Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sara Reeves. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Sara thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

For most of my career, I have been actively pushing back against the pressure of hustle culture. The idea that we need to be constantly creating, busy and productive at all times seems to be the norm. I try to take the opposite approach. Breaks are essential for my creativity. Whether it’s reading a book, taking a walk, or spending quality time with family, these moments are just as vital to my business as sending out a newsletter or posting on social media. The reality is, running my own business is a 24/7 job, which can drain my energy and leave me feeling stressed. One of the biggest perks of being my own boss is giving myself permission to step away—like taking an afternoon hike—to recharge and come back more focused.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a commercial and editorial photographer based in Little Rock, Arkansas. I work directly with brands, agencies, and publications to capture high quality content for their marketing uses. With over 15 years of freelance photography experience, I can be both highly collaborative and extremely self sufficient. I am a logistical thinker and a skilled problem solver. I like to be organized and have a controlled plan, get the safe shots, and then just play with what is working to find fun and unexpected results.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Arkansas is a much smaller market compared to the East or West Coasts. Building a reputation here is equal parts networking and delivering results. Finding new clients often means connecting at a local fundraiser or event where I might meet like-minded business owners in need of updated photography. Once I land a project, success isn’t just about taking great photos—it’s about showing up on time, delivering the final product as promised, and maintaining clear communication throughout. Excelling in areas beyond the photography determines whether clients hire me again or recommend me to others.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

Like many artists, I am not great at promoting myself. Just this year though, I have started sending out a newsletter, which I actually really enjoy putting together. I try to keep LinkedIn and Instagram updated with new work, but could really do a better job there. I think the best way for me to keep in touch with clients is to check in periodically with them to share what I’ve been working on and see if they have any photo needs coming up that I could help with. This reminds them that I am around and available if it’s been a while since we’ve worked tougher.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sarareevesphoto.com
• Instagram: @sarareeves.photo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarareevesphoto/

Image Credits

© Sara Reeves on all photos