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

Hi BETH, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Photographing a woman, Jill, going thru metastatic breast cancer. She felt at the time that seeing herself thru all the changes she was going to would help her heal.

Her story is interesting because when she was a young woman, 20, maybe, she didn’t feel beautiful because she was so flat chested. She decided to go with implants and finally felt beautiful. So to have a double mastectomy was particularly hard as what she felt made her beautiful was taken away from her.

Our work was around trying to help Jill see that she was beautiful, no matter how her body looked.
We were successful.

Here is what Jill had to say about her experience being photographed.

Beth’s creative eye and technical skill exceeded my expectations of what I hoped to capture while navigating breast cancer treatment. Everyone processes their journeys in their own way and for me, I needed to express my grief, anger, fear and acceptance through photography.

There’s something about Beth’s energy and grounded perspective of the world that made me feel safe. I was able to let my guard down to allow Beth to capture my pain and vulnerability through the lens of her camera. I didn’t want to deal with the deep emotional trauma of my breast cancer diagnosis and the disfiguring consequences of it, but instinctually knew I needed to in order to move forward and heal. I don’t think anyone else could have pushed me to the point of really being present and in the moment of “this is where I am” and allowing myself to let that show.

I trust her.

I am starting to feel whole again and I will forever be grateful that the stars aligned, our paths crossed and we were able to work together at this critical point in my life.
Jill T

BETH, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

From a young age, I loved photography. I used to take my friends and dress them up in blankets and sheets and have them model for me.

It took a long while for me to get to it as a career. It started when I bought a camera in a pawn shop and signed up at the local college for photography classes. In an instant, I knew it was for me.
Still is to this day. I see my life and the lives of others through my lens.

I started with Kodak infrared film shooting scenes and landscapes in California. I loved, loved it. I also really enjoyed playing around with fashion photography.

I then moved to Colorado and started working for a wedding photographer. I soon realized I could utilize my love of fashion and scenic by shooting weddings. I mean what other backdrop could be as amazing as Boulder and how incredible to have my models, brides and grooms.

That soon transitioned into family portraits, high school seniors, and if I”m lucky I get to photograph people from birth to marriage.

I also have an artistic side to me. I use my photographs for digital collages and regular collages to tell stories. I did a body of work with Jill around her breast cancer.

I love to travel and constantly document and am inspired by my journeys.

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

I started with two, canon cameras and a flash. Initially, I didn’t need much. I just had to have the talent,

Eventually, once I started earning money, I slowly added equipment. Better cameras, flashes and a whole studio set up.

I think if I could offer anything to anyone wanting to do this, it’s this.

If you love it, follow it. Everything else will show up in support of it. Don’t worry about the perfect camera, lighting, etc. Follow your passion. It will take you where you want to go.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission is to help people see how amazing they are. I want to create a space for people to feel free to be who they are so I can photograph them and reflect back to them the beauty I see.

We are all such harsh judges of ourselves. If I can provide one hour, where you can feel beautiful and you can walk away with that reminder in your photographs, I’ve done a good job.
I don’t just mean the physical beauty, but the inner that creates the outer. That’s what’s so powerful.

My personal artwork is a journey in who I am at given moments in my life. It’s powerful to create that for myself and reflect back. Plus I just love seeing what shows up.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bethphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethsanders_photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethsandersphotography
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethphotography/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/beth-photography-louisville?osq=bethphotography

Image Credits
Beth Sanders, Beth photography