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

Hi Sophia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Well, I have always loved photography. It’s been a safe place for me to store my memories and relive them whenever I wanted to. As a person who struggles with her memory, that matters a lot to me.

I started taking photography seriously when I realized my local church had a need for someone to take church service and worship photography. I volunteered for the role and started taking photos using my husband’s camera. I realized how much joy it brought me to capture raw moments like people worshipping God. That Christmas I was gifted my first personal Canon camera. I learned photography basics and my cameras settings and functions. Soon after, I started getting inquiries regarding professional photos for families, graduates, and couples. Thus began my professional photography adventure!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Sophia Gonzalez and I’m the owner and photographer of Woven in the Willows. I’m 27 – almost 28 – years old, a NC native with Puerto Rican blood.

Woven in the Willows began without a name and acted as a simple servant fulfilling a church’s need for a photographer. She quickly grew and now has a name and serves more than just the church but communities too.

I offer affordable photography services for couples, families and milestones. If someone has a vision and/or a budget, I want to help bring their own personal poem to life with great quality photos and without breaking the bank.

I specialize in more warm, dreamy, cinematic, and documentary style photography.

When I’m not behind the camera, I’m watching anime with my husband or chasing around my curious son. I love astronomy and theology and reading fantasy novels.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

In a way – yes. Photography was an area I served to fulfill a need for my local church. I didn’t do any professional photography outside of the church. I didn’t consider making it into a business until I received inquiries for photoshoots outside of the church. It started with a good friend paying me to take her Christmas photos. Business grew and I received many heartwarming compliments. I saw how much joy it brought me to take my clients photos and to handle their moments with care. The fact that they trust me and love the end results means so much to me!

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I give most – if not all – of the credit to my husband.

I started taking professional photos using my husband’s own camera, his source of income has been invested into Woven in the Willows by financially paying for websites, subscriptions for editing and business softwares.

Without his support, I wouldn’t have the depth of a business I have now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://woveninthewillows.com
• Instagram: @woveninthewillows
• Facebook: Woven in the Willows

Image Credits

All photos taken by Woven in the Willows and edited by Woven in the Willows.