We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sabrina Herbert a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sabrina, appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Photography always felt like an ideal – something for others but nothing for me. Growing up, camera in hand, I was afraid to dream big. To imagine that one day, that could be me: the person behind the camera, capturing memories and moments that help shape the life as we see it? It felt so far away. So for a long time, I watched and admired from afar, and stifled the thought that I could create art in such a meaningful and personal way. And while I watched and waited, I always carried a camera.

And I really do mean always.

Starting at the age of 14, everywhere I went, a camera wasn’t far from reach.

I remember specifically carrying bags and totes that could accommodate my chunky DSLR. My high school yearbooks are full of photos I took (yearbook/journalism club is probably where love of documentary photography began) – anywhere and everywhere I could, I had a camera in tow. Grocery stores, walks, through arduous hikes and bike rides. On vacations, to the lake, sitting in a college class. At the DMV, at weddings, at the mall, strolling through town. For as long as I can remember, I have always loved searching for the story my lens could tell. And there is always a story to tell.

In 2017 I just had this desire to give this a shot for real. To stop imagining and to just live the little dream I stowed away in the back of my mind. Maybe it’s because I was pregnant and knew life would change (in the best ways), and this was really kind of my last shot to give this my all. Whatever it was – I went for it.

I remember specifically telling a family I had finished photographing that this was just for fun. This wouldn’t turn into anything. I’m just trying out a little hobby of mine.

I laugh a little now looking back – 2017 Sabrina wouldn’t believe me if I could tell her what her little hobby would become.

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

My focus in photography has gradually changed over the years but not by much – the core of my business remains the same. I love real moments. I love authenticity. I love getting to know the people I’ve photographed. I think these points are really important for the type of imagery I seek to craft. I’ve always been passionate about not providing a drive-thru service – when you book a session with me, my brain is literally churning the entire time we’re together (and honestly, before then too. While we’re exchanging emails/texts/calls, and you’re telling me about what your vision is, who’s in it with you, and why photography is important to you).

When you’re behind my lens, I’m looking for the real you. And in return, I’m always giving you the real me. All of the interactions I have with my clients are real. Nothing is fabricated. It’s a little cliche but it’s true – I am an open book. And while we’re together especially, I am intent on serving you. I want to dig out true laughs and smiles. I want our experience to not feel like a tick mark on your chart of things to do over the year. I want you to look back at your photos and love them not only because of the artistry behind them, but because of the moment you shared with the people you love.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve really started honing in on three areas of photography: Lifestyle newborn, families, and weddings. The advice I had heard over most of my career is that serious photographers should really only niche in one market, but I struggle with this. I think I just view life as so full and so rich and so interconnected that I can’t just settle in one area.

I want to experience it all with the people I work with. Your engagement session, your wedding, your first baby, and all of the milestones that come in between. I truly just love celebrating the blessings God has poured into the lives of the people I meet and work with – it’s not unusual to see a huge grin on my face during your first kiss, when your baby opens his/her eyes during a newborn session, or when siblings are poking and prodding and laughing with each other during a family session. There’s just so much goodness in all of these things. How could I niche down? I want to experience it all alongside you, making artwork that isn’t encompassing the fad of the day, but lasts throughout time because those moments were real and truly yours.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I think having a true love for people is instrumental in having a successful photography career. I’ve seen a lot of people come and go over the years, and the common denominator for those who keep to it and have people who genuinely want to work with them is an actual care for the work they are doing and the people they are doing it for. It can be easy to forget that the people you are photographing are actual, real people. With thoughts and dreams and emotions and pasts that they are working with and through.

There is a balance I have learned with photography that allows me to really be cognizant of who I am working with and why I am working with them. There are a number of sessions I have to limit myself to, and sometimes even types of sessions (for example – I limit myself to 4 weddings per years because of the emotional, physical, and mental exertion I have to allocate to photograph, edit, and communicate well), so that I can focus on the people before me and give my all to the service I am providing them.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I know this isn’t a popular piece of advice, but I’ve gone the slow route when it comes to building my business up. I had always set parameters for myself and have been patient with the steps I have outlined over the years.

While I had a real desire to photograph weddings early on in my career, due to the gravity of wedding photography, I wanted to wait until I had a proper setup. In my mind, that meant two cameras with dual slots, off camera flash, and on camera flash. I had saved over many, many sessions to the point that I could purchase a back up camera. Saved some more for an off camera flash class, and saved again for an on camera flash. I bought used where it made sense to, sold and traded up as funds became available for upgrades, and kept tabs on industry standards.

It took a few years to get to the point where I felt satisfied with my setup for everything, and actually, this method overall made me a better photographer because it taught me to work with what I had. Better equipment wouldn’t make me a better photographer – mastering basic photography concepts, thinking through challenging scenarios, and making what I had work are industry skills that I use over and over again, especially in wedding and in home newborn photography, even today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://herbertphoto.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helloherbertphoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helloherbertphoto/
• Other: Threads: https://www.threads.com/@helloherbertphoto