We recently connected with Sarah Hill and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sarah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you take vacations? How do you keep things going – any advice for entrepreneurs who feel like they can’t step away from their business for a short vacation?

We love to travel! We have two boys that are 10 and 12 and taking them to see other places in the world is super important to us. Seeing other cultures and being immersed in places that are different from where we live is such a valuable experience. There is so much to offer out there! We’ve set up our businesses in a way that we can travel and be gone for an extended period of time and things still run smoothly without us!

Sarah, 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 my photography business about 12 years ago when my first son was just a baby. I had been posting photo after photo of him on my facebook page just as a proud new momma would! I kept getting comments of how great my photos were and some friends started to ask me if I would be wiling to take photos of their kiddos too. I jumped at the idea and kiddos turned into families that turned into weddings and a full time business! Of course it wasn’t over night but I do think I got into the photography business at a good time when it wasn’t overly saturated and not every single person with an iphone decided they were a professional photographer! ha ha! As any business grows, it evolves and about 3 years ago mine went in the direction of opening a studio. It was always the goal to open for myself but for other photographers to use as well. I had rented another studio space a few times before I even had the idea of opening my own and really loved it! I think a lot of photographers especially in Colorado wouldn’t even think of photographing indoors, but once you do you realize that its pretty dang amazing! My studio is a natural light studio, so you’re still using the same skills as you would outdoors, but the light is always consistent, you don’t have to battle crazy Colorado weather and we have rotating sets and decor to use all the time! The studio is also located on 10 acres of beautiful outdoor space. This definitely sets us apart from other studios in the area. We allow anyone who books the indoor space to use the outdoor space as well! We have lots of photographers book the studio knowing full well they will be mostly using the outdoor area for their clients. With CO being pretty strict about needing permits everywhere you photograph outdoors, this is a great option where you don’e need that! And you have the privacy that you might not elsewhere! We really love the sense of community that we are building here as well. We have tons of regulars that book the space weekly but also host small gatherings to bring everyone together. Being an entrepreneur like photographers are can be lonely sometimes and its really great to all come together!

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

They always say “word of mouth” is the best advertising. . . and it truly is! By serving the clients you have extremely well, you area able to get those word of mouth referrals pretty easily! When someone has an extremely easy and pleasant experience using your service they will definitely tell their friends about you! We go above and beyond to be prompt and provide a great service for those that are coming to us. Of course, Instagram is also a huge part of our marketing just as the times we live in, but providing that personal experience is key!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

By being professional, consistent, reliable and prompt. Being a business owner, people look up to you by default. They are looking towards you for a service or to provide a solution to a problem they are having. My being professional about your business you are creating a sense of trust to that person who is looking to you. Consistency is key as well! You need to keep up with the service you are providing. Your clients will learn to expect certain things from you and if you fail them, they will leave. Reliability and Promptness go a little hand in hand. . . In todays society I believe these qualities are something people are lacking in. If you say you’re going to do something or be somewhere. . . DO it or BE there!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sugarhillphotostudio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sugarhillstudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SugarhillPhotoStudio

Image Credits
Mckenzie Coyle Photography Allen Tsai Photography Margaret Koening Photography Sarah Hill Photography