Today, we’d like to introduce you to Sophia Fulkerson.
Hi Sophia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
When I was 17 years old, it was April 30th, and I had to choose a college. I had three options; two were going to be inexpensive but did not meet my goals. The one was Ohio State, which left me with a load of payment, and quite frankly, I could not afford it. I decided to go with OSU on May 1st, and I remember thinking to myself, “How am I ever going to pay for this?” For the next three days, I fell into a bit of a slump, constantly worrying about finances and just feeling like I made a mistake. On May 3rd, I received a text from a friend asking me to go take photos on our iPhones just for fun. I readied myself and was so excited. On my way out the door, my mom handed me her very ancient camera and said, “You can use this instead of just your phone!” What started with a photo shoot of one friend turned into 300+ clients, a fully functioning business, and now three and a half years in the photography world. Maybe it was a miracle, a gift, or just a coincidence, but picking up that camera was the key to fully funding my own education, learning my passion, and owning a business that completely changed my life. This random coincidence and willingness to go after something new is the reason Soph Fulk Photo exists today.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Owning a photography business has not been sunshine and rainbows. While operating Soph Fulk Photo, I was on the Ohio State Women’s Rowing team for the first two years of college. This was 5+ hours of training every day, and my weekends were fully booked with photography. Midway through my sophomore year, I decided that rowing, as amazing as it was, was the one thing holding me back from taking my business to the next level. I quit, took a part-time job, continued as a full-time student, and made an effort to grow Soph Fulk Photo. Soon after, my great-grandmother passed away. She was truly my best friend. I am nearing year four in business, have a fully booked 2024 calendar, and haven’t let the business knock me down from pursuing each and every one of my goals and dreams of being a full-time wedding photographer.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a photographer in Columbus, Ohio. I specialize in wedding photography but serve seniors, families, and businesses all over the state. I take a natural, fine art approach to each photo. When I take pictures, I want them to capture true emotion and the essence of love stories. I am most proud of being self-taught and starting this business from the ground up. More specifically, when there wasn’t a way to pay for college, I made one. This business has been the backbone of supporting my way through school, and if I hadn’t picked up a camera, I would not be where I am today. Sometimes, all it takes is the willingness to TRY. I would say what sets me apart from others is that I am extremely hardworking. I am constantly finding ways to grow, starting new things, and expanding the business. Maybe it’s also my biggest flaw, but I am unfamiliar with rest. My clients receive photos back quickly, emails are answered fast, I spit our content quickly, and I am proud of my eagerness to serve clients in the way that they deserve!
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I started this business in May 2020 at the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a time when seeing other people was unsafe, I put on a mask, loaded my janky camera, and took photos with six feet between. I captured the lives of families and seniors at a time when life didn’t seem to have much meaning. To date, I will tell you that the beginning of this business was the most special time of the entire thing.
Pricing:
- Wedding start at $2,700
- Seniors start at $250
- Branding starts at $315
- OSU grad photos start at $275
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sophfulkphoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophfulkphoto/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/people/SophFulk-Photography/100094257236490/?locale2=hi_IN
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiafulkerson
Image Credits
Sophia Fulkerson
