Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah McKinstry. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sarah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Often the greatest growth and the biggest wins come right after a defeat. ther times the failure serves as a lesson that’s helpful later in your journey. We’d appreciate if you could open up about a time you’ve failed.
This story reflects the full spectrum of what it means to be a creative business owner—the highs, the lows, the burnout, the rebuilding, and the rediscovery of your own self. It’s not just about a business failing or a marriage ending. It’s about what happens after the fall, and how your work can become something even more meaningful when it’s rooted in who you’ve become through it all.
As a wedding photographer, I’ve spent years capturing joy, love, and connection for others—even when I wasn’t feeling any of those things in my own life. The hardest chapter of my career came during my divorce, when I lost not only my marriage but my sense of self-worth and my passion for photography. As a small business owner where everything was on me, I couldn’t keep up with the demands of it—deadlines were missed, communication fell through the cracks, and client frustration understandably grew. The quality of my service dropped drastically, and with it came disappointed reviews, angry texts, and strained relationships. I felt completely numb in my own body, going through the motions while documenting happiness I was hired to capture, but couldn’t feel myself. That was the version of me I was giving people at the time—and damn, it sucked. That failure was painful—but necessary.
Stepping away completely for over a year allowed me to heal. Eventually, a new person in my life (aka my future husband) provided me the grace I never gave myself. He was truly the encouragement and support behind me starting a business again. I felt human with him and for the first time, my failure was not weaponized against me. And when I came back, I didn’t just pick up my camera—I rebuilt everything. A new brand, a new approach, a new way of showing up for my couples and for myself. Now, the people who hire me care about real connection over perfection. The industry peers I once felt I had to impress because of my public failures now feel like friends. And my photography has evolved into a style that’s unapologetically me—playful, bold, and full of contrast.
Most importantly, I carry a deeper empathy for the people I photograph. I understand family complexities, emotional undercurrents, and the weight people sometimes bring with them to joyful moments. I’ve learned to be present not just as a photographer, but as a steady hand when people need it most.
There’s a tattoo on my arm of a lifeline beating through a camera. It’s not just art—it’s my truth. Photography is my emotional, physical, and financial lifeline. And even when life has been messy, it’s given me purpose, connection, and the foundation I needed to come back from a time I thought my personal struggles had sabotaged everything I’d worked for.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Hi, I’m Sarah Jay—a Las Vegas-based wedding photographer with 16 years of experience capturing love in all its real, beautiful, and sometimes chaotic forms. I specialize in elopements, intimate weddings, and full-day celebrations across Vegas, with a style that blends guided posing with authentic, in-the-moment storytelling. My work is playful, bold, and full of color—because I believe weddings should feel like you, not a Pinterest board.
I got started in photography not just as a creative outlet, but as a lifeline. I had twin boys at 18, and I needed something that gave me space to express myself while still being present at home with them. Photography let me do that. Before every phone had a camera, I was the kid at my performing arts high school (LVA) with a camera in my backpack, always documenting rehearsals, friendships, and memories from band. I was raised to scrapbook, so storytelling through images has always been part of who I am—from designing end-of-year slideshows to curating our band’s unofficial yearbooks.
Weddings, in particular, have always been in my blood. My mom was a wedding planner from the time I was a toddler, so I grew up watching love stories unfold behind the scenes. And early in my adult life, I was lucky enough to be mentored by a former wedding photographer who saw something in me. She brought me along to second shoot a friend’s wedding—and once she saw my work, she told me, “Just get your editing together. You have the eye for it.” I haven’t stopped since.
Today, I offer everything from quick 1-hour elopement sessions to full 6–8 hour wedding days, and everything in between. My couples receive sneak peeks, high-res downloads, and the unique option to choose their favorite images for editing—something that gives them more control over the final product. I also edit every photo myself in-house, and I offer both standard and premium editing styles depending on what my couples are drawn to.
But beyond the logistics, what sets me apart is the way I connect with people. I’m told over and over again that I make even the most camera-shy people feel comfortable. Several of my reviews mention how their guests loved me too—because I know that while photography is technically a behind-the-scenes service, it’s also a very personal one on a wedding day. If the vibe isn’t there between the photographer and the couple (or their friends and family), that disconnection will ultimately show in the photos. So I prioritize being approachable, grounded, and present—for everyone involved.
I’ve worked with couples from all walks of life—LGBTQ+ couples, multicultural ceremonies, blended families, religious weddings, second marriages, and big traditional celebrations with full timelines and giant bridal parties. I love it all. Because I’ve been through my own share of personal heartbreak, including a very difficult divorce, I now bring a deeper empathy into my work. I understand how emotional and layered weddings can be, especially when family dynamics are complicated. My job isn’t just to take beautiful images—it’s to create a safe space where people can be fully themselves.
What I’m most proud of isn’t just the photos I deliver—it’s the trust I’ve built with my clients, the emotional weight I help carry for them on a vulnerable day, and the fact that so many of my couples leave our time together feeling seen and supported.
And honestly? I think it’s kind of amazing that in one weekend, I can photograph a gritty, iconic vintage Vegas chapel elopement on Friday and a luxury Four Seasons wedding on the Strip by Sunday—and feel completely at home in both.
At the end of the day, I want people to know that I see them. Not just as clients, but as full, complex humans showing up to one of the biggest days of their lives. I take that seriously—and I’m honored every time someone chooses me to help tell their story.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
As a Las Vegas wedding photographer, about 80% of my couples are destination couples—meaning they’re coming from out of town or even out of the country to get married here. Vegas is one of those iconic wedding destinations that draws couples from all over the world, and I’ve been lucky to work with people from Canada, the UK, and even as far as Australia who came here chasing that one-of-a-kind Vegas experience.
Because of that, one of my biggest sources for new clients is The Knot and WeddingWire. I know those platforms are a bit controversial in the wedding industry right now, but I think for destination-heavy markets like Vegas, they still serve a purpose. A lot of couples planning from far away don’t have local word-of-mouth or vendor referrals to lean on, so they turn to platforms that help them find vendors with strong reviews and clear pricing. That’s where I try to show up with transparency and personality—so they know exactly what they’re getting.
Social media, on the other hand, isn’t my strong point. I’m on Instagram and I do post, but I wouldn’t say it’s my main driver of inquiries. That said, I do occasionally connect with couples there—especially those who find my work through hashtags or venue tags. It’s more of a slow burn, but it’s always nice when someone messages me saying, “I found you through a photo you took at our venue!”
Most of my bookings come from a mix of thoughtful online presence, genuine client reviews, and making sure that no matter where someone finds me—from a wedding platform or a tagged post on social—they get a sense of who I really am and how I’ll show up for them on the day.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
Absolutely. I think one of the biggest things non-creatives struggle to understand is how personal this work is—and how much of yourself you put into it. Being a wedding photographer isn’t just showing up, clicking a button, and going home. It’s emotional labor. It’s physical labor. It’s creativity, logistics, storytelling, and human connection all at once. And the final product? That’s not just a “deliverable.” That’s someone’s memories. That’s legacy.
There were times in my career—especially during my divorce—when I was so emotionally depleted I could barely get out of bed. But I still had weddings on the calendar. I still had people relying on me to show up and capture the most important day of their life. And so I did. I showed up, smiled, directed posing, caught the light—but I was falling apart inside. And no, I didn’t have the kind of job where you can take personal leave or have someone cover your shift. That’s not how creative entrepreneurship works.
There’s also this misconception that because I love what I do, it must be easy or always fun. I do love it. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with stress, burnout, or self-doubt—especially when creativity is also your income. It’s a different kind of pressure when your art is someone’s wedding photos, and your livelihood depends on both making something beautiful and meeting expectations that are often emotional and unspoken.
Another thing I think gets overlooked—especially right now as the industry shifts—is how much intention goes into the way I work. With AI-generated images, auto-edits, and mass editing services becoming more common, some couples now look for speed and volume. And that’s valid. But for me, that’s not the kind of work I want to put my name on. I pour my heart into every image I deliver. Even though I allow my couples to choose their favorite images for me to edit—a unique part of my process—it’s still a collaboration. Every photo I touch is one they’ve already connected with, and I want that connection to come through even stronger in the final version. My editing isn’t just polishing—it’s storytelling.
I’m not trying to compete with faster workflows or high-volume deliverables. I’m offering something different: emotional honesty, intentional images, and a deeply human experience. And I think that still matters—even in a world moving quickly toward shortcuts.
At the same time, I wouldn’t trade this life for anything. There’s something powerful about creating something that outlives the moment. About giving people something they’ll look at decades from now. I just think people sometimes forget that what looks effortless in a photo… took everything to create.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sarahjayphotographylv.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahjayphotographylv/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sarahjayphotographylv
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPcJi3yjpas
- Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sarahjayphotographylv/
Image Credits
Sarah Jay Photography