Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarrah Gani. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sarrah , appreciate you joining us today. What’s been one of the most interesting investments you’ve made – and did you win or lose? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

The best investment I’ve made is investing time and resources into mentors and education. I had an idea of what I wanted my images to look like and how I wanted to run a full time studio, but trial and error were taking a very long time and not achieving the results I wanted. When I found mentors who truly took the time to train me in the skills I had been searching for I saw a dramatic improvement in all areas of my business. I went from dreaming about photo creation to actually producing work in my studio that was the type of portrait I wanted my clients to own.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have been a full time photographer for three years, and was part time for 6 years before. I was originally an elementary school teacher taking photos on the side, but when we became pregnant with our first child my husband and I knew we wanted more flexibility in our lives. We took the leap and signed a lease on a studio and that was the best choice we have ever made!

I provide two very different types of services; photographing personal branding/headshots and fine art images of children.
I truly enjoy connecting with both professional women, and young children. I have a fine art twist on all of my images, whether they are for children or adults, which has become my signature look. Often times people will tell me they knew I had taken someone’s headshot or family photos because it had “my look”; I love that!

I am so proud to provide fine art images in print to families. In this digital age there has been a loss of value on printed artwork. All of my fine art images are delivered in print because they are truly legacy pieces. (Clients receive the digital copy also). I am so proud to deliver pieces of art that will last for generations to come.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Yes! There is an amazing system called “The Portrait System” that is great for people anywhere in their photography journey. It covers all aspects of photography, but also covers the “hidden” parts of running a business. It is an incredible resource for anyone thinking about getting started or is years into their profession.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Absolutely. I am on a mission to make sure that as many people as possible have printed portraits. It is hard to describe if you’ve never experienced it, but being handed a timeless large format print of your children, parents, spouse, etc, is so heartwarming. I’m not talking about an 8×10 you had printed at a local shop–I mean museum quality printed and matted, rich colors, and a story to go with that image.

My goal is never to just take a nice photo; it is to tell a story. Bringing in items that are specific to your family, capturing unplanned moments of pure joy between a baby and mom, to even capturing someone’s end of life portrait–it is all magical.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theportraitloungemi.com
• Instagram: @theportraitloungemi