Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophia Miller.
Hi Sophia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hello! My name is Sophia Caroline, it wasn’t long ago that I sought to be behind the camera lens. The fascination with capturing pure moments that pause in time, that bring the utmost joy to the recipient, and myself. I recall the first poster I printed with my photography on it, (I still have it) was a tree from the angle of me shooting looking up as if I were laying down on the ground. That was the magical moment that began it all…
Soon it became something that I was unable to resist, as I held my first camera I fell in love with everything that came with it. At 15 years old, you could catch me mostly photographing trees, animals, and landscapes. Years later, I decided to take the plunge and create a business from it. From photographing fine dining cuisine to couples, babies, portraits, families, and theatre companies I soon began to see that it wasn’t only photography that I loved so much, it was my traveling to and from sessions that went alongside it that really made it even more special to me.
In combination with the many roles I play, I began my podcast, The Traveling Goddess. Where I am able to spread the word about traveling, mental health, and self-care but also to share my love for all these things showcased through my photography. The combination of sharing my traveling stories through photographs and talk is something I never thought I would do in my life!
However, it is truly a passion that is inspirational to me to continue traveling, and hopefully to others in the realm of those subjects. Photography has its own voice, you look at a photograph and there is usually a key element that pulls you in, and as a photographer, it means the world when a person is able to see that perspective or even appreciate the angle you saw during that photoshoot.
As a podcaster, it’s important to create photographed content in relation to the episodes that go alongside it all. The combination brings everything together, and truly creates magic in my life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing is easy, if it was we would all do it… right? I began my photography business, with the idea that I wanted to just have cute photoshoots with dogs. Get the pets all dressed up, and create fun backdrops. The idea sparked from my dog, (he just turned 14!) as I found I would always snap photos of him.
That business idea was a fun one at the time, however, the market was not applicable at that time. I have had times where photography sessions are all I had booked, and at times that meant turning potential clients away. There have also been times when it has felt like no one in the world wanted a photo shoot, and as a business owner that can be highly frustrating.
A couple of struggles were setting professional boundaries, it is easy for someone to sign up for a photo shoot, and at times even easier to cancel last minute. Not only wasting the professional’s time but also losing revenue. Of course, certain circumstances were understandable as life is quite unpredictable. However, when it becomes habitual you must learn to implement those boundaries.
Some other struggles would be setting aside a set amount of hours for podcasting and photography. It can be so easy to lose track of time, especially when your main source of income is not yet those passions. So being strict about routine is so important, of course, it’s all a learning process so we must learn to also really learn how to positive self-talk, and self-care!
The biggest lesson of following your passion is to never give up. Keep going for what you want, when we fail we learn how not to do something. That is a huge takeaway I continue to learn from, it’s not that I am failing its that I am learning that some ways work and others don’t!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
The light has definitely shifted my photography for my podcast, The Traveling Goddess! My inspiration to start this podcast stemmed from my personal journey with mental health, self-care, and wanting to travel the world! I put out one episode a week, sometimes I have a 2-part series dependent on the episode subject!
I like to change it up, so each week it will be one of the three subjects I am passionate about, and sometimes I do some combo episodes, like Traveling + Anxiety. I am known for my photography, advocacy for mental health, and travel, and probably an avid coffee drinker! Haha. I am most proud of taking a chance on myself, going for what I love and have a passion for.
The intention at first, with my podcast specifically, was to just get my voice out there and educate others on a plethora of subjects.
Especially in today’s day and age, mental health and self-care are SO important to be open about and I have never felt more confident or transparent until I began my podcast. Of course, I can’t go without mentioning my support system of my family, friends, dog, and boyfriend, who have always told me to go after what I want!
It has allowed me to open up about my personal journey, setbacks, set forwards, passions, and things I had to do in order to truly create a healthy lifestyle. The element that sets me apart from others I would say is my optimistic outlook on life, and my passion to make a positive impact in the world.
This is a journey that I embarked on, and continue to learn from and it’s a beautiful process even though it’s not always shiny. If I could give my younger self some advice, it would be to just go for it! If your heart is passionate about it, then find a way to make it happen.
We are not supposed to have all the answers to it, so just start somewhere!!
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
A couple of my best friends and family know this, but not so much my following, however, I enjoy knitting and painting!
A couple of besties and I used to go to a local pub to do the wine and paint, it was a fun way to just let your mind do whatever and create something beautiful without thinking much about what you want to paint, at least for me that is the process! Knitting, which is part of my coping with anxiety and depression as well, is something I was taught when I was like maybe 13 years old.
I set that down for a long time and picked it up two years ago again. I actually have been knitting a lot lately while watching a show or something like that, just to get some scarfs made and hopefully donate to a women’s shelter soon when I’ve made enough!!
Pricing:
- 75 Mini Session ( 5 lightly retouched photos, 3 people MAX).
- 175 Family Session (15 lightly retouched photos, 5 people MAX, pets at no extra cost).
- Inquire about being a guest on The Traveling Goddess.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sophiacarolinephotography.pixieset.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetravelinggoddess33/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophiacarolinephotography3
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/1UXsihj4WonSeBbGr7OcJW
Image Credits
Sophia Caroline Photography
