Today we’d like to introduce you to Sabrina Samuel.
Hi Sabrina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, thanks for having me. I’m Sabrina Samuel, a small business owner based in Atlanta. My company is Sabrina Samuel Photography and I specialize in real estate photography.
Photography has kinda been my thing from the age of 12 when my Uncle Barney introduced me to photography. He and Aunt Mary never had any kids, so me and my cousins got 35 mm cameras when we turned 12 or 13. Uncle Barney kept up with my photography growth over the years and would often write me long letters – teaching me things like how to set up a darkroom, camera settings, composition and other photography topics.
When it was time for me to head off to college, I couldn’t think of anything else I would rather do than to be an artist/photographer. I got my BFA from the University of Georgia and then later a MA.
The artist’s life is hardly ever a straight path. It’s usually a winding messy path of adventures and misadventures. These curves in life not only shape who we become as human being but for me were vital to shaping me as an artist and visual creator. After graduate school, I moved to India and lived there for 8 years. While there, I had the wonderful opportunity to teach and continue my photographic journey. Since returning to the States, I have worked in a wide range of fields; such as a Park Ranger, educator, sales, and volunteer coordinator for a hospice company. At every job, I always brought my camera to work – this simple act led to amazing opportunities that never would have materialized if I had left my camera at home.
Even when I wasn’t doing that Dream Job, I remained true to who I am – an artist.
Finally, after years of dreaming of being my own boss as a full-time photographer – I took that leap. I quit my job, designed a website, and hit the pavement introducing myself to potential clients. I probably did it all wrong, but my small business plan was basically who can I beg, borrow, or barter with to pay my bills during that first year in business.
The first year was really lean, but by the second year, I was earning the same wage as my corporate job.
Success came by encouragement from others and a deep down belief that I could do it. Although I loathed my time working in corporate America, it did teach me valuable business lessons that Art School didn’t. I learned how to be an efficient and direct communicator, punctuality, meeting deadlines, and basic business practices.
I’m thankful for all the opportunities along the way including the bumps. I am looking forward to continuing to grow as a person, photographer, and small business owner.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life is never a smooth road. We often think other people have it better than we do, but that usually isn’t true.
As a photographer and visual artist, the biggest challenge for me was putting a price tag on what my work is worth.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Sabrina Samuel Photography?
Sabrina Samuel Photography is a real estate photography service. In addition to real estate photography, I shoot walk-through videos and as a licensed FAA drone pilot I do aerial photography as well.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Atlanta has a lot of potential for start-ups like mine. That said, me and a lot of other photographers live and work here, so being able to make a name for your work and company can be hard. I find myself saying to agents, “This is my job, not my hobby.”
Contact Info:
- Email: Sasamuel619@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.sabrinasamuelphotography.com/
- Instagram: @sabrinasamuelphotography
