Interview with Sara Gray

Sara Gray PhotographySara Gray is one my favorite photographers who I have met online recently.  Her style is candid and fresh and representative of a new generation of photographers who are focussed on creating images that are natural, fun and colorful.  Having come from a traditional film studio background, it is also interesting to hear answers from someone who has learned and worked with digital as their first medium, rather than switching to it from film cameras.  Here, she shares with Fotofocus readers what she loves about being a photographer.

How did you first get into photography?
I was a newspaper journalist working in a small town when I was handed a camera and told I'd have to shoot all my own photos for my own stories. It was trial-by-fire, but I learned to love capturing candid moments and started taking my newspaper camera home on the weekends to practice.

What was the turning point for your move from amateur to professional?

I am a really organized person and have always wanted to own my own business and run it, and once I discovered that photography was something that was really a love and a passion for me, it didn't take long before I matched that up with my entrepreneurial side and started my business.

What would you say makes your photography unique? 

I consider my work to be "modern photojournalism," which I think combines all the best elements of photojournalism with a sense of whimsy and daring to go for something new, outside the box and fun. I look for beautiful, authentic moments to capture in my subjects.

What have been some key influence in your style?

I take big cues from fashion advertising and magazines, and I mix those influences with news photography and try to combine them. I love beautiful photos that tell a true story.

Has any one photographer been an inspiration to you?

I would say that I take inspiration from many other photographers, but I couldn't name one specifically because I really try to create my own path and not allow myself to be too heavily influenced by one specific photographer.

What has been the biggest or most challenging leap in technology for you?

Because I'm a young photographer, I never shot film and I learned completely with digital cameras, which came fairly naturally to me. But I now integrate film from time to time, which is a little bit scary because it's not in my comfort zone of the camera to the computer.

Unusual WeddingWhat direction do you see for your work in the next five to ten years?

I am growing my business toward wedding photography, and especially destination wedding photography and wonderful local weddings throughout the Pacific Northwest, and I also want to be a trendsetter in the area of unusual, fashion-inspired senior portraits.

What one piece of advice would you offer to newbie photographers?
Make friends with other photographers, and be honest with them and with your clients about the amount of experience you have and your enthusiasm to learn and grow. Being new is not a crime, and doesn't mean you're a bad photographer. Embrace it and allow yourself to learn and be part of a photography community!

You can see more of Sara's work at her website, http://www.saragrayphotography.com/