Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Cooper.
Hi Sara, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I launched onelove in 2002 as a college student at San Francisco State, where I was completing my degree in Photojournalism.
I was a girl in love with Monet and – sports. I worked as a freelancer for Getty Images for 7 years while I shot alongside the legendary rock and roll and sports photographer, Michael Zagaris (of Led Zeppelin, The Clash, The Who, Bob Dylan, and the list goes on…) He is a master of natural light, and taught me the same. We shot the Oakland A’s and San Francisco 49ers together while I managed his photo archive.
Weddings took over, and I eventually left the sporting world – but my training as a photojournalist, and as a trained expert in natural light, has me crazy about what I refer to as “fleeting moments.” It started as the touchdown, or the double-play. It happens in an instant — and will pass you by if you aren’t anticipating it. We were trained to be experts in anticipation. Now I see the tears falling down a mother’s face as she sees her son dressed and ready for his bride – or the way a bride reaches out for her groom’s hand underneath their sweetheart table during reception speeches. Fleeting moments. There is no way to pose them — they fly by — unless you are waiting for them.
Soon after launching the company in 2002, I began to round up fellow photographic artists, trained in the photojournalism world, and we banded together to shoot under a very specific aesthetic inspired by our love of Impressionism. We are a family of Neo-Impressionists. We are trained for candid, natural photography – following those fleeting moments. We use Monet’s lighting and painting techniques as our model for use of light, atmosphere and abstraction in our photography. A decade has now passed, and our cameras are continuing to create Impressionistic interpretations every day.
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?
Not at all — but I wouldn’t trade the journey for anything. When I first started out, it was just me, a camera, and a whole lot of figuring-it-out-as-I-went. I made mistakes (plenty), learned some lessons the hard way, and wasn’t sure if growing into a team would ever be possible. The idea of creating consistency across a group of artists felt overwhelming at first — how do you maintain one cohesive aesthetic while honoring different personalities, styles, and strengths? And more importantly, how do you build trust with clients while explaining that you’re a team, not just an individual?
One of the biggest challenges early on was learning how to clearly communicate with clients — especially around expectations. When you’re just starting out, you’re often working with a wider variety of people, and sometimes that means navigating mismatches in style or vision. It took time (and a few growing pains) to figure out how to confidently explain what we offer, what we don’t, and how to set couples up for a great experience from the very beginning.
It wasn’t until about five or six years in that things really began to click. I finally found my rhythm, built stronger systems, and started to refine our process so it felt smooth and repeatable. But one of the hardest (and most rewarding) parts of the journey has been learning how to lead and train a team — not just technically, but in a way that fuels growth and connection. A lot of creatives bounce from team to team, but I’ve been lucky to build something different. Some of our photographers have been with me for over a decade now, and that kind of longevity is rare in this industry. What’s kept us together is the culture we’ve created — one built on mutual respect, creative freedom, shared values, and a true sense of family.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a wedding photographer — but really, I think of myself as a storyteller and a calm, joyful presence on one of the most emotional and meaningful days in people’s lives. I run a photography studio called onelove, and we specialize in capturing weddings in a way that feels effortless, emotional, and completely true to the couple. We blend photojournalism with romantic portraiture, and we shoot with both digital and film to create timeless images that feel full of life.
What we’re most known for is helping couples feel natural and confident in front of the camera — yes, even the self-proclaimed awkward ones! We work with a lot of people who say they hate being photographed, and nothing brings me more joy than hearing, “Wow, that actually felt fun” or “That looks like us.” That’s the magic we’re after — making the process feel easy and the photos feel real.
What sets us apart is the experience we create. It’s not just about pretty pictures (though of course we deliver those too) — it’s about the connection we build with our couples and the way we guide them through the process so they feel fully supported every step of the way. We have an incredible team of photographers who all share the same approach, and we’re known for our ability to capture those in-between, can’t-repeat-it moments that make a wedding day unforgettable.
I’m most proud of the family we’ve built — a true community of like-minded artists who support each other, push each other to grow, and genuinely care about the experience we create for our couples. Our team isn’t just talented, they’re heart-first humans who show up with empathy, patience, and professionalism.
We’re especially passionate about helping couples who feel overwhelmed or unsure where to start. Most people aren’t used to being in front of a camera, and wedding planning can be a lot — it’s emotional, exciting, and sometimes nerve-wracking all at once. We’re that grounding, calming presence they didn’t know they needed. We bring guidance, clarity, and a sense of home to the experience — helping people feel safe, supported, and like themselves again. That’s why our clients are so happy. Truly, we have the happiest clients, and we never take that for granted.
Pricing:
- https://www.onelove-photo.com/coverage
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.onelove-photo.com/
- Instagram: @myonelove
Image Credits
Onelove Photo
