Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarajane Herrmann
Hi Sarajane, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I first picked up a camera in high school, and I carried the hobby through college by taking several photography and fine arts classes while getting my bachelors in social work. After graduating, my photography hobby fell to the wayside as I worked with family services and early education. Eight years later in 2019, I was planning to sell my camera as it had been so long since I’d used it. I picked it up for one last adventure and knew I couldn’t let it go! From there it was a whirlwind six months of realizing just how much I love portrait photography still, taking on sessions for fun, finding a small business community, and taking my small business full time!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Largely, running my businesses has had more positives than negatives. There have been points of struggle, though. I went full time four months before the COVID pandemic reached a point of lockdown, meaning I couldn’t do my job in person and my job barely felt off the ground. I have had a shared office and studio space and had to come to grips with the fact that it wasn’t the healthiest financial decision for me to continue my lease. Not having a studio has created struggles in helping my clients find session locations, and it has helped me get more creative about how to find little gems and even my own home as a session space! 2024 was my largest struggle so far, as I think it was for a lot of small businesses. Trying to maintain a small business during inflation and an election year is often a bit of an uphill battle and it’s why it’s so important to me to keep my spending with small businesses as much as I can.
The part of running my business that has never been a struggle is the people I’ve met and grown to love; my clients, small business friends, and community are out of this world and it’s what makes pushing through struggle feel worth it!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a consent based photographer first and foremost. My priority is that everything about your experience from our first email interaction to you viewing your final gallery is done with your comfort, say so, and your feeling heard and respected When we’re planning your session, I will ask about what you’re looking for in your experience, what editing style you like, and what locations you have in mind. I will also ask you about what is and isn’t comfortable for you in photos of yourself, what name and pronouns you go by, and offer the reminder that you can say stop anytime during your session to regroup and try something new.
I work primarily in family photography and small business branding photography, and assuring your comfort and safety is vital in both of those types of sessions! I love when clients include their pets in their sessions and I actively encourage planning for a safe way to bring along your four legged family members!
I am most proud of building a business that prioritizes you, your comfort, your communication and boundaries, your budget, and that we build your session experience specifically to you from there.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Running this small business has changed my life. It has changed my perspective on the world and community around me, it has taught me to stop and take in the small moments and find the glimmers, and it has brought me to human beings that I love so deeply and I wouldn’t have met otherwise. I have learned to not just prioritize product based small businesses, but to also shop service based small businesses with as much intention. I am really just so grateful for the experiences I have, the people I know, and the community I’m welcomed into.
Pricing:
- I am always available to create a custom session that caters to your budget!
- Branding Sessions start at $200
- Family Sessions start at $350
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sarajaneherrmannphotography.com
- Instagram: @sarajaneherrmannphotography
- Facebook: @Sarajane Herrmann Photography
