Today we’d like to introduce you to Peyton Sims.
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?
Before being on my high school photography staff my junior year, I’d beg my adviser to allow me to check out a camera for the weekend. While I was yet to have any photography experience, I loved the thought of being able to bring my creative visions to life. Throughout my junior year, I would gather my friends up for elaborate photoshoots across town, and I’d be so excited to get home and edit my pictures. My high school adviser always told me “your first 10,000 photos are your worst” with the intention of encouraging us to go out and shoot as much as possible – and that’s exactly what I did. From sports events, studio shots for our school newspaper, or my younger cousin’s birthday parties, I would go out and shoot something every chance I got. During the end of high school, I was booked up for weeks with senior portraits, family photos, and even weddings. Every day, I feel like I’m constantly learning more, and I’m inspired to continue improving my work. Now, almost two years later, I’ve started my own business called Photos by Peyton. As a first-year journalism student at The University of Texas at Austin, I’m currently a Life&Arts reporter and a photographer for The Daily Texan newspaper, and I’m the head photographer for ORANGE Magazine. While I know this is only the beginning of my career, I look forward to all that still lies ahead.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As a photographer, one of the biggest problems I’ve faced is burnout. While I love what I do, there have been times where I’ve overworked myself. I didn’t consistently get booked until my senior year of high school, and for anyone else in the field, everyone knows how exciting it can be to receive a booking. With this in mind, I would almost never say no to a client, even though I might’ve been in need of a mental break. Over time, I had to learn my own boundaries and when I needed to limit myself. It’s easy to get caught up with the chaotic schedule that comes with being a photographer, but working yourself to the point that you dread to pick up a camera isn’t worth giving up your career.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Primarily, I’m booked for portrait photography ranging from senior to family photos, but I enjoy experimenting with a lot of different styles. Whether it’s events, landscape, wildlife, or sports photography, I try to do it all so I can have an idea of what I enjoy best. As I’m figuring out my career, I try to remain open to new ideas. My favorite part has always been experimenting with something new and letting my creativity flow. There’s no better feeling than watching a photo that I’ve imagined for years come to life.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
One of the most important lessons that I’ve learned is that if I want to be successful, I have to work tirelessly to get to where I want to be. Considering that I’m not booked up with shoots every day of the week, I have to take it into my own hands to stay busy. Sometimes I’ll even roam throughout the city of Austin taking street-life pictures just to see what new places and people I can find. One time, I even shot with black and white 35mm film on a camera I bought from an antique store to experiment with a new photography medium. Through all of the work I’ve put in so far, I’ve continued to become more inclined to living in the moment because sometimes, the most unexpected things have the potential of becoming a life-changing photo or story.
Contact Info:
- Email: photosbypeytonn@gmail.com
- Website: https://peytonsims.wixsite.com/mysite
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photosbypeyton/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photosbypeyton
Image Credits:
– For the first photo of me: photo creds go to Abby Elliott – All 8 of the following photos of my work are taken by me, Peyton Sims (@photosbypeyton)
