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

Sophie , appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Photographing my queer couples is the most meaningful thing I get to do. I’m a huge believe in telling queer stories and creating representation where we need it most. Queer stories need telling for a whole lot of reasons, one being that queer people deserve to grow up knowing that they can have a happy ending too. By the time I read a queer book or saw a queer movie, I was probably 20 years old. For years after that, all the queer media that was out there to consume was tragic in some way. I think that just barely started to change for the better– there are some happy queer stories out there now, and I think that’s going to be life changing for so many LGBTQIA+ people. I want to be a part of telling those stories, because I think the world needs to hear them. Not only for the queer people who need to see that their stories deserve to be told as much as anyone else’s, but also for the people who continue to deny us the rights we deserve, the people who still think there’s something wrong with being gay. They need to see us happy, to see that despite their best efforts, we can lead happy lives.

Sophie , 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?

My name is Sophie Lasher and I’m a queer portrait photographer. I grew up with a brother six years older than I am and I wanted to be just like him, so when I was a sophomore in high school, I took dark room photography just like he did and I fell in love! After some twists and turns, I became a portrait photographer. I realized eventually that my passion lies in telling queer stories and filling the world with queer joy, so, to that end, my main offering is photographing queer couples. I also photograph solo portraits, families, and elopements. I’m obsessed with storytelling through imagery and preserving moments that could so easily slip away if we’re not careful. Recently, I’ve gotten back into film photography, and soon I’ll be offering those services for that extra sweet hint of nostalgia in your images.

I think society has build the “happily ever after” narrative around a person who looks and loves a certain way. I’m here to show you that no matter what you look like or who you love, your story is just as valuable as the one you’ve seen on the movie screen a million times. Your story doesn’t just deserve to be told, it needs to be told. I want my clients to know that no matter who you are or who you love, you deserve to have your most special moments safe forever. I’m rooting for your happy ending!

I also recently started a small printmaking business. I make and sell quirky linocut prints featuring queer themes and symbols as well as generally cute, funky art. My prints are geared towards the queer community just like my photography is, but I think you’ll find there’s something there for everyone. I’m hoping to drop a new set of print designs in my shop in the next month– check @sapphoprintingco on instagram for updates!

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

Telling queer stories! I could talk about it until I’m blue in the face, truly. Since I’ve already covered my primary mission in more ways than one, let me tell you about my secondary goal.

I am deeply afraid of loss. Moments are fleeting, and once they’re gone you can’t get them back. I think it’s beautiful to be able to make the ephemeral permanent, to boil a moment down into a snapshot that you can hold onto and keep safe. Our images will outlast our memories, and if there’s one way we can be in charge of time for just a second, it’s through a photograph. We don’t get a rewind button in this life, but with the release of a shutter, we can at least hit pause for a moment.Photography gives me the gift of controlling time, even if it’s just for a second. I get to take my greatest fear (loss, forgetting), and flip it on its head, turning it into something beautiful along the way. How lucky is that?

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think I started to build a reputation the moment I stopped trying to be like everyone else. When I realized my passion for telling queer stories, my whole business opened up. I finally had something to talk about, a passion, a driving force. Before I realized that passion, I was just kind of imitating those around me and hoping something would land. Now, my queerness and the way in which I champion the LGBTQIA+ community has become my superpower. My editing style had a similar trajectory; as soon as I let my editing look like me instead of like someone else, it started to land with other people. I grew up thinking being different was the end of the world, but I see now that it’s what sets me apart and makes me unique.

Contact Info:

• Website: sophielasherphotography.com
• Instagram: @sophielasherphotography, @sapphoprintingco

Image Credits
Ashton Sotiro