Meet Sarah Robertson | Wedding and Elopement Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Robertson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, what role has risk played in your life or career?
When it comes to risk the first thing to always pop into my head is what if? What if I take the chance and it becomes something I have always dreamed of! What if it goes completely wrong and I fall on my face and I’m disappointed? Well you never fully know until you go for it and if that time comes guess what I get to learn a lesson and pivot myself into a better direction because that just wasn’t the right way for me to go. I am a huge overthinker as I think a majority of people are but I have also trusted my true intentions and have never been disappointed. I truly believe that what is meant to be will be.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a wedding and elopement photographer based in Arizona. Originally from Northern Nevada where I started my photography business. I was attending nursing school prior to my photography business and just wasn’t happy. I was so unsure of my career choice and to be honest I was miserable. Dropping out of school was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. Not only did I feel like a failure but I felt like I disappointed so many people in my life. After I dropped out of college I knew I had to figure out what I wanted to do. I reached out to a group of girls that I met in Lake Tahoe at a girls retreat and they helped me gain my confidence back in just taking a leap of faith and going for what scares me the most which was photography! I had never worked just for myself. I had no idea what I needed or where to even start. Emma Paul was the biggest inspiration and the absolute best mentor to help me get my feet off the ground and literally gave me every resource in the book to be successful! If I have any advice for new entrepreneurs it’s that you need to surround yourself with the best people! Find the people that are no where near your level and higher up so you can level up and achieve the goals you truly want. It was not easy in anyway starting my business. I have had to learn many lessons and realize that not everyone is going to like you and that’s okay. It’s okay because the people that do like you will book you and help you succeed in your career. That was a huge challenge for me to overcome because I am a strong people pleaser and to be honest I hated that I couldn’t make everyone happy. Many people ghosted me and most days I felt defeated. As soon as I became okay with not making everyone happy the right people just kept showing up in my life and I am forever grateful for those friendships I have made. I became comfortable with the uncomfortable if that makes sense. I reached out to MANY people just to ask to take their photo for free or meet up at a styled shoot to meet other photographers to build my portfolio. I was no longer scared of rejection because I would move on and reach out to more people. It all started falling into place for me after that! Photography has always been a part of me. Ever since I can remember, I’ve always had a passion for taking pictures. Always running around with my little camera in hand taking pictures of everything and everyone that I can. It all started with a small digital camera I got for my birthday one year. I have always been obsessed with art and creative projects, thinking outside the box and telling a story along with it. To this day, I love photographing love and telling the stories of all the different types of love I get to experience. I want it to always be for the experience and the memories. I have never been a huge sentimental person when it comes to “things” I prefer photos to remember memories. I lost my father about 3 years ago and the thing I wish most is that we had more pictures together. I wish I could remember more of the memories we had because there is just something about the nostalgia you feel when you look back on a photo. You are literally freezing time on just a simple piece of paper. Those are the things that make my heart happy. My biggest piece of advice is take the picture! Take the picture even if your hair is a mess or you don’t have make up on or you haven’t slept in days. Take the photo and cherish that special memory because you’ll never get that moment back.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love this question! My favorite place so far is Page, AZ. When friends come to visit me I instantly insist on driving up to page to head to Lake Powell to check out Antelope Canyon! We stay in my favorite best western hotel that over looks the lake. It literally has the best view! They also offer the best breakfast buffet anyone could ever choose from. Whenever I book kayaks to take out on the lake I always pick Lake Powell kayaks and paddle boards. Their staff is nothing but amazing. They are so helpful and kind. They deliver the kayaks to the dock for you to help assist you and your friends into the water safely. They provide you with a map and give you a full run down of what you can and can’t do. They are the whole package and more! After we kayak all day through the most stunning canyons you get to a point where you can hike a mile in to some of the narrow spots of antelope canyon. It leaves me speechless every time. There is just something about the views and the energy this place offers. I love to enjoy a quick lunch on the water and all the sunshine on my skin. After we get back from kayaking on the lake my first stop to take anyone is State 48 tap house. The food and drinks and atmosphere is literally 100/10 They offer some fried avocado bites and just trust me, order them and try them for yourself. They are to die for!!!

Page, AZ has such great history and stories behind it. I recommend everyone go there and experience it for yourselves.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The two people I have to thank the most is first my fiancé Jarrod. He is my best team mate! Jarrod has always pushed me to follow my dreams and take big leaps in life no matter how scared I am he is always there cheering me on. When it came to quitting my full time dental office job he was the first to tell me this is what you were meant to do! This is your chapter and time in life to truly follow your dreams and I will be right by your side the entire way. He is one in a million!

The next person is someone very special to me. Emma Paul! She deserves an entire book dedicated to how amazing of a human she is. Emma was our photographer when Jarrod and I booked a couples session. I invited Emma and her husband Peter out to camp with us after our session and after that we instantly became friends. I picked Emma’s brain about how I have always had a passion for taking photos and initially was asking about the best camera to get. After a few minutes of geeking over cameras and photography Emma fully insisted that I just start my photography business and run 100% with it. After that I bought everything my business needed! With no hesitation I booked a mentor session with Emma and she has helped shape me and my business into what it is today! She constantly encourages me, cheers me on and is always in my corner helping me with anything and everything possible. Without Emma I would have never had the confidence to start my business and it would not be what it is today! Everyone needs an Emma in their life because it sure is bright having her in mine!

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