Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophie Goodwin.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey in photography began in my high school darkroom in Kentucky when I was about 16. Being my first time in a darkroom at a new school, this was an entirely new experience for me. It was exciting but more importantly, it was the first time I felt truly in tune with myself. I was able to focus, engulfed by darkness and surrounded by quiet, watching the image that I created appear on paper in front of me. This class introduced me to the artist within myself; I had finally found a method of creative expression that made sense.
After graduating high school, I had the opportunity to pursue my bachelor’s in Photography at Columbia College in Chicago. Inspired by the big city and my new camera, I fell in love with portraiture. My sophomore year, I began working in the photography studio on campus, I felt challenged and engaged in this new environment. I was then introduced to the teacher that changed everything for me: Verser Engelhard
An incredible teacher and seasoned photographer, Verser changed my life in so many ways; re-teaching me every piece of knowledge I thought I knew about photography. Breaking free from the textbook rules and traditional ideals, learning became exciting again. I fell in love with fashion and photography as a dual art form, redefining my love for photography and lighting entirely. After studying fashion and retouching under this incredible mentor, I felt ready to graduate and create.
I stayed in Chicago for six years after graduation, staying busy with day jobs, internships, photo gigs, and endless collaborative projects, but I started to feel stagnant in the city and craved nature. This finally brought me to Austin in 2013. I packed up everything and left in a truck with three friends to drive 18 hours to Austin.
I spent my first few years in Austin working with other artists and getting to know the community. Collaborating is something I have always loved to do: teaching, learning, and creating with another artist is truly beautiful when the harmony hits.
After many years of photographic projects, collaborations, and working side gigs while being a full-time barista, I recognized that my creative work needed focus if I wanted to make a career out of my passion. I decided to use my unique skill focused in retouching and post-production to create the income needed for my photographic career. I realized the stability and freedom I was looking for as an artist was in front of me the whole time. I found my flow with retouching and finally decided to quit my barista job, making the leap into the position of a full-time freelance artist.
Although retouching has provided most of my income in my business, I always find my way back to photography. I am grateful that this skill that I have allows me to continue to explore my love and passion for the photographic art form. The balance between production and post-production in my business has provided me with unique freedom. It has brought me back to the studio, rei-igniting my love for composition and lighting, while continually creating opportunities for my business. I am stoked to see where this next chapter will take me!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It was definitely not all smooth. My biggest struggles were internal, but I have learned so much from my struggles. They make my successes that much more fruitful.
I have learned to set goals and let go of expectations. I have gotten caught up in my own expectations of myself, others’ expectations of me, or where I should be in my career. The truth is the world is constantly changing and so are we, as long as you stay determined, focused, and open, anything is possible.
I have also learned to focus on the now, which I have heard so much over the years but it didn’t truly resonate until my business kicked off. Dwelling on the past or dreaming toward the future can both be black holes that lead you to stand still. Do not stand still, keep going.
One of my biggest struggles with photography is balance- balancing my passion with my career, my emotions with my professional opinion, my career with my social life. This will be a forever struggle, but a struggle that I consistently learn from and am excited by. I could go on about the struggles, but I never want to be bored from learning from them, they give me so much life.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a photographer and retoucher. While I make most of my income with retouching my passion will always be with photography. I am known for my fashion and portraiture but have been shifting my focus to product and architecture since the pandemic. I love photographing people and the connection made during the experience, but there are infinite ways to create behind a camera and I want to continue to explore all styles and realms. I am proud of how far I have come, every job that I have landed, and the growth that happens each time. As a photographer and a retoucher, I have a detailed eye that allows me to prepare for production and post-production needs, as well as the experience to create a fun and comfortable environment on-set.
As a retoucher, my goal is to create a final image that is illustrative of what your eye sees behind the lens. The lens picks up more detail than the eye can capture, my goal is to make everyone look their best and most natural selves. My style is clean, sharp, and U.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
There are so many to choose from! I would say the family vacations, we were so lucky to have that quality time and see so many new places together. It introduced me to the wilderness and my love for traveling.
Contact Info:
- Email: sophiegoodwinphoto@gmail.com
- Website: http://www.sophiegoodwinphoto.com
- Instagram: sophiegoodwinphoto
Image Credits
Jurnee Jazmine Guillory
Lacey D Lindsay
Lewis Sharmeen
