Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Ward.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My love for photography began in high school. I was a dancer and cheerleader for the majority of it but I was always on the sidelines trying to snap pictures of my friends and football players before and after our games. In my senior year, I wasn’t able to try out for cheerleading so I ended up joining the yearbook. I was one of the photographers and found myself back on the sidelines documenting Friday night lights and other events for our school.
Flash forward to college where I found myself unhappy with the major I had chosen but loved the city I was in. I visited a neighboring junior college that offered Photography and Graphic Design as a degree. I loved what I saw, and enrolled and completed my studies in Tyler, Texas. While in school I worked various photography gigs. I started out taking pictures of my friends and family for free and then picked up small, low-budget weddings.
I wasn’t charging much but it allowed me to get my feet wet and experience the different aspects of photography. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure I would be able to make a living doing it. But I kept chugging along and applying for photography-related jobs. I initially got a job as an event photographer for a local magazine. I also worked as a preschool photography assistant where I lifted kids onto the sets and wiped their noses all day.
Not my fanciest gig but I learned a lot. But then I started working for a newborn photography company that took hospital photos of the baby and families soon after delivery… now known as Fresh 48 sessions. I didn’t have much creative freedom but I had finally found what I thought would be my niche.
After a few months, I decided to branch out on my own and offer newborn sessions. I had collected some props, lighting, and backgrounds but didn’t have a studio so every time I had a session I would load my car up with all my props and gear, drive to the client’s house, unload it by myself, set it up, shoot, tear down and load back into my car, drive home and unload it all back at my house.
I did this for a couple of years. It was so much work but it got the job done. When I met and eventually married my husband of now 10 years, we rented a cute little house that had an extra room towards the front. I turned it into my first official studio room. Since then I have had 2 house studios and 5 studios that were solely dedicated to my photography.
I’ve continued to grow my business and props and as I’ve grown out of each one I’ve managed to find something that fit my needs for that particular season of life. I’ve been at the studio I am at now for a little over 2 years and I love it. It’s an open floor plan with 1700sf and one side is the original exposed brick wall. It has tall ceilings and is on the square of the cute, small town of Kaufman, Texas.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would say there have been some bumps along the way. There is a huge learning curve when it comes to running your own business. I’ve invested countless hours and money over the years trying to get to where I am today and I’ve learned some hard lessons. I’d say the biggest struggle I have faced has been juggling my family time and work time.
Photography is different as in it’s not a 9-5, leave it all at work career. I get phone calls, texts, and emails at all hours of the day regarding new bookings or questions about sessions. As the years have gone on I have tried to establish some boundaries with my clients so my family doesn’t feel neglected. I have 4 kids so it’s been a struggle at times to find that balance.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a photographer in the Kaufman County area but I shoot all around DFW. I photograph pretty much everything from bumps and babies to families and weddings but I’d say my specialty is newborns and first birthdays. I try to go over and beyond for every client.
I provide extras like custom cakes and outfits to take that stress off of the parents. I also rent out my studio to other photographers that need a creative space to make their magic happen as well. My photography name is Sarah’s View Photography and my studio is Mulberry Street Studio.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People can support me by booking a photo session with me! If you’re looking for someone to capture whatever season of life you’re in currently, I’m your girl.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sarahsviewphotography.mypixieset.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahsview/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063649143346
