We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarai Mena. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarai below.
Sarai, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience is an important quality for any professional, especially as a wedding and portrait photographer. It enables me to adapt to challenges, bounce back from setbacks, and thrive in a competitive and often unpredictable industry. I have a genuine love for photography and capturing special moments. I’m passionate about my work, and I often stay committed and motivated, even when facing difficulties and challenges.
The photography industry is constantly evolving and being open to learning and adapting to these changes is crucial for long-term success. Even when photographing weddings it can be unpredictable, and things don’t always go as planned. So, being able to adapt to changing circumstances, whether it’s sudden weather changes or unexpected delays, it’s a reason why I have become so resilient. Adaptability is key.
I have been able to build a strong professional network within the wedding industry can provide me with support, advice, and potential referrals, which I continue to build. These connections can be invaluable during challenging times. I create connections with my couples, families and other client’s to build a closer relationship.
Also taking care of my physical and mental well-being is crucial. Burnout is real in the photography industry, so I have to make sure to set boundaries, take breaks, and prioritize my self-care.
It’s important for me to cultivate a resilient mindset by always trying to stay focus on the positives, learning from setbacks, and staying determined during challenges. The setbacks that I have had, have given me the opportunity for more growth.
I continue to build my resilience with my traits and qualities and in my field, although challenging, it is very rewarding.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I started my photography journey with a regular camera and with the help of two friends who asked me to take their engagement photos. From there, I built a love for photography. I began to learn the technical aspects of the craft and honing my own artistic vision. I joined Facebook groups and learning from others in the field. Over the years, I have been able to build myself as a wedding and portrait photographer that captures beautiful moments but also create lasting memories for my clients.
Being a wedding and portrait photographer is more than just a profession; it is my passion and my purpose. Knowing that I would be capturing countless more love stories and creating cherished memories for my clients filled my heart with enthusiasm and anticipation for the future.
Never would I have thought I would be where I am today, but here I am. There is no greater joy than being the storyteller behind the lens, creating images that would be cherished forever.
I continue to focus on building my business and being the best I can be for myself, my family and my clients.
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?
Three qualities/skills that were most impactful for me were communication, technical and having business skills. Let me elaborate more.
Building strong relationships with your clients, understanding their needs, and effectively communicating your creative vision are crucial in the photography world. The ability to connect with people, make them feel comfortable in front of the camera, and capture authentic emotions and expressions is important for success. If you can’t build a good relationship with your client’s, then they won’t feel comfortable around you. Good communication also extends to collaborating not just with couples and families, but also with wedding planners, venues, and other vendors in the wedding industry.
With technical, it is important that you learn what you’re doing as photographer. Mastering your camera, exposure, lighting, and editing is key to the business. You need to have the ability to consistently deliver high-quality photos as that will lay the foundation for your photography career. Doing this allowed me to adapt to different shooting conditions and consistently produce stunning images for my clients.
To have a business skill is also as important. You’re not only a creative, you’re also a business owner. This means that you have to learn to build contracts, pricing, marketing and most important build a clientele. You have to be able to establish a strong brand, attract clients, and manage your finances effectively to be successful.
With all of these skills, you are able to create a sustainable photography business. There will always be in improvements throughout the journey, but it will allow you to thrive.
My advice for those starting or are in their early journey to becoming a photographer, whether a wedding, family, newborn photographer, is to master the basics and practice regularly – go out with your camera, ask a friend, or the family to take their photos, learn from others, meaning don’t be afraid to reach out to other photographers. You can join Facebook groups and ask questions, there are so many photographers willing to help. Another very important advice is to take feedback. Be resilient when taking feedback and be open-minded. Network and collaborate with others as it can lead to creative opportunities and help expand your network. Stay inspired, but always be patient and have perseverance, as it is important to understand that improvement takes time. Be patient with yourself and embrace the journey. Challenges and setbacks are part of growth in any creative field. Finally, set a goal for yourself, whether it’s booking your first paid photoshoot or mastering a new technique, setting goals gives you direction and motivation.
Always remember that the journey of us as photographers is continuous, and there’s always room for growth and improvement. Embrace the process, stay curious, and enjoy the rewarding experience of capturing moments and telling stories through your lens.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My mother has been my rock, my support and my motivator. She has given me unconditional love and support. She taught me of self-discipline, responsibility, and respect for others. She has encouraged me to follow my heart and be the creative person I can be. That if I have an idea, to go for it, because the worst that could happen is that it won’t work or I may not like it, but at least I can’t say that I didn’t try. She has helped me cope with adversity and build the resilience I have today. My mother taught me to have empathy and compassion and that’s what has helped me build the relationships with friends and my clients. I have grown into a confident, compassionate, and capable person and I always try to contribute positively as best as I can. I want to instill what my mother taught me and pass it on to my own children.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.xoxosaraiphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xoxosaraiphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xoxosaraiphotography/
Image Credits
Venue: Venue 1902 Venue: Sterling Event Venue Venue: The Capen House
Main Photo: The Branded Boss Lady
