We were lucky to catch up with Sarah Summers recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sarah, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?
Being successful is all about being yourself. Entrepreneurs, especially photographers, feel we should act and carry ourselves a certain way. I dont think that’s the case. Being a successful business owner is embodied by being yourself and showing your clients who you truly are. It gets exhausting when you are acting and carrying yourself in a certain way to fit in or become something you think the world wants to see. Not only is it exhausting, but you gain clients who are more fit for that persona than you as the real person you are. For example, I am REALLY, goofy and my clients see that in my social media, and I have gained clients because they like who I am as a person and they like my goofiness. I have been in business since 2018 and on September 1, 2024, I celebrated 4 years of being full-time. I truly think that being YOU is what it takes to be successful.
Sarah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hey friends!
I am Sarah Summers. Owner of Through a Summers lens photography. I have been capturing memories for people as long as I can remember, I started my business in 2018 and went full-time four years ago. I feel it’s that usual quote of “I have just loved taking photos my whole life” but it’s true. I went to school and changed my major 3 times. First I was going to be a nurse, but that wasn’t for me. Then I switched my major to education to be a teacher that wasn’t for me. Then I went to a concert in the midst of changing my major for the THIRD time. I took some photos of the artist I went to see and sent them to her social media account. To my surprise, I got a message back and said “Do you take photos as your job?” I said, “No, I just like taking them for fun.” She responded, “Well, you should make a career out of doing this, you are so good at it.” I had never thought of taking photos as a career. After reading that message, amid changing major, it was then I knew what I wanted to do in life. I changed my major to art and once I graduated I started my business. I haven’t looked back since.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
As a photographer, you are not only helping keep memories documented for generations to come but you are also leaving your footprint on this earth. I always wanted to have something, that when I died, I would be remembered by. My photographs have such an impact on each client I encounter. Whether they are marrying their soulmate, having a baby they prayed years for, graduating from school, or even putting their childhood pup to sleep I am there for them to capture those moments and so many more. Photos live on forever even after we are gone, and that is the most rewarding part.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Photography tends to have this persona about it that every photo has to be perfect. When I started my business and started sharing my work I was told by other photographers this needed to be different and that I should change this and that. I started fixating on perfection and lost the real purpose. Art is just that, ART. There is no real perfection. There is something to say about the beautiful chaos of each photo. Whether you have a little grain in your photo, your horizon isn’t perfect, the color is too warm, or it isn’t crisp enough for some photographers. Each photographer is different and so is how they see, capture, and edit their art. I had to unlearn that there is perfection in art because it is perfectly imperfect!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Throughasummerslens.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughasummerslensphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThroughaSummerslensphotography
Image Credits
Photo credit: Through a Summers lens Photography