We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gracie Shafqat a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Gracie, thanks for joining us today. Can you share a story with us from back when you were an intern or apprentice? Maybe it’s a story that illustrates an important lesson you learned or maybe it’s a just a story that makes you laugh (or cry)?
I began working at around 15, eagerly seeking out every internship opportunity I could find in my area. I’ve always known I wanted a career where I could be creative and specialize in marketing, but I wouldn’t have been able to narrow down exactly what that would look like without the diverse work experiences I gained. Over the years, I interned with a variety of companies: a commercial agency – VideoFort in La Jolla, a Christian author – Erin Weidemann where I shadowed photoshoots and edited podcasts, a few marketing agencies, one of which was Power Digital Marketing where I specialized in Influencer Relations and Public Relations, and a San Diego wedding photographer whom I shadowed. In between each of these, I was also working at Swirl Boutique in San Diego and Orange County, where I was an in-store stylist and also enjoyed doing remote work such as email marketing, and e-commerce management.
The common thread through all these experiences was collaboration and thriving in social environments. Even in school, I sought out creative opportunities, often swapping traditional electives for ones I could design myself—creating promotional videos for the school or preparing marketing presentations that analyzed businesses and proposed marketing strategies for improvement.
One of the most significant influences on my path to becoming a photographer—and ultimately attending film school—was my high school Broadcast Journalism and Media Arts teacher, Mr. John Salyer, or as we called him, SAL. His advice during our school lunch chats or before and after class instilled deep confidence in me and ignited my passion for teaching and helping others who are eager to learn. Hence why I started offering my own mentorships for photographers. His belief in my potential pushed me to excel in ways I hadn’t imagined. His classes inspired me to invest in new equipment, pursue creative projects in my free time, and ultimately believe in the viability of a creative career.
Every unpaid or paid internship/job I’ve had shaped me and taught me about my strengths, weaknesses, and the incredible rewards of running your own business. This past year, I came full circle by offering internships of my own. I was blown away by the interest from college students and am so grateful for the interns I’ve had and am hiring this semester. Seeing their spark and eagerness reminds me myself at their age.
Having worked for a variety of employers, I’ve learned how valuable it is to understand different leadership styles. I appreciated working with employers who gave me a glimpse of what the business looked like on the back end and explained the logistics of operating a company, as I didn’t learn about it in school. Some actively sought feedback to improve their programs— I strive to emulate that with my own internships.
Gracie, 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?
Hi, I’m Grace, though most people call me Gracie! My friends nicknamed me GSHAF in high school—a playful nod to my unique last name, Shafqat (pronounced SHAF-kit). That nickname stuck and even became the inspiration for my Instagram handle, @photobygshaf.
I was born and raised in a funky beach town within San Diego, filled with the best surf, burritos, and small businesses I always come back to enjoy, and now live in Orange County. Growing up, I was always drawn to hands-on, social activities like sports, summer camps, philanthropic projects, and creative arts. It wasn’t until my teenage years that I discovered a deep passion for photography. I felt God guiding me to use my extroverted personality and creative gifts to capture life’s most meaningful moments.
After graduating from Chapman University’s film school, I pursued photography full-time. Today, I specialize in portraits for seniors in college and high school, families, engaged couples, expectant mothers, and brands such as jewelry, hat, fashion, and beverage businesses along with personal branding for owners. My work focuses on celebrating people, their unique personalities, and their proudest accomplishments. Whether it’s capturing once in a lifetime moments or crafting visuals that elevate a brand, my goal is always to create images that are timeless and personal.
What sets me apart is my ability to make clients feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera. I know that being photographed can feel intimidating, so I strive to create a fun and collaborative environment where my clients can relax and truly be themselves. I play upbeat music at photoshoots and get to know you before we even schedule a photo session. My bubbly personality and attention to detail allow me to deliver not only beautiful images but also a positive and memorable experience.
One of the things I’m most proud of is the opportunity to mentor others. Having benefited from amazing mentors in my own life, I now offer internships and mentorships to aspiring creatives. It’s inspiring to see the excitement and drive in the next generation of artists, and I feel so grateful to help them grow and discover their potential.
Above all, I want potential clients and followers to know that I approach my work with immense gratitude. The Lord has truly blessed my life and my business in ways I never expected. My faith and the support of my family and friends have been the foundation of my career, and I never take for granted the opportunity to do what I love.
Whether you’re looking to capture a special moment, elevate your brand, or simply tell your story in a way that feels authentic, I’d love to work together!
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I wish I knew more about styled shoots and photographer workshops because I still want to attend so many and I can see the value in building a community of like-minded people! There are so many people in this industry who will lift you up and help your business whether that’s providing referrals, collaborating on a creative photoshoot concept, or will just be present when you’re feeling overwhelmed and burnt out. Photographer friendships are key and I’m so glad to have met some talented and generous creatives who live both near and far! Community over competition always!! When I was starting out, after having a few negative experiences, I used to feel as though a lot of photographers had a competitive mindset and preferred “gatekeeping” over helping up and coming photographers. Which in all fairness – there are some people out there like that, HOWEVER as time went on, I found you can have such authentic friendships with people that may be your “competition” but ultimately they can be some of the most supportive and kind people you know. I found the sweetest humans who are SO successful and don’t treat me as a threat but rather as a friend who shares a similar career. We’re all just trying to do what we love and create a liveable income, and I started a photographer group in Orange County on Instagram where everyone is so kind and supportive. We send each other referrals for photoshoots we can’t take on, give location ideas, plan coffee editing dates, or give advice about gear, software, pricing, and business advice. The link to the group is in one of my story highlights – we would love for you to join us!
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Yes! I love anything Nathan Chanski puts out. I listen to his Passion with Purpose podcast on my walks or drives, and always snag his freebie courses when he offers them. He invites guests to speak on his podcast who specialize in all sorts of things that aid a photographer’s business such as web designers, CPA’s, social media influencers, SEO experts, and more.
This may be obvious, but YOUTUBE!! There is every type of tutorial on that platform and it’s how I learned about what gear to buy because so many creators film videos comparing different lenses, cameras, etc.
In terms of books, I bought a journal where I could write down my daily and yearly goals and then could look back to see what I was able to accomplish! My good friend Abi sells the one that I currently use and its called The New Chapter Journal.
My mentor, Abbey Jo also launched her own brand photography summit which I attended and learned SO much. I believe she still sells video access to it! Many brand photographers spoke and gave advice about different topics such as usage rights, test shoots, how to price yourself, and more!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.photobygshaf.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photobygshaf/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracie-shafqat-12790a188/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/gracieshafqat/
Image Credits
@PHOTOBYGSHAF