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

Alright, Sophie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

I’d been working as a Social Documentary photographer in England & America since leaving university. When the Pandemic hit I was very limited work-wise as there were no music gigs and my plans to work in America had been postponed indefinitely. I couldn’t sit still so I decided to lean into my other hobbies – Macrame and Dress making. Now, post-pandemic it feels great to have three different areas that I can lean into and be creative in! I love creating one off unique wall-hangings & clothes for clients just as much as I love to photograph live music. Its given me a healthy balance and a great group of creative peers!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

When I’m working on a macrame project for a client, I like to make colorful and bright wall hangings that are a little different from the traditional bohemian styles. I am constantly inspired by flowers and the outdoors so I like to incorporate those themes as much as possible. I sometimes use ceramics and paints in my hangings to add a different texture or volume ti the piece! I really do love to personalize my work for clients – whether it’s photography or textiles. Getting to know someone and sharing a vision with them for the work can be really incredible! It’s my favorite part of the job. Sometimes it can be difficult to work with others, especially in photography. I think the world of social media has really warped our perceptions of ourselves and some clients can find it hard to not over manage their image on photoshoots. I try, in those situations and with all my clients, to create a safe space for everyone to be authentically themselves. I don’t use heavy Photoshop tools for that reason, I see my work as a document of that person, that show, or that place in time. To mess with it too much would change how it really was. The truth. It can be hard to let go of what we think we should be and just be who we really are but I think we are all beautiful especially when we are genuinely being oursleves – those are the best photographs. Maybe that’s why I like working with textiles too – what you see is what you get and its usually beautiful.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I recently had major hip surgery that has me in recovery for the next six months. Being 27, I never thought I would have to have this kind of surgery so young and I’m still coming to terms with needing more surgery on my other hip. I think in the beginning I truly thought I would be back on my feet within a couple of weeks but the body works on its own time and I have to be patient. Going from being on my feet all day running my own business to being stuck in bed all day has been extremely hard on my emotional and physical self. I have had to learn new ways to stay creative and new ways to motivate myself. Photography, Macrame, and Dress-making are so physically demanding, and not being able to do them right now is really difficult for me. But it has inspired me to work on embroidery more and to make what I can from my bed. I’ve also been working on some new designs for when I can make it into my workroom. You can’t keep a creative down for too long, we always find a way!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I love sharing my work and meeting new people. Whether it’s in an exhibition, magazine, market or just showing my friends! Sharing your work, your process, and working with others is just as valuable as the process itself. I love to learn – whether that’s taking night classes for a new skill or just shadowing a friend in their work for a day. Learning keeps us young, sharing keeps us together. I feel very lucky to have such a supportive husband. He’s a musician and so we bounce ideas off eachother creatively all the time. It’s incredible to share with someone who understands the process but uses different tools to get there – it can really stir the creative pot which is fabulous! We both have an extremely gorgeous friend group around us too and I feel very loved and supported which makes creating and sharing all the more rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sophieinthestudio.co.uk
• Instagram: @sophieinthestudio @thestringzinger

Image Credits
The NYC Tintype Sophie Horsman (Sophie in the Studio)