We recently had the chance to connect with Sarah Cofer and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Sarah, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Right now – I’m all about taking risks in my business. I started to niche down into food photography about three years ago now, and I’m really proud of myself for how far I’ve come, and the work I’ve put in to get where I am today. I’m pitching myself to bigger clients than I ever dreamed of reaching out to, Michelin starred restaurants and national brands. I was afraid for a long time that I wasn’t good enough, or my work didn’t reflect what I felt capable of. I spent a long time trying, failing, and trying again to build a business that not only brought me joy in what I was doing, but that could be successful and support my family and I. It’s still a work in progress, and there are still days where I question everything, but I’m more confident now than I’ve ever been before, and I’m so excited to keep growing and keep showing myself what I’m capable of. Even though putting myself out there is scary, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Sarah, a commercial food and beverage photographer working in Atlanta, Georgia.
I’ve been a professional photographer for 10 years, with the last 3 focused on making food and beverage my specialty. I’ve been working to build a brand that feels authentic, real, and represents not only what’s important to me, but what’s important to my clients as well. Food is a love letter in a way, anyone that has made a career out of bringing people together with food and drinks knows that it’s truly a labor of love. So much goes into every dish, and I aim to help people tell that story visually, to help them connect with people even before they get the chance to taste their food. Understanding that you can have the most delicious menu in town, but if you can’t communicate that visually in today’s digital world, you’re doing yourself a disservice.
I’m always working towards new and creative ways to communicate through photography. I want to give my clients a leg up, and help them find the success they so deserve. I’m able to help them give their food a visual voice it might not have otherwise. I love what I do, and I’m forever grateful that I’ve been able to make this my career.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
I know that it’s a little cliché, but probably my mom. I spent a long time trying to fit myself into boxes I didn’t belong in, but she always believed in me and believed I was capable of so much more than I thought I was. I wasn’t a risk taker, I was too scared of failure. My mom pushed me, and never let me forget the talent that I had that I wasn’t using. She always saw what I could be, saw more than just what I was, more than what I had accepted myself to be. If it wasn’t for her I don’t know that I ever would have bet on myself, or taken the risks I took to get where I’m lucky enough to be today. I’m grateful for her belief in me even when I couldn’t see what she saw, and I owe a lot of my success to her encouragement and support.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
I don’t remember when it was exactly, but there came a point where I stopped believing the world was out to get me, and started trying to see the best in people. I’ve come to believe that everyone is doing the best they can with what they have, and it might not always make sense to us, but people are generally good. It’s easy to take things personally, and to get lost in feeling sorry for yourself. But that’s almost never the case, is it? We don’t know what other people are up against, and I find that I’m a lot happier and more at peace with myself and with the world when I treat people as though they’re doing the best they can. If something is meant for me it will work out, and if not, there’s probably a reason I can’t see just yet, and something better around the corner. I like to think so anyway.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
It all starts with what you tell yourself, and that you’re more powerful than you believe. Our own attitudes shape so much of where we fit in in the world. If you don’t believe you can, why would you try? Our own belief systems have so much more power than we realize. Our thoughts go so far beyond just being what we think, they are the most consistent source of encouragement or discouragement we have in our lives. Who talks to us more than we talk to ourselves? So much of what we think and believe can become truth if we’re not careful. Affirmations may seem silly, or feel silly when try them, but there really is power to be found in just telling yourself you CAN. I have doubts, and fears, and I often compare myself to others, but I try to catch myself when I get caught in negative thinking – if I don’t tell myself I’m capable, who will? Just keep showing up, keep believing that you’ve got what it takes, keep telling yourself that you do, even if you don’t believe it at first. You might be surprised by where it takes you.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I like to think I could. There’s so much in life that we have to do for ourselves, and it’s rare that other people see it. You won’t get praise for putting in the work behind the scenes. Someone told me once that “how you do one thing is how you do everything”, and that really changed my perspective. I’ve noticed that when I give things my all, even things that are small, even the things I don’t necessarily want to be doing, it becomes easier to make that an unconscious standard. Doing my best becomes my default setting, rather than something I have to tap into when I need it most.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sarahcofercreative.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/scoferphoto
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-cofer-644529233/
- Other: contact email: sarahcofer@sarahcofercreative.com
Image Credits
For the photo of me: Jalyn Anne Photography
All other photos are mine
