Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophie Hunter.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Sophie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As a little girl, I have always loved photography. I would always look at my Dad’s photo albums and loved that he took the opportunity to capture moments as often as possible. It’s always special to look back at those moments and reminiscence on them. To this day I still like to go to his house to flip through each page and ask questions about the people, locations and the moments themselves.
Growing up I went through rolls and rolls of 35mm film taking photos of friends. I have a giant box full of prints that I’ve captured and every time I look through them it’s like an instant flashback! It wasn’t until my nephew and a friend’s daughter were born that I decided to get my first DSLR camera to capture their world debut. From that point on, I started photography sessions for family and friends for funsies. My husband and close friends encouraged me to turn my love for photography into a business. I’ll admit I resisted the idea for quite a while. I never thought I would be a business owner but God had a different plan for me. God gave me a dual vision to combine my love for photography and my love for helping underprivileged teens. Before I started my business, I was a volunteer at the Dallas Juvenile Detention Center for over ten years. I encountered so many young teens that had potential but no one ever spoke life into them.
It was evident that they needed words of encouragement and lots of guidance to get back on track. A lot of them also came from low-income homes who couldn’t afford professional photography. I decided that my business would allow me the opportunity to provide high school senior sessions pro bono. My goal then and now is to celebrate their educational achievements regardless of their past, their upbringing, or environment. I want each teen to feel empowered, encouraged and inspired during their session and afterward when they received their images. I was honored to partner up with a school earlier this year to do a senior session giveaway for two of their students. Makeup Artist, Jacky Fae with Beat by Fae also donated her time and talent to make the session even more special. My long-term vision is to continue to provide Senior Session giveaways to deserving teens and collaborate with other creatives to make this bigger then I could ever imagine!
Has it been a smooth road?
I have definitely had my share of ups and downs since starting my business. Going into this venture, I never thought of myself as being a business owner. In the beginning, there was a lot of second guessing myself. I was terrified of making the wrong financial decision or making any wrong decisions for that matter. On top of that, there are so many talented photographers in Dallas and I started comparing myself to them. Which is insane because how could I expect myself to be on their level from day one. There is a saying, “Comparison is the thief of joy” and it was trying to rob me of my passion.
A person’s mindset is so important on the journey to success. I had to stop focusing on fear and start focusing on elevating my craft. I also realized I could admire the work of others without comparing myself to them. I’m in a constant state of learning something new, not only in photography but also as a business owner. There is always something you can learn and it’s important for me to invest in my education in both areas. Failures along the way are inevitable, but it’s also a way of learning from your mistakes and becoming successful. I made some not so great business decisions in the beginning that turned into financial lessons for me. Some of those lessons were hard to take, but I’m grateful because they challenged me for the better and it also fueled my determination.
It also doesn’t help that I can be a shy extrovert. I’m very outgoing and love to have a great time but when you throw me in a room full of people I can become incredibly shy! It’s very weird because once you get to know me, you would never think such a thing. This year alone, I have been stepping outside of my comfort zone more often so that I feel comfortable in crowds. In doing so, I have met so many amazing people along the way. Some have become clients, others become people I get to collaborate with and some have even become new friends. I’m very grateful for the new connections I have made and look forward to making many more.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Sophie K. Hunter Photography story. Tell us more about the business.
Sophie K. Hunter Photography specializes in Portrait Photography for High School Seniors, Couples, Maternity, Family and Brand Photography. My creative process starts well before I have a client in front of the camera. A client’s session is more than just a photography session. It’s the style, location, emotion, wardrobe, and so much more. It’s important for me to work with each client on their vision to create a session that best represents who they are. Everyone is unique and deserves to have a customized photography session. Working through the creative process is like fuel to the fire in my veins. It prepares me, excites me, and motivates me for the day of the session and continues on when I’m editing my images. Photography is more than freezing time for me. I want to capture their emotion of joy, love, and success. I truly enjoy capturing and being part of my client’s life moments. It’s an honor when clients fall in love with the final images.
What role has luck (good luck or bad luck) played in your life and business?
I don’t really believe in luck as much as I believe in blessings, preparation and staying positive! God has truly blessed me in my business. From giving me the vision, divine connections, financial provision and guidance along the way. I have had to step out on faith several times in my journey and I’m sure there will be many more leaps I will have to make. Being prepared plays a big role as I don’t believe one should wing it in business. There were and still are many late nights of researching and putting in work. I put the same effort into my creative process and delivery with my sessions. Preparation helps me walk into a situation with my head held high and determination to be successful. Now there are times when preparation does not help with the unexpected moments. That’s when keeping a positive attitude plays an important role! I believe in putting positive vibes and energy into what I do. The minute you let negativity seep in, things can start to go bad. Nothing in life is perfect and sometimes things just don’t go as planned. I give myself a moment to kick the dirt and vent it all out and then I get back to work. I’m blessed to have an amazing supportive husband and friends who have cheered me on and motivate me. Anytime something goes wrong or doesn’t turn out as expected; they help me get back on track!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sophiekhunter.com
- Phone: 469-340-1757
- Email: info@sophiekhunter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiekhunterphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophiekhunter/
Image Credit:
Photo Cred for Personal Photo: M. Clint James Photography, All other images by Sophie K. Hunter Photography
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