We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sharon Hong a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sharon, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
My mission is to engage with couples and individuals we work with, on more than just a photographer directing their subjects level. These couples have chosen us to document their real milestones and next chapter adventures. I want to get to know our clients and create a space where they feel like they can be their authentic selves and enjoy this time with the people they surround themselves with, including us.
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 am a photographer who specializes in intimate weddings, elopements, and couples photography. I also photograph families, portraits for individuals, and I am getting into branding photography. Being able to cultivate my creative abilities has been such a blessing, as I’ve felt unsettled working a normal career in an office. I’m able to talk to clients as myself, get out into beautiful scenery, and meet the most awesome people who are so in love and super supportive of my creativity!
I’ve always loved photography, for as long as I can remember. Started with amateur photos, never really thinking it could be something I did as a full time career. Younger me would be in disbelief to see where we are now!
Getting engaged and planning for my wedding really sparked my creative passion. When we were starting to plan our wedding, I was all over Instagram and Pinterest for inspo photos and falling in love with all of the details and beauty of the intimate moments. That’s when I realized I wanted to document all the romantic and joyful vibes that come with weddings, couples, and love. I also love being relational with people and getting to know their stories, along with sharing mine. My husband is the supporting force behind our business, and we’ve become husband and wife photographers, shooting side-by-side and doing all the behind-the-scenes things together.
I am most proud of the way we want to be personable with our couples and how we’ve come to develop the style that we have for our photos. I would say that we do our best to get to know our couples, have good communication, and plan in detail with our couples who may not have thought about specific details yet, since they most likely haven’t planned a wedding or engagement before. We like to walk through each step of the way and be a resource for our clients. Knowing that they feel confident in trusting us to document their journey is one of the best feelings for me as a creative!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is when our clients are truly living their best lives as we are documenting their milestones. Seeing the spark in their eyes when they look at their loved ones, right as we get ‘the shot’ really hits me in the feels. Especially when lighting is perfect and the scenery is beautiful, such an added bonus!
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to unlearn (and am still constantly unlearning) to compare myself with others who I admire and see killing it in the industry. There’s no harm in getting inspo and always learning to better my craft, but there is a point when putting my work and skills at a lower comparison can be detrimental to my mental health. I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression, feeling like I am not good enough to do what I do. Thankfully there are healthy ways to work through these feelings through love, support, and resources. Social media can be both super helpful and also not the best for my well-being. But it’s a part of the journey and I’m grateful for where I am today and the endless support I continue to receive!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.humblegroundsphotography.com
- Instagram: @humblegroundsphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/humblegroundsphotography
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humble-grounds-photography-42a572230/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW1miEY_ddJpnckgnv1Y2tw
Image Credits
Humble Grounds Photography – Sharon & James Hong