Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheryl Anne Acuna.
Hi Sheryl Anne, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Although I picked up my first professional camera in 2018, my love for photography goes all the way back to my childhood. Capturing moments has always been a big part of my life, thanks to my parents, who always had a camera ready to capture memories of me and my sisters. They taught me that every moment is fleeting, precious, and worth capturing.
As I grew up, my passion for photography only deepened. I began documenting my travels, personal life, and adventures, learning how to use my camera and edit my photos along the way. I shared these images on my personal Instagram account, and it wasn’t long before a friend, who loved my work, asked me to photograph her elopement. I was honored and immediately said “yes!” From there, more friends requested photos, and that’s when I decided to turn my passion into a business.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Growing my own business has not been easy, but it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I’ve faced many struggles, but two challenges stand out the most.
The first was finding a balance between the hustle of building my business and my full-time job as a Naval Officer in the U.S. Navy. My days were long and started early—I’d wake up at 4:30am, commute an hour to work, work out, handle my Navy responsibilities until the afternoon, and then head to a sunset photoshoot. After that, I’d spend my evenings editing photos or working on my business, often until late at night. Weekends were no different; they were packed with more photoshoots and business tasks. It felt like I was always hustling, constantly sprinting, with little time to rest or spend with my family. That being said, I’m beginning to exit the hustle phase and learning to set boundaries between my business, personal life, and Navy life. I’ll also be separating from the Navy soon to go full-time with my business, which will be incredibly helpful in finding that balance.
The second challenge was dealing with an ectopic pregnancy that ruptured while I was two hours away from any medical support in New Zealand earlier this year. Facing the grief of suddenly losing our baby and coping with the trauma of a near-death experience wasn’t something I had planned for in my business. Unfortunately, I didn’t have an emergency backup plan to keep my business running while I was healing, both mentally and physically. I learned the hard way that I never should have relied on one source for photography inquiries. Before my emergency, I posted on Instagram daily and got most of my inquiries from there. But once I stopped, the inquiries went silent—a huge reality check for me. Since then, I’ve diversified my approach to gaining inquiries and put backup plans in place, and my business has been thriving. Most importantly, I’ve made significant progress in healing both mentally and physically since that traumatic experience. My husband and I are also thrilled and incredibly grateful to be welcoming our rainbow baby this December.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a photographer based in San Diego, California, specializing in destination elopements and intimate weddings. I’m incredibly proud of the adventure elopement experiences I’ve had the honor of being a part of and capturing. What sets me apart is my commitment to empowering couples to dream big and create an elopement experience that truly reflects who they are and their relationship, rather than feeling pressured to conform to traditional wedding expectations that can often lead to stress and anxiety. I provide personalized planning, timeline creation and management, permit assistance, and location scouting to ensure every detail is taken care of. I also incorporate creative imagery, including GIFs, drone shots, and lantern photos, to capture the magic of each moment. My goal is to help my couples have the most incredible elopement experience in whatever epic destination they choose!
What’s next?
I’m excited about two big changes coming up this year. First, I’ll be separating from the Navy soon, which means I’ll finally be able to focus fully on my business. And on a more personal note, as mentioned earlier, I’m thrilled and super grateful to be expecting a baby girl in December. I’m really looking forward to both of these exciting milestones and new chapters in my life!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sherylannephoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherylannephoto/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sherylannephoto
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sherylannephoto
Image Credits
Sheryl Anne Photography
