Check Out Sophie Seay’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophie Seay.

Hi Sophie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve loved photography my whole life, but I decided to go to college for Marketing my freshman year at Ohio University. I quickly realized I needed to be in a creative field so I transferred to UC Blue Ash for their electronic media program. It was a blend of design, photo and video and really set me up for what I do now. I spent my early 20’s trying to build my photography business but I was also doing so many other things. I ran my own herbal tea Etsy business, I taught kids yoga and hula hoop classes, I did gigs spinning led or fire hula hoops, and I worked in the restaurant industry. I’d say around 23 I really started to realize that I needed to focus on photography to actually make that full time, so I really put my focus in and started to fully build this business, with less distractions. I think I needed that time to do all of those things to really grow as a person and fully develop my sense of self, before developing a successful photography career.

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?
It’s always going to be up and down! Being self employed is never a fully smooth road.

I am a multi passionate person and that’s great, but I think realizing that I was just simply trying to do too much is what really helped take some weight off and allowed me to see progress in my business. This type of career requires focus, and dedication and since I’ve devoted myself full time, Ive seen the pay off. I did my first wedding in May of 2024 and I have booked 14 weddings since then! It can be easy to feel down on myself for not being as booked and busy as other photographers, but I also have to remind myself that I JUST started. Im always raising my bar so I have to remind myself to slow down and think about how far I have come.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am the human behind Sophie Seay Photography LLC 🙂

I specialize in great photos. I don’t like to put myself into one box, because that’s just not me. I do weddings, concerts, portraits, families.. anything you need photos for, I’m your girl!

What sets me apart from others is my ability to capture real, raw moments. Of course as a photographer I know how to pose, but I also know how to get a client comfortable enough to show their true smile. My personality along with my ability to take beautiful images I think is going to be the key to most of my success in this business.

I also try to show as much of myself on social media as I can. Whether that’s on instagram, TikTok or YouTube, I just want to show up as my authentic self because I believe that will attract the people who will want to work with me, but also the people I want to work with. I also want to show people also trying to build their photography businesses the real relatable side of things, because it’s easy to only see the highlights of peoples lives, but we all struggle at times. It’s important I think to show that side too.

Any big plans?
To continue to grow and see where life takes me. I don’t have any crazy plans at the moment, just to keep learning and expanding.

(Although it would be really cool to own a studio to rent out one day…….)

Pricing:

• Portraits start at $375
• Families start at $400
• Headshots start at $250
• Weddings start at $2500
• Show Coverage (concert) start at $200

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sophieseayphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophieseay.photography?igsh=bGVrMDBnemVoOXh4&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AVqdYPtbd/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sophieseay?si=074Y8SxdfOY-Tmyf