We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Samantha Washburn. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Samantha below.
Samantha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s talk about social media – do you manage your own or do you have someone or a company that handles it for you? Why did you make the choice you did?
As a photographer, our social media accounts are supreme important to us. That is how we can showcase our work to the world, yes our websites do that but in todays society of hashtags and scrolling social media is where it is at. I manage my own social media accounts for both side of my business – weddings and births. My strategy is to plan as much as possible, so that is less time daily I have to spend on my phone/social media. I sit down every other Monday morning with a very very very strong up of coffee and work out my next two weeks worth of posts; captions, reels, short videos and even stories. Stories are actually harder to plan but if I know I have a shoot on a certain day I will schedule a reminder in my phone about 5 minutes before that shoot happens to take my phone out and snap some behind the scenes. Stories don’t have to be posted right away, so I make sure and have some content lined up to showcase there. Stories are where people get to know me, like really know me. What do I read, what is for lunch or dinner, how do I take my coffee, how many did my dog sleep today and mixed in with that are brags about my precious clients and some photography tips and tricks. I like for my stories to be more organic and personal, while my posts and reels are more photography related. That doesn’t mean you won’t see the odd reel about how I was a tourist in my own town. Haha! Social media can be as fun or as stressful as you make it. People just want to know you are real, so show them you are real!
Samantha, 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?
I started Sabel Moments with a tiny pink Kodak point and shoot in 2006, and it grew from there. Over the years I have buckled down and picked my niche areas – weddings and births. Saying that, I do still shoot family sessions and kiddos! I just can’t leave the families that have been by my side through my journey. I offer a wide range of products – from digital to prints and albums – whatever to keep your memories alive forever.
Aside from photography, I am a sucker for some movies. All kinds, well minus horror movies. I am a big baby when it comes to those. I also love reading, give me a good book and some coffee and I will be out of your hair for days to come. My hammock is my favorite accessory to carry around, and I have a slight addiction to queso.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me the most rewarding part of being a creative artist if the knowledge that I am helping families keep their memories alive for years to come. Knowing they can show their grandkids and great grandkids photos from a generation ago means the world to me. I make smiles, and keep the preserved for the next group to see.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I wish I had gotten plugged in sooner! I wish when I had started photography there would of been a tighter knit community to lean on and get support from. Now there are photography groups all over the world that focus on all kinds of different styles and subjects. I would certainly say to a beginning photographer to get plugged in! Find your photography friends and really lean on them for support.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sabelmoments.com/
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/sabelmoments
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/sabelmoments
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/sabelmoments
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/sabelmoments
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/sabelmoments/
Image Credits
Sabel Moments Photography