Sathish:
“You started photography very young. When did you decide this was going to be your career?”
Sarah:
“That started when I was very young. I was photographing people in high school and did that for many years. I went to the International Center of Photography in Manhattan, and all my training was in film and the dark room. After that we moved to North Carolina, I raised my daughters, and did weddings and high school seniors along the way. Once my daughters were grown, I realized it was time to officially start my business. That was back in 2018.”
Sathish:
“How has photography changed since you started?”
Sarah:
“Our industry changes almost constantly. The year we moved to North Carolina, everything went digital. That was a shock, but I quickly realized the same principles applied. It was really about learning the equipment. The biggest change over the years has been equipment: mirrored cameras to mirrorless. I use a mirrorless Sony now. And of course AI is here. It is affecting us most in retouching and editing, but it is also touching sales, marketing, websites, just about every part of the business. It is very important for us to stay ahead of the game to continue being successful.”
Sathish:
“Do you see AI as a tool or a threat?”
Sarah:
“I think it could be considered a threat, but it depends on the individual. I believe it is still very possible for us to be successful as photographers. We are going to have to bump our game up. AI is probably going to knock out the lower quality photographers who focus on quantity over quality. The higher tier photographers are going to have to keep their brand really sharp and double down on customer service, which is always important but even more so now.”
Sathish:
“Is AI democratizing creativity or diluting it?”
Sarah:
“I am not seeing it yet, but I am sure it is on the rise.”
Sathish:
“How is AI changing your actual workflow?”
Sarah:
“I am integrating it carefully and slowly. I want to make sure I understand everything I use before I use it. Right now the biggest place it shows up is in our retouching process. It used to take hours upon hours, and there were things we simply could not do before. Now AI is making that easier and quicker, which means I can deliver images to my clients much faster. That is huge.”
Sathish:
“Can AI retouch as naturally as a human?”
Sarah:
“AI can smooth out a wrinkle, but it will make a person look flawless in a way that does not look natural. When I retouch, I soften wrinkles, aging spots, acne, but I keep it natural so the person still looks like themselves. AI is going to make a person look like they have been through a windshield wiper effect. That said, AI will catch up. It will get there, but it is not there yet.”
Sathish:
“How do you see the shift from Google to AI for finding businesses like yours?”
Sarah:
“Right now most people find me through Google. The shift toward AI is happening slowly, but I know once it tips, it is going to be huge and fast. We are preparing ourselves to be ready for that. I do not think people will stop using Google entirely, but there will be a significant shift. We are watching it closely and researching what that balance will look like.”
Sathish:
“What is your biggest focus for growth in 2026?”
Sarah:
“I want to grow my client base in headshots and personal branding. Those genres are booming right now, especially with so many people starting new businesses. I have a strong belief in staying focused on a smaller number of genres to provide the best customer service possible. When a photographer divides themselves too much, their sales and marketing suffers. I want to stay focused and push deeper into what I do best.”
Sathish:
“In a world shaped by AI, what do you hope will never change about human creativity?”
Sarah:
“When I started my business, I focused on the connection between myself and my client. In all my years of training, there was never a class about how to actually work with a client in front of the camera. That blew my mind. I realized how important it is for the client to feel comfortable. I prepare them, we talk about wardrobe and posing, I show them the screen during the session, I use humor, and we have a great time. That is how I capture genuine personality. Great expressions come from real connection. That is something AI simply cannot do.”
