Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophie Hunter.
Sophie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up I was constantly taking photos for fun but it wasn’t until the encouragement I received from my husband and friends that I decided to take a leap of faith and start my photography business. I started my love of photography at a young age because I loved capturing moments. Over time I learned how to visually create stories and bring out people’s personalities into the images.
Originally when I launched my business, I wanted to photograph everyone and everything that I could get in front of my lens. I just wanted to create! When the pandemic happen, I decided to narrow down my niche and focus mainly on Personal Branding Photography. I love working with entrepreneurs to create visuals for their brand by capturing their passion and personality. When clients hire me, they get a visual creator, styling assistant, location hunter, and their very own personal hype woman!
I also started my business with the foundation of pursuing my passion project to provide free senior sessions to teens whose families couldn’t afford photography. Photography is a luxury but I still wanted to help capture their educational achievements. I’m currently in the process of trying to figure out how I can expand my passion project idea to reach more teens.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being a small business owner is a constant challenge because things are always changing! I gave birth to my son in 2019 and took some time off to focus and bond with him. After 3 months I was ready to get back to shooting and just as I was gaining some momentum, the pandemic hit and shut the whole world down… It was a big setback but it ended up being a blessing in disguise. I was able to take the time to think about the direction I wanted to go in and invested my time by taking more classes and rebranding my business. I launched a new website at the beginning of 2021 with an emphasis on Personal Branding.
Learning how to be a mompreneur has been a whole other challenge because toddlers don’t care that you’re trying to run a business. Haha! I have to be mindful not to stretch myself too thin so that I can continue to enjoy doing everything I love. Creating balance is important to me so that I don’t shut down from being overworked.
Social media marketing has also changed and has forced me to get out of my comfort zone of hiding behind the camera. I encourage my clients all the time to show up for their businesses and I can’t ignore that advice for myself! I’m constantly learning new ways to showcase my brand and personality so that I can connect with my ideal clients.
All of the challenges and sacrifices have been worth it and without them, I wouldn’t be able to elevate as an individual or as a business. It’s inevitable that change will happen and as a small business owner, you have to learn how to adapt and grow.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in Personal Branding & Portrait Photography and my editing style is what I consider to be natural and true to life. My goals are to connect with my clients, create with intention, but most importantly to have fun with them during the entire process! Taking the time to get to know who my clients are helps me create a session that is tailored specifically for them. Working with me is so much more than just receiving the final images. From the moment clients book me, I’m already envisioning the details of their session. I want to make sure the images will reflect their personality, style, and vision. I work with each of my clients to put in all the creative planning ahead of time so that on the day of their session it’ll feel like two friends getting together and one of them just happens to have a camera. I’m all about creating a good experience for them from beginning to end!
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is being able to use photography to help others feel empowered, encouraged, and celebrated. I love connecting with my clients and learning about their passions and achievements. Not only does it help me create a visual story for them to share with others, it also inspires me to keep creating! I’m a natural encourager and I honestly find joy in celebrating and hyping up others no matter how long I’ve known them. I want to see everyone win and look amazing while doing so!
Contact Info:
- Email: info@sophiekhunter.com
- Website: sophiekhunter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiekhunterphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophiekhunterphotography
Image Credits
Vanessa C. Photography
Sophie K. Hunter Photography
