Daily Inspiration: Meet Sarah Jean Huffman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Jean Huffman. 

Hi Sarah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I picked up my first film camera in my first Photography class in High School. I took the class to be in an elective with some friends my junior year. I was always into art and being creative but struggled with coming up with new ideas when painting or doodling. Once I started taking photos, I knew I found my avenue to be creative. A photographer’s journey is a fun and challenging one. When you start out, you take photos of your friends, nature, pretty much anything and everything. Photography is all around us all the time and there are infinite possibilities for a photographer. So, as I was exploring this new hobby and passion of mine, I started to learn what I was good at and what didn’t interest me, subject-wise. I started to focus more on people as subjects (family photos, portraits) and photographing events (weddings, birthday parties, etc). What I realized about 9 years ago was that I didn’t enjoy forcing average people (not models) to pose. I discovered that photographers were implementing Documentary Photography style to family photos which fascinated me. Instantly I was hooked! You could tell from my portfolio that candid photos of people laughing and expressing love was what I really enjoyed. That brings us to where I am today, a full-time documentary-style photographer serving families, individuals, and local businesses. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When you decide to become a photographer, you do it for the artistic expression. I was not a business-minded person when I started my business. So, I have certainly had challenges of navigating how to run a successful business because my focus for so long was just creating the art and making my clients happy to work with me. Luckily, we live in an age of endless resources for education and there are photographers out there sharing their knowledge. I have benefitted greatly from others and will always strive to be a resource and assist my fellow photographer when needed. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love to tell stories with my work. As a documentary-style photographer, it is my job to find the story of my client and capture it in the most authentic and beautiful way with interesting compositions and unpredictable perspectives. You have one perspective of your family’s dynamic and relationships to one another. When I come to a session, I bring a fresh set of eyes coupled with my ability to see light and shadows like a camera does and anticipate moments worthy of freezing in time. As someone who is part of the LGBTQ+ community, I am most proud of my documentary work within found families. Sometimes our biological families are not there for us, but friends who we call family are, and capturing memories between close friends is just as special to me as between a mother and son. 

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My spouse is my biggest supporter, cheerleader, and advocate. They hype me up all the time to people we meet and friends because they want to see me succeed and I am so very lucky to have a partnership like that. I have also had clients who are big cheerleaders and advocates for me and my work that I appreciate greatly. my mentor is a photographer named Ash Raddatz in Germany and she has been a wonderful source of knowledge and encouragement. I wouldn’t be the photographer I am today without my supportive community around me. 

Pricing:

• Year in the Life Subscription – $250/month
• Half Day in the Life session – $1000 (4 hours)
• Slice of Life session – $500 (2 hours)
• Full Day in the Life session – $2000 (8 hours)
• Ultimate Day in the Life – $5000 (Wake up to Bedtime)

Contact Info:

• Website: http://letspicturesomething.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/picturesomething/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/picturesomethingproductions
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcHXV77OZvtntOc0IGrHl4A
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/picture-something-productions-irvine
• Other: https://vimeo.com/picturesomething