Meet Sara Stanley

Today we’re excited to be connecting with Sara Stanley again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.

Sara, thanks for joining us again. Just to level set a bit for folks who may have missed our last interview together, can you briefly introduce yourself?
Hi there, it is your pal Sara Stanley — owner of Sara Stanley Photography & Studio. I have been capturing those special moments full time for the last ten years. They have sure flown by! SSP has had a few major moves, but still continues to be centrally located in the Houston Memorial area. Now, I do serve the greater area and often find myself in Sugar Land, Katy, the Heights and even downtown!

What is the SSP brand? It would be so easy to just place myself into the “photographer” category, but SSP encompasses SO much more. I have created a brand that reaches people where they are, in some of the most tender and amazing moments. I have fostered a community where we can get together to NOT just take photos, but to have coffee, to delight in our latest reads, share meals together, or send them when sick. My brand, the SSP way, is to BE in the lives of my clients… and to honestly share mine with them. The SSP community is amazing.

What sets SSP apart is the genuine connection that I have with my clients. It is almost as if the job, the photos, are secondary to the relationships that are being built and established through the work. I mean it when I say, my clients are family to me. I have pride in their accomplishments, my heart hurts when their times are tough, and I delight in watching families grow and change each step of the way!

I want to help create and capture beautiful memories for my SSP Family. Knowing my clients on a personal level, only helps to enrich my ‘job’ as a photographer. I am with families in those first moments of a babies life, all the way through graduation. I see my families continue to change and expand every fall with the must-do ‘fall family photos’. I have a few families that have been with me for the length of my professional journey! I love to catch up with kiddos during their fun milestones… first birthdays, awkward moments during personality sessions, and the many times between.

SSP offers so many different ways to hold on to those memories… Maternity and Hospital sessions, Newborn and baby sessions, milestone sessions like those days of chubby rolls and first birthdays, family and fun themed mini sessions, as well as headshots and branding sessions. I am always trying to think of new and fun things for my clients!

Honestly, I couldn’t do what I do without my amazing family at home. They are my constant encouragement! I could also not be where I am without the support of the wonderful SSP community. They are some of my biggest cheerleaders. We are family, we support each other and I love that I have been blessed to walk alongside so many wonderful people!

Alright, so our main goal today is to give our audience an update on what you have been up to since our last conversation. We’d love to hear how things are going and what you are most looking forward to or excited about these days.
SSP is constantly trying to evolve. This last year I moved studios — not far from the last, just around the building and up some crazy stairs. The new studio is so cozy and feels so much like me. While it is smaller than the last, I love it even more. If you haven’t come to visit, please do!

I feel mostly steady in this chapter of SSP’s story. We age haven’t encountered any really bad hardships nor has anything monumental happened. If you know me, you know that I find stillness hard, but truly that is where we are right now. I am taking this year to think about what SSP looks like for the future. I am trying (always) to assess the changing needs of my clients, especially as we are all feeling the effects of this economic climate.

It seems silly to say, but I do truly love what I do. Not just because it has given so much to my family, and I have had so much success, but because I do really LOVE what I do. I have poured myself into this business and so many things have changed from day one to now.. but that fact has still remained true. I am at the point that I feel like of like an ‘old lady’ in this industry. But don’t worry I still make all the silly noises, chase after your kiddos, and TRYYYY to keep up with the trends!

We also want to give folks a chance to get to know you a bit better so we’ve prepared a fun lightning round of questions. Ready?

Favorite Movie: About Time

Favorite Book: I read A LOT — but my book Roman Empire is the Throne of Glass Series by Sarah J. Maas

Favorite TV Show: Ted Lasso

Sweet or Savory: Savory

Mountains or Beach: Mountains

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up: An artist

French Fries or Onion Rings: Onion Rings

Favorite Childhood movie: Captain Ron

Favorite Breakfast Food: …. dinner… haha

Was there a moment in your career that you can tell us about that illustrates or demonstrates the kind of person you are, your approach, ethos, etc.
— the first question in my interview had a LONG answer and I think you can take part from that for this section—

Website: https://sarastanleyphotos.com

Instagram: @sarastanleyphotos

Facebook: @sarastanleyphotos

Image Credits
The photo of my family and I was taken by Heather Armijo (edited by me)