Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Moss.
Hi Sarah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My love for photography started at a really young age. I always dreamed of becoming a photographer, but growing up, owning a camera just wasn’t financially possible for me. In high school, I wanted so badly to take a photography class, but because I couldn’t afford the equipment, I ended up taking broadcasting instead. And as it turns out, I absolutely loved it! Looking back, I think that was one of the first ways I discovered just how much I loved storytelling through a lens.
Fast forward to when I was about 25. My husband knew how much I had always wanted to pursue photography, and one day he found a camera on Facebook Marketplace for $500. At the time, that was practically all the money we had to spare. But he believed in me, even when I wasn’t sure I believed in myself, and encouraged me to take the leap. So we bought the camera, and I started teaching myself everything I could through YouTube videos, endless practice, and a whole lot of trial and error.
Not long after, COVID hit, and I lost my job. What felt like a setback at the time actually became the beginning of something incredible. I started offering front porch mini sessions, completely free for frontline workers and just $30 for everyone else. My husband, our three kids, and I would pile into the car (two of our babies were still in car seats and drinking bottles at the time!) and drive all over southeastern Louisiana photographing families on their front porches. It was chaotic, exhausting, and honestly one of the sweetest seasons of our lives.
Those little $30 sessions taught me more than I ever could have imagined. I learned my camera, developed my editing style, gained confidence working with people, and most importantly, discovered how much I loved documenting real connections and meaningful moments.
From there, I hit the ground running. I photographed multiple sessions a day, worked seven days a week, and poured everything I had into learning, growing, and building a business from the ground up. There were plenty of long nights, sacrifices, and moments of uncertainty, but I knew I was doing exactly what I was meant to do.
Now, nearly a decade after picking up that first camera, I get to look back and see just how far we’ve come. What started with a $500 camera and a dream has turned into a career that allows me to do what I love while also having the freedom to be present for the people who matter most to me. I get to create my own schedule, prioritize my husband and children, and run a business that has become everything I once hoped it could be.
And truly, none of this would have been possible without my husband. He has been my biggest cheerleader from day one, sacrificing so much of his own time and energy during those early business-building years so I could chase a dream that once felt completely out of reach.
I feel incredibly blessed that something I wanted so badly as a little girl has become my everyday life. And if there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s that sometimes the biggest dreams have the humblest beginnings. You just have to be willing to start.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh, the struggles were SO real! I think sometimes people see where a business is today and don’t realize just how much went into getting it there.
For a while, I was juggling another career, building my photography business, and raising three young kids. Life was busy, to say the least! Eventually, I got to a place where I felt like we were finally doing well financially with both incomes combined. We had just moved into a new home, and things were starting to feel comfortable. Then, not long after, I unexpectedly lost my other job.
I vividly remember thinking, “What am I going to do? We’re going to lose this house.” It was terrifying, especially having three little ones depending on us. But looking back, that fear lit an even bigger fire under me. I knew I had to make photography work, and I was willing to do whatever it took.
I poured everything I had into growing my business. I was constantly showing up on social media, networking in person, making connections, putting myself out there, and taking every opportunity I could to learn and grow. Those first few years were easily the hardest. The hustle was exhausting, and there were so many moments of self-doubt.
I struggled with imposter syndrome more than I’d like to admit. I constantly questioned myself. Was I actually good enough? Did I really have what it took to make a career out of this? Would people continue to trust me to capture some of the most important moments of their lives?
But I kept showing up. I kept learning, practicing, growing, and reminding myself why I started in the first place.
I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that building something meaningful rarely happens overnight. There were so many sacrifices behind the scenes that nobody ever saw. It took consistency, resilience, and a whole lot of faith.
And while I wouldn’t necessarily want to relive those exhausting early years, I’m so grateful for them. They taught me not only how to run a business, but how to believe in myself, even when things felt uncertain.
What once felt like one of the scariest moments of my life ended up pushing me toward the very career I had dreamed of since I was a little girl. Sometimes the doors that close are the ones that give us the courage to finally walk through the right ones.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I like to think of myself as more than just a photographer. I’m a storyteller. I’m the person lucky enough to be invited into some of the most beautiful, meaningful, and fleeting moments of people’s lives, and somehow, I get to call that my job.
While I specialize primarily in weddings, one of the greatest blessings of my career has been getting to grow alongside the families I photograph. I’ve photographed couples as they say “I do,” watched them become parents, and then had the privilege of documenting their children as they grow. Being trusted to come back, year after year, and capture each new chapter of someone’s story is something I will never take for granted.
I think what sets me apart is the genuine connection I build with my clients. I don’t ever want someone to feel like they’re just another session on my calendar or another wedding on my books. I truly care about the people in front of my camera, and I feel so incredibly honored that they allow me to be a small part of their lives.
My favorite moments are often the ones that happen when nobody realizes I’m watching. The look on a father’s face when he sees his little girl all grown up in her wedding dress, just moments before walking her down the aisle. The sound of little kids giggling, tickling each other, and running wild with their parents during a family session. A grandmother sitting quietly at a wedding reception, looking around the room at the beautiful legacy she’s built, surrounded by generations of love.
Those are the moments that get me. Every single time.
They’re not always the perfectly posed, picture-perfect moments. Sometimes they’re messy, emotional, chaotic, or so subtle you could miss them if you blinked. But they’re real. And to me, those are the moments that matter most.
I want people to look back at their photographs 10, 20, or even 50 years from now and not just remember what life looked like, but remember exactly how it felt. I want them to see the love, hear the laughter, and remember the people who made those seasons of life so special.
If I’m most proud of anything, it’s the relationships I’ve built and the trust people have placed in me. Photography has given me a front-row seat to so much love, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop being amazed by that.
At the end of the day, I know I’m not just delivering photographs. I’m preserving pieces of someone’s story that will only become more valuable as time goes on. The little hands won’t always be little. The people gathered around the table won’t always be there. And those once-in-a-lifetime moments really do only happen once.
To be trusted to preserve them is something I consider one of the greatest honors of my life.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Without a doubt, my faith has been the biggest influence in both my personal life and my career. I truly give God all the glory for where I am today. I feel so incredibly loved, blessed, and grateful for the life He’s given me and the opportunities He’s placed in front of me.
More than any book, podcast, or business resource, my relationship with Jesus has shaped the way I approach everything I do. I don’t just want to be known as a good photographer. I want to be known as someone who makes people feel loved, valued, comfortable, and seen.
A huge part of who I am, both personally and professionally, is rooted in wanting to love others the way Jesus loves me. I believe that the people who cross our paths are there for a reason, and I never want to miss an opportunity to show someone kindness, grace, or encouragement.
I often think about how photography is so much more than the images I deliver. It’s the way I make someone feel while they’re in front of my camera, the relationships I build, and the little moments where I get to serve others through something I genuinely love doing.
My faith reminds me that this business isn’t just about me or my success. It’s an opportunity to love people well, to serve with a grateful heart, and hopefully leave a little bit of light wherever I go.
If I can use the gifts God has given me to make even one person feel a little more loved, or shine even the smallest bit of His light into this world, then I feel like I’m doing exactly what I’m meant to be doing.
At the end of the day, photography is my career, but loving people is my purpose. And I pray that the two will always go hand in hand.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sessionl.ink/sarahanne5771
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmossphotography?psln=MW9sZWVoOTQ0eWM5Mg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahMossPhotography?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=3iONtyWQ6gBXMYVD&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1F2YvcfMsu%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr
