We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Natalie Sanchez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Natalie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I’ve been passionate about documenting and capturing life ever since I can remember. When I picked up my first camera at nine years old, a hobby quickly blossomed into lifelong dreams to build my own business. As I grew older and expanded my repertoire through various contract work, I discovered how much I loved helping people bring their vision to life through the lens. A storyteller at heart, the camera became an invigorating medium to tell not just my own stories, but those of small businesses, families, couples, and artists of every form. In many ways, photography and film have given me the gift of giving a priceless gift to my clients: tangible memories.

The sudden loss of my father in 2018 heightened my need to pursue meaningful work. Grief became a driving force in the journey to build my career, as I developed a more profound understanding of my craft. Photography and videography were more than a monetary exchange for my services – they were an invaluable art form, curated to reflect the authentic lives, moments, and milestones of my clients.

After graduating from Marquette University with a Bachelor’s in Digital Media, I found meaningful work at the United Community Center in Milwaukee, doing mission-driven photography and videography. There I learned so much about connection, presence, and the emotional power of an image. I continued building Natalie Sanchez Media, and in October of 2023, I made the leap to pursue my business full time. The experience is a full circle manifestation of a dream I’ve nurtured for over a decade, a nod to the nine year old who longed to be a storyteller.

Natalie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

When I was growing up, I watched my mom build her own photography business. I saw her spend countless hours editing, connecting with her clients, and building a brand, all while working a full time job and raising our family. Those years of my childhood were my first glimpses into being an entrepreneur, and her tireless work ethic set a strong, inspiring example for me.

I think that being a highly sensitive person and an empath has allowed me to truly tune in to the emotions of the story I am telling. My experience with sudden loss has transformed the way I think about my work. I now see every job as an opportunity for meaningful connection. I am looking for the details – the subtle changes in an expression, an unexpected laugh, or asking that one extra question in an interview to help somebody open up. Grief, at times, feels like a pair of antennae, that notices and scans the world for these moments. Knowing life’s unpredictability so intimately reminds me to approach every shoot with presence, intuition, and awareness. I am committed to being more than a photographer and videographer for my clients; I invest myself emotionally in every job, because if I am fully there, I can tell the story as it was lived and felt.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Publishing both of my books, The Language of Loss and Becoming Human have brought me in touch with parts of myself I didn’t know I had. In many ways, these books were laying the groundwork for Natalie Sanchez Media. While writing, I learned to trust my creative instincts, commit to my promises, and push through the self-doubt in the many moments I wanted to throw my entire manuscript into the trash. Each book’s journey was different, but both were year-long exercises in patience, discipline, and hard work. I am so grateful to the readers, editors, and publishing team for supporting me in this growth.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

My partner Jesse and I started our business, Create & Capture, with the vision to combine our strengths and make events of every kind a more seamless experience, from planning to documenting. I am grateful to be both business partners and life partners in this endeavor. We witnessed a need for event planning that involved and worked closely with the photographer/videographer. We felt this dynamic could elevate both the experience and the product.

Our relationship has always been grounded in teamwork, so deciding to embark on the entrepreneurship journey together has been immensely rewarding. Co-owning a business with anyone involves a strong level of trust, commitment, patience, and passion for the work you do. I am so grateful to share this journey with my life partner, as we challenge each other to keep growing and pursuing our dreams.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nataliesanchezmedia.com
• Instagram: @nataliesanchezmedia
• Facebook: @Natalie Sanchez Media

Image Credits

@suenosstudios (Sueños Studios LLC) on Instagram