Meet Claire Smith

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

Claire, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

I believe my optimism comes from my childhood. I grew up in a home where optimism was common place and it just became part of my DNA. Life’s thrown some challenges my way – becoming a parent completely turned my world upside down in the best possible way. Fast forward 10yrs and we uprooted our life in the UK and moved to Austin, Texas, where I had to figure out how to set up Little Acorns Photography from scratch in a brand new country. But here’s the thing – I’ve never seen these moments as obstacles. They’re adventures! Even when I’m knee deep in the chaos of it all, there’s this little voice that says “okay. what’s the opportunity here?’ When things get wobbly (and trust me they do), I have an incredible driving force in my husband Matt. He’s always there in my corner, and when I start doubting myself, he’s the one pushing me forward, reminding me that this is just another adventure we’re figuring out together. That’s what keeps me moving, growing and genuinely excited about whatever comes next!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I feel so privileged to call my passion, work. I have loved Photography since I was very young and was lucky enough to study it at college before working for a wedding photographer in the UK. I took a career break to raise my 2 children and in 2018 I set up my business, Little Acorns Photography. My passion came from capturing children and families magic moments that naturally occur. The chaos and the sticky fingers, I was there for it all. My business has developed and grown over the years. Capturing weddings, events, families, newborns and even a birth! I love my job and love creating timeless images for people that will be loved and enjoyed for years to come. It feels such a privilege to be trusted year after year with all their special events and watching their families grow. I am super excited for 2026 as I am expanding my business to include branding. Helping businesses showcase their work to their ideal clients with beautiful imagery that tells their story.

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?

Honestly my biggest piece of advice is to back yourself! Know your worth and believe you can do it. The three qualities that have been most impactful of me are:

Adaptability – Life rarely goes to plan, especially when you’re building something from scratch. Being able to pivot, adjust and find creative solutions when things don’t work out has been absolutely crucial. Whether it’s a shoot that goes sideways or a business strategy that needs reworking, the ability to roll with it and figure it out has saved me countless times.

Authentic Connection – This is everything in my business, people don’t hire you just because you can work a camera – they hire you because they trust you and fell comfortable with you. It’s not about being the most polished or perfect, it’s about being real.

Resilience – You are going to face rejection, self doubt and moments if you wonder if you are doing the right thing. The ability to pick yourself up, learn from what didn’t work and keep moving forward separates those make it from those who don’t. My top advice with everything in life is trust your self and follow that gut instinct!

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

I would travel the world! Travel is my number one love. Exploring new cultures and countries with the ones I love keeps the adventure, curiosity and spark alive

Contact Info:

• Website: https://littleacornsphoto.com
• Instagram: @littleacornsphotos
• Facebook: Little Acorns Photography

Image Credits

Claire Smith – Little Acorns Photography