Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophia Riley.
Hi Sophia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have grown up in church, and the denomination I am a part of has a competition on a district and then on a national level for the arts! So as a sixth-grader, I decided to enter into as many categories as possible, and one of those categories was photography. My first camera was one of those cheap kodaks that you would buy for vacation or a sibling’s graduation. But I got it for my 10th birthday, courtesy of my wonderful Papa. I entered into that competition a photo I took at Bush Wildlife of the sunset; the picture was oversaturated, slightly crooked, and probably tumbler inspired. But I was proud, and it got me through to the national competition.
My personality can be “very go big or go home,” so I decided to drain my bank account and buy a Canon camera as soon as I got pushed through to the national competition. I went to Target and bought a Canon Rebel T5. While the fancy new camera couldn’t fix the fact I completely oversaturated my photos when editing, I felt like a professional. I submitted a picture of a cathedral I took at Trinity College in Dublin for the national competition. And to the dismay of my sixth-grader heart, I did not win the best photo. But my passion grew, and it grew fast. At some point in my journey of growing as a photographer, I started to prefer taking pictures of people. And this probably happened because of the photographers Jessica Kobessi and Brandon Wolfel. in 2017, they uploaded many portrait challenge videos on youtube. And any time I saw those videos, I would buy the props they used and try to replicate their styles. And in doing that, I found my style. When taking portraits, I love to keep the person the focus. While props are fun, I prefer the model front and center. But don’t get me wrong, taking photos with smoke bombs is very fun.
Currently, I am about to finish up my junior year in high school, and while my business isn’t as big as I would like it to be, I am so grateful for all the opportunities I have had. Even if it’s just taking photos for friends and family, there is something so fun about doing photography. Every aspect of photography is enjoyable for me, the posing people and taking pictures to spend hours upon hours editing. The only thing I don’t enjoy about photography is the few times I have been yelled at to leave a location. But in the end, it’s something I would gladly spend all my time doing!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t. It’s been smooth, but all in all, it’s been pretty good. There have been moments of comparison that have psyched me out or problems with my tech that forced me to take a hiatus. But honestly, photography is so easy to jump back into because it’s an art form. And while there is bad art, you can always learn from your mistakes, like how I learned not to oversaturate every photo I take, turning it into a fever dream.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a photographer, I specialize in portrait photography and family photography, and I have been known to do a photo booth or two. I would love the opportunity to take wedding photos one day. I think what I am most proud of is that I have developed my style when editing. When I edit photos, I edit for the people in the photos working with their skin tones, the lighting, and the mood of the photo. And I also think that that is something that sets me apart!
What matters most to you?
Suppose we are talking about photography, either my camera or hard drive. But if not, then definitely my family, I wouldn’t be anywhere without them!
Pricing:
- A thirty minute session is $125-190 depending on location
- A family session is $180-245 depending on location
- A fantasy sessions price can be upward of $200 depending on concept and materials
Contact Info:
- Email: sophiarileystl@gmail.com
- Instagram: sophiariley_photography
Image Credits
Seth Skebo & Maci Thornton, Liz Arnold, Lizzy Wagner, Kealy McFarland, Chloe Grimshaw
