Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Schultz.
Hi Sara, 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 backstory with our readers.
I actually just got into photography at the beginning of this year; I considered taking the photography class that my high school offered, but I ultimately decided against taking it because it conflicted with the time of my ceramics class. I’ve always had a passion for being creative and making art, but I never considered photography as a medium until my friend asked if anyone could take her senior pictures for graduation, and I jumped at the opportunity to give photography a try. The first “professional” photos I took were during that shoot using my sister’s old Canon Rebel T5 and kit lens, and I fell in love with photography after that session. Since then, I’ve been shooting nonstop, and I even made my own at-home studio because I can’t afford the session fees at the studios in my area. Today, I’m getting started on making this passion into my own little small business, and I couldn’t be more excited to see where this journey takes me!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Although I’ve loved the journey, I’ve definitely had my fair share of struggles when it comes to photography. Since I’ve never had any classical training, learning how to use a camera and compose a good photo was a big struggle for me at first; I didn’t know what I was doing, and I didn’t know what to look up to find the information I needed. Through watching YouTube and Instagram Reels, though, I was able to learn what other creatives were doing and how they created certain effects. I also struggled (and still do) a lot with the cost of photography; I upgraded from my sister’s old Canon Rebel T5 to a used Canon Mark II and got a new lens, but even that “small” purchase was a big dent to my wallet. To build my studio, I auctioned parts at lower prices to be able to bring my vision together, and I used a room that I already had available to me. I’ve spent a decent amount on different lighting as well, but I have had to stop making purchases on photography until I make more to invest in my business. My biggest struggle currently is deciding how to build my small business and my brand.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Although I love photography, I work in software outside of my creative endeavors. The reason I came to San Diego was actually for a software internship, but I utilized the opportunity to capture as many moments spent in California as I possibly could. As for my creative work, I’m most known for portraits, whether they’re of people, cars, animals, you name it. I just love all kinds of photography, and I’ve been getting more into doing moody shoots recently. If I find something fun at the store, I’ll get it and find a way to incorporate it into a shoot. I’m most proud of the progress I’ve made as a whole throughout my photography experience; I went from not knowing how to adjust my camera settings to making a business in less than a year, so I would say I’m proud of how far I’ve come since I began. I think that what sets me apart from others is that I don’t want to stick to a niche in order to grow a following; I want to shoot anything and everything, and I don’t want the algorithm and likes to restrict my creativity.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something that people who know my creative work may not know about me is that I’m majoring in computer science and minoring in business, and the only art class I’ve taken is ceramics, which I took for three years of AP in high school. I think that creativity comes in many forms and that you shouldn’t have to take a bunch of classes to create; you should just throw yourself into it and see where it takes you!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://saraschultzphoto.myportfolio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saraschultzphoto/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@saraschultzphoto
Image Credits
Sara Schultz
