my compass. I no longer chase approval or try to meet expectations that don’t align with my heart. My art reflects that same freedom. My photos are unedited, natural, and real, capturing each moment as it truly is.
This is what living on my own terms looks like: being present, open, and at peace with what is real. Not trying to be perfect, just being true. And in that truth, I have found not just joy but myself.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Be more loving to yourself and less judgmental. Do not let the fear of what others think or the possibility of rejection hold you back. You do not need to try to be cool or fit in. Spend your time with people who are kind, genuine, and see your heart for what it truly is. The right people will always value you for being exactly who you are.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
I’ve been shaped by many writers and thinkers whose ideas have guided the way I live and create. Even as a child, simple stories like Harry the Dirty Dog spoke to me. They planted early seeds about curiosity, exploration, and the courage to be yourself, no matter where life takes you. Stories like The Prince and the Pauper also stayed with me, teaching me that society often tries to put people into roles, but we are capable of moving between identities and embracing the many facets of who we are.
As I grew older, books like Leo Buscaglia’s Living, Loving, and Learning sparked something deeper in me. His words didn’t change me overnight, but gradually they encouraged me to open my heart, embrace connection, and approach life with courage and curiosity. The book continues to resonate with me even more today.
Louise Hay has been another profound influence. Her teachings on self-love and personal empowerment are powerful, but what moves me most is her courage and compassion. She devoted herself to helping people with AIDS in the eighties, at a time when fear and stigma kept most others away. Her life is a testament to living with generosity and integrity.
Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist inspires me to trust the journey, follow my heart, and look for meaning in every experience. Similarly, W. Somerset Maugham’s The Razor’s Edge showed me the value of walking a narrow, intentional path between materialism and spiritual fulfillment. Larry’s search for truth and self-discovery reminded me that life is not about following others’ expectations, but about discovering who you truly are and having the courage to live by that truth.
Taken together, these influences have shaped how I approach life, creativity, and relationships. They encourage me to be authentic, to seek growth, to love deeply, and to remain open to all the possibilities that life has to offer. They remind me that the simplest stories, the most personal journeys, and the courage to follow your heart are all part of the same lesson: be fully yourself and embrace the journey.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I laid down my name, my roles, and my possessions, what would remain is a self that is free—curious, open, and ready to step into the unknown. A self that moves without the weight of the past, eager to see where the path leads, who I will become, and what lessons the journey will offer. The future unfolds quietly, revealing itself in hints and signs, inspiring each next step.
What remains is not defined by titles or belongings, but by the qualities I carry within: love, peace, joy, curiosity, openness, trust, and faith. These are my compass, guiding me as I let life reveal its story. And in that surrender, in that willingness to simply be, I discover the hidden answer: I am the journey itself, ever-evolving, ever-becoming.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sherylsabol.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherylsabol/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheryl-sabol-9b6b27a5/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherylsabol
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheryl.sabol
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sherylsabolphotography
- Other: https://linktr.ee/sherylsabolPhotobooks:
Fun With Water & Such – https://a.co/d/9ub2027
My Charleston – My Way – https://a.co/d/76AgTCv
Image Credits
Sheryl Sabol
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
