We recently connected with Sharon Benton and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sharon , thanks for joining us today. Do you take vacations? Why or why not?
Yes! Vacations are important to me for lots of reasons. A change of scenery is not only good for giving yourself a break from work and your normal routine, but you get to see new things and new environments and stimulate different parts of your brain. Different countries have different aesthetics and trends. You never know where you will find inspiration! Natural scenery, food markets, museums, architecture, the quality of light, and these things can influence your art in surprising ways.
Sharon , 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?
I’m a food and product photographer currently living in Atlanta, GA, but I’ve had to good fortune to live in Seattle, Copenhagen, Tokyo, and Warsaw, and to travel extensively. I’ve been into photography since the 80s, when I was developing my own film. I still miss working in the darkroom – watching the image come to life right before my eyes is still magical to me! But there’s also a lot to love about about digital photography and being able to see your images immediately. And editing software such as Photoshop and Lightroom give you s much creative control over your images.
Since we’ve traveled so much, so I was really into travel photography for a while. I got into food photography in 2016, when I took a six-month intensive online cooking course through Rouxbe.com. In order to be graded for recipes we prepared, we had to photograph the dishes we cooked and submit them online. I enjoyed food photography so much, I started photographing dishes for a friend’s food blog and eventually started getting gigs from bloggers, restaurants, and food makers. I really love taking photos for local restaurants and bakeries and seeing firsthand how photography helps their businesses flourish. (Plus – I get to sample a lot of good food!)
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
The best source of clients for me has been word-of-mouth, Google searches, and direct client contact. I’ve been recommended a lot by current clients and many new clients find me through Google search or on Instagram. I update my web-site portfolio and Instagram feed frequently with new work and try to keep on top of the best hashtags that will lead potential clients to my site. I also found clients when I first moved to the Atlanta area by offering a free mini photo session to some neighborhood restaurants and bakeries. I’ve tried a few postcard campaigns, and placed ads in local publications, but have never really gotten any traction there, and the time and expense did not bring a good return on investment.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
While I always had artistic hobbies, I worked for several years in the tech industry as a software developer, teacher, and writer. I was working as a technical writer when I was laid off after the events of September 11, 2001. During the uncertain months that followed, the tech industry was hit hard and I could not find another job. I assessed other skills and started teaching quilting and sewing classes. Over time, I developed a line of creative sewing patterns, and then started selling my artwork at local shows and galleries. After a couple of years I developed a loyal following for my classes and patterns, and even had a few regulars who collected my art pieces!
Being able to work for myself as creative was an exciting discovery! I worked way more hours than I ever had in my previous jobs, but I loved the independence and the ability to shape my path. Since that time I’ve worked as a graphic and web designer, architectural photographer, and now, food photographer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sharonbenton.com
- Instagram: @sharonbenetonstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sharonbentonstudio
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonleebenton/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL8sfih53Ss9yPHK7XmgfEQ
Image Credits
All food and drink photos are by me. Portrait of me is by Julia Fenner.