We recently connected with Sarai Mena and have shared our conversation below.
Sarai, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later?
I started photography thanks to two amazing friends that decided to call me up and ask if I can take their engagement photos. I did ask myself, “Why? Why me?” I did have a camera, but I didn’t know anything about photography, I just wanted to be a blogger. I went ahead and took their pictures. From there, I noticed that I really loved taking photos. I took the risk and the next week; I opened up my photography business as XOXO Sarai Photography. I wanted to have a name that showed love and fun at the same and that it was unique. I definitely feel like I have accomplished that and more.
I began joining Facebook photography groups to learn my skills, learned from YouTube, researched photography education hashtags, and this is only to name a few. It’s crazy all the awesome things that you can learn online and on social media platforms.
I definitely knew I loved photography in the past, but never thought about it as a career. I have worked for the insurance industry for the past 15 years, but photography never came to mind as a business. Little did I know that this was what I was meant to do. Starting sooner would have mean that I could have quit my job and made this a lifelong career and dream. I don’t regret anything, but I do wish I could have started sooner.
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 background and context?
I am a wedding and portrait photographer. I love taking photos of weddings, families, kids, seniors. I love what I do. during the Pandemic, I was trying to figure out what my niche was, product photography, newborn, families, and weddings, ect… I love meeting people, families, couples and I love love, so I realized that weddings and families were my thing.
I started doing wedding photography in October of 2020, thanks to a friend who referred her neighbor to me from Georgia. I drove those hours and started my photography journey. My next wedding was in Texas, again, thanks to another amazing friend who referred me. I drove the long hours to Texas to capture their special day and just began to evolve as a photographer.
From there I wanted to better my skills and started researching styled shoots that I could attend. These styled shoots not only allowed me to be my creative self, but I was able to network and collaborate with other photographers. All amazing individuals willing to help and share their knowledge with me!
Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?
I wanted to get my name and my experience out there. I started reaching out to radio stations, celebrities, influencers, etc… what was the worst that could happen? That they tell me No? or not answer me? I took that risk. Luckily for me I’ve had amazing creators, celebrities and influencers allow me to take their photos and let me brush up my skills with them. I could not be more grateful to them for everything that they have done.
I always say take the risk. Unless you ask, you never know what the answer will be!
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
When I first started photography, I would go to Facebook groups and try to become a second photographer for weddings with other photographers. there was always that “you need experience” or what type of camera do you have?” at times you would get the ” I need and assistant”, Unfortunately, there were so many people interested and over 40 comments that you never had the opportunity.
From that I went on to messaging photographers directly, following them and offering to assist them, just to learn more from them. There were two photographers that did just that for me and allowed me to learn as much as I could from them, and they still do today.
The resources are in front of you and not always do they have to be Facebook Groups that ask these questions but ask your favorite photographer or definitely sign up for styled shoot. Styled shoots can be expensive but is the best experience you can have at your own pace. Plus, all the wonderful photographers you can meet and what you can learn from them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.xoxosaraiphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xoxosarai/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xoxosaraiphotography/
Image Credits
Venue: Mission Inn Resort, Venues: Venue 1902 Picnics: Picnic Gals Orlando