We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Susan Lopes. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Susan below.
Alright, Susan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
My one and only goal when I shoot a session is to ensure that my clients are comfortable and they walk away confident that they made the right choice in selecting me. They put their faith and trust in me and I will do everything I can to make the time they have with me joyful.
Making memories that last a lifetime is my motto. I want each and every one of my clients to document the moments in their lives. I don’t want any of them to look back and regret not getting their photos taken. We get busy and we put things off. Maybe when I lose weight, maybe when the kids aren’t so active, maybe when I have time. I’m here to tell you that the time is now, don’t wait.
As a mom I cherish each and every one of the photos I took with my son. He’s a grown man now and I still have his senior photos displayed in our home. I still have his newborn photo album sitting on the table. Photos are memories, memories that you will want to pass down for generations. Get those photos taken!
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
This is a loaded question. I am so many things. First and foremost I am a mom and wife. I’m a Christ follower and love all types of music. My favorite past time is to attend concerts with my husband and exploring new places with the top down on my jeep.
I have always had a camera in my hand. I was the soccer mom who took all the action shots at games. I was the mom who took the homecoming and senior photos of friends. Not until my family moved to Florida did I pursue my photography as a career. One day I was scrolling through the web and came across a free one-hour class by Amy and Jordan Demos. And I was hooked from then on. My husband encouraged me to take their classes and I set up off making my dreams come true. It was slow going at the start. Being new to Florida I didn’t have the connections that I had back in Connecticut. So, I joined facebook groups, I offered my services to build my portfolio. I invested in myself and I continue to learn and build relationships with fellow photographers. Learning from experts like Amy and Jordan, Hope Taylor and Katelyn James.
I’m so proud that I took a chance on myself. That I get to share the love I have of creating with my clients. I now have a business which I love. I get to work with amazing high school seniors. I get to love and serve incredible couples as they start their lives together. I get to volunteer at my church and provide them with amazing photos of worship and faith. I get to show nervous moms and dads that it’s okay to have their kids be kids. I promise we will get the shot! I truly love what I do and love all the clients who have put their trust in me. I am honored and humbled every single day.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
When I first started my photography business I learned from two wedding photographers. They taught me everything I needed to know about posing, about lighting and about business. I still refer back to their education material from time to time for a refresher.
I’m really loving working with high school seniors and building a senior model team. This is my second year of having a team. So, I wish had found Hope Taylor earlier in my career. She has taught me so much as far as working with high school seniors and how to build a team that represents me and my business.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I started my business in a new state with hardly any connections. I was 47 years old and had never owned my own business. I had to learn everything while still working a full time job. I have built my business to a place where I now only work part time (because I love what I do) and I can invest so much more time and energy into my photography.
Contact Info:
- Website: suzielopesphotography.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/suzielopesphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzielopesphotography