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

Sandra , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?

I started my photography journey when I got my first dslr camera as a graduation gift from my boyfriend’s parents in 2017. I immediately began to practice shooting an array of subjects such as random things around the house, my boyfriend (who is my biggest supporter!) my boyfriend’s dog, my close family and I even worked with TFP (time for print) models. I practiced and perfected my photography for a whole lot of years until I finally decided that I was ready to book clients in 2021. The reason that it took me so long to book clients was because I felt the need to really nail down my work and figure out exactly what settings on my camera were just right for when I’m shooting, what I wanted my editing to look like, and what I thought I needed to charge clients at the time. I am a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to the work that I am delivering to my clients so I think it was worth it for me to start my business as soon as I felt that my work was worth it for clients to pay for.

Sandra , 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?

My name is Sandra and I am a portrait photographer based in Houston, TX. I am 25 years old and have been into photography ever since I graduated high school in 2017. I enjoy capturing seniors/grads, couples, maternity, families and everything else in between! I have always felt that my clients come first so I love to create a bond between them in order to really cater to their needs and listen to their vision for their session with me. I am a very understanding person and will always make that known to my clients if/when they are having any issues regarding the service that I am providing to them. I am proud of myself for being the person that I am and for always trying my hardest to delivering beautiful and authentic photos to my clients. I am always thankful for the clients who choose me to capture their milestones and just be a part of their day. Community over competition is something that I will always be a part of. I love to recommend photographers in the area to potential and repeat clients if I am not available, if my work does not suit their needs, or whatever the case may be.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

I can honestly say that photography has always been a side hustle for me. I am not entirely full-time but I hope to be soon! One milestone in my business has been to receive my LLC. at the beginning of this year and officially register SANDRA TAKES PHOTOS! I am lucky to have Lopez & Diaz Accounting Services as my CPA, they have truly helped me and my business on the tax side of things, have helped me to get my LLC. and have given me wonderful advice to better my business.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a photographer would be that I get to capture these amazing moments for my clients. Whether it’s capturing a birthday or graduation session, parents-to-be, or even a courthouse wedding, I am grateful to be a part of those moments. Their kind words are also something that I appreciate. Just hearing them say that they love their photos when I am showing it to them at their session straight out of the camera, is such a good feeling! I also feel that having fun at their session is also rewarding. If we’re getting along and having some laughs, it makes the session so much more special to me because it shows me that I am doing something right and I will always cherish those moments even if we hardly know each other.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sandratakesphotos.mypixieset.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandratakesphotos
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandratakesphotos1

Image Credits
@snaps_with_joy