We were lucky to catch up with Christin Sofka recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Christin with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I think my work ethic definitely comes from my mother. She raised my sister and I with the mindset that nothing in life is free. So, from a young age, we did chores around the house to earn money and the freedom to do things we wanted to do. As I got older, I did work for neighbors and family friends until I was able to get a “real” job at the age of 16. My mom was extremely supportive and made sure I understood how important it was to do my job well.
My mom also lead by example. She has always worked very hard and was an entrepreneur herself for most of my childhood. There were times that I definitely wished she just had a normal job like most of my friend’s moms, but looking back I have a lot of respect for her and the decisions she made. As a kid, I said I didn’t want to own my own business like my mom, but somehow I ended up a business owner anyway, and I am really thankful for the work ethic that my mother instilled in me from a young age through her parenting and her own lifestyle.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Photography has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember and it has become a defining part of who I am. With a B.S. in photography from the University of Central Florida and a compassionate spirit, I approach each job with authenticity and intention.
I primarily photograph weddings which is such a fun combination of all types of photography. When I was in college, I did not have the desire to photograph weddings, but I did a few here and there and eventually the magic of the industry really drew me in. I genuinely enjoy being able to create art for people with their love at its core. The emotion and beauty that happens on wedding days is unmatched, and I am incredibly grateful to have a job that brings so much value to others.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Majoring in photography was huge for me. The time I spent learning about the craft and growing as an artist is something I will never regret and I sometimes wish I could go back to those days. I don’t think every photographer needs to go to college for photography, but I think education is so important. I still do educational courses from time to time because I believe it is so important to continue to grow and not let yourself become stagnant.
I waited a long time to dive head on into being a full time business owner. I allowed my fears, insecurities, and general life things to hold me back and now that I’ve done it, I really wish I had done it so much earlier. My advice would be to just do it. Life is so short and we shouldn’t waste time waiting for the “right” or “perfect” time to do something. Because that perfect moment almost never comes.
Finding a good, core group of friends and fellow business owners has really helped me in my journey as a business owner. Solo entrepreneurship can get really lonely at times and it is easy to get wrapped up in self doubt, so having “friendors” I can lean on and talk through things with has been so helpful.
My journey is far from over and I don’t think of myself as an expert, I just hope my story can encourage others to pursue their passions and keep their head up as they do it. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it!
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
My biggest area of growth in the last 12 months has definitely been a better work/life balance. I have been really intentional about trying to separate my personal life from my business and creating healthy boundaries. I think a lot of photographers (and business owners in general) experience burnout and trust me, it is not a good place to be especially when your business started from a passion or hobby.
I came to the realization that I can’t serve my clients well if I am overworked and unable to have a personal life. I’ve always had the mindset that I want to work to live, not live to work, so taking a step back and reminding myself of these things has really helped. I’m not perfect and I still have a lot of growth to do in this area, but I know that I have to create a better balance for myself and my clients!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://christinsofka.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinsofkaphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinsofkaphotography
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/ChristinSofkaPhotography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
