Meet Sarah Williams

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

Sarah, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

Confidence and self-esteem are things I think a lot of us struggle with. I don’t believe anyone is ever 100% “confident” 100% of the time, which means if you don’t feel confident right now, that’s totally normal! With that said, I was lucky enough to have a family who never let me forget I have value, and that with hard work I could do whatever I dreamed of doing. Growing up with that strong support system has helped to shape the way I look at obstacles – they are never “insurmountable”; with the right focus, practice, forethought, etc., anything can be overcome. Also, it’s important to not look at things as only “successes” and “failures”, because often what we perceive as failures are actually valuable learning experiences that will help us along the path to our next big success.

I also truly believe we have more individual self-esteem and confidence when we’re focused on helping others find their own. Nothing good comes from tearing someone else down, and one of the best ways to feel more confident about yourself is to help build up the confidence of other people. In the end I think I try to focus on what I can do to make the people around me feel as good as they possibly can, and that, in turn, allows me to feel good about who I am and what I have to offer.

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

As a Wedding Photographer, I’m tasked with capturing the most important, intimate, authentic and raw moments of people’s lives. When I’m photographing a wedding, I’m focused on making my clients feel comfortable, confident and as stress-free as possible while also capturing the entire vibe of the day, including the emotions and feelings of the guests, wedding party, etc. Sometimes the most important moments aren’t ones you can script, they just happen, which means I have to be looking for those genuine and authentic emotions so they don’t go undocumented.

In my studio, when I’m photographing a Boudoir Session, it’s all all about making my clients feel beautiful, confident and seen. My ultimate goal is to show every client who comes into my studio that they are far more amazing than they give themselves credit for. It’s also very intimate, because my clients are usually always nervous and unsure when they walk into my studio, but they walk out with the most incredible sense of empowerment and comfort in their own skin.

I’ve found these two focused photography niches work amazingly well together, because both require me to make my clients comfortable enough to express themselves authentically in front of the camera. Creating incredible images is important, but the experience that I offer everyone who steps in front of my camera is equally important. As always, I’m super excited for what the future holds and meeting new amazing Wedding clients and incredible women in my Boudoir Studio!

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?

1. The Desire to Tell a Story
Photography is an art form. Imagine a couple in a field with 10 photographers standing around them… You might expect every photograph to look the same, but in reality they’re all going to be absolutely different. The angles I choose, the foreground/background, the emotion I’m trying to highlight, etc. are the ways that I choose to tell the story of that couple, and there’s no one who is going to tell it exactly the way I do. I learned early on that it takes more than simply being “good with a camera” to be a really fantastic photographer; it takes a desire to tell a unique and beautiful story.

2. Empathy
While this is a super important quality to have in whatever career you choose, I think it’s especially important for a photographer. Nearly every person who steps in front of my camera has insecurities, stresses, or pre-conceived notions that will factor in to how they feel or emote in a photograph. Having empathy and a real desire to make sure my clients know they are safe and unjudged in front of my camera helps me foster an environment where beautiful and authentic photographs come to life. I’m just as concerned with how my clients feel during their time with me as they do about the photographs they receive, and that makes a big difference. I try to lead with a heart of service and that serves me well in my business.

3. Problem Solving Skills
Whether I’m photographing a wedding where I have to manage a very specific schedule and think on my feet or a Boudoir Session where I have to make sure the studio lighting is just right, it’s all about being able to focus and solve problems behind the scenes so my clients can focus on feeling amazing. If I show stress, my clients will feel that, so it’s important to be able to overcome any obstacles without being thrown off.

My best advice for anyone aspiring to be a photographer in general is to start with a heart of service – you are telling a story of your client’s lives and you have to really want to tell that story in the most beautiful way possible. Put yourself in the shoes of your clients – have empathy – and try to understand a bit about who they because that will help your images appear more authentic. And definitely understand that this is a stressful career, but you can’t show that stress to your clients.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

I was lucky enough to have incredible parents. They are truly two of the most important people in my life, and they have absolutely shaped who I am as a person. I think the thing that had the most impact was the work ethic they instilled in me. “When you choose to do a job, you put everything in to it and do it in the best way you can…” – this is something I learned from a very young age. When it comes to my career, I put 100% of myself into absolutely every wedding or studio session that I do, because anything less wouldn’t be my best. I owe this mindset to my parents and everything they taught me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mirrorsedgephotography.com/
• Instagram: @mirrorsedgeweddingphotography and @beachfrontboudoirphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573048384435 and https://www.facebook.com/mirrorsedgephotography