In today’s THE AUDACIOUS BABE Podcast episode, I had the absolute pleasure and honour to be interviewing Sophie Callahan from Sophie Callahan Photography.
Sophie kindly shares her wonderful photography journey and we are chatting all about Horse Photography (Equestrian Photography). I was very excited to be interviewing Sophie about her horse photography business as I did not know much about horse photography at all. So when Sophie and I “met” online (on Instagram), I immediately asked her whether she’d like to come on the show. And here we are.
If you are not involved in the Equestrian market, then you don’t realise what a massive market in the UK alone it actually is. So I was quite blown away by the sheer volume of that market – one can say, naively so maybe, but still I just found it so very interesting to learn about this.
Apart from sharing her story and talking about the Equestrian market, Sophie also kindly gives us a little sneaky peek behind the scenes of her entire workflow – from first client enquiry to delivering the final images, including how she wows her clients and how she handles after sales.
We also chat about how she manages social media and creates emotional connections with her clients via storytelling, blogging and her weekly vlog. One busy lady, I can tell you that – truly inspiring as she is very successful with her content strategies that we can all definitely learn from what she has to say. I for my part have truly enjoyed listening to Sophie’s stories and taken some good business tidbits home, for sure.
As you can see this interview is PACKED with lots and lots of good stuff! She is one hell of an audacious babe, don’t you think?!
If you have any questions for Sophie, she is already part of our online community, so just head over here and join us! I’m sure she is more than happy to answer any of your questions!
Below you will see some examples of Sophie’s beautiful work as well as a few background information PLUS all her social media links where you can find more of her.
Enjoy, my lovelies!
Magdalena x
Name: Sophie Callahan
Business Name: Sophie Callahan Photography
Website: http://sophiecallahanphotography.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SophieCallahanPhotos/
Twitter: @SophiecCallahan
Instagram: @sophiecallahan
Short Bio:
I began as an event photographer, when I was nineteen (eleven years ago) to fund my way through university. When I left uni, my Dad came on board to help with the business side of things and we ended up building the company into a national event photography franchise. But, I felt that something was missing. My interest in photography had developed from a need to be creative and event photography was far too point and shoot to satisfy my creative needs. I’ve ridden and owned horses since the age of three and I had such a strong desire to photograph them. When I discovered equine photographers on Facebook, I knew that that was I wanted to do.
I began photographing friends and their horses in my spare time, to see if I could turn it into a business idea. My parents (who aren’t horsey themselves) told me they didn’t think it’d work, but I decided I’d just do it part time, in order to do something I was completely passionate about. A year later I was fully booked and we ended up selling the event photography business. And I haven’t looked back ever since! I now travel the UK photographing horses and their humans, capturing the bond between each partnership on camera. I just want to photograph everyone who loves a horse.
I also work with a lot of small equine and country businesses, on commercial photoshoots, creating images for them to enhance and strengthen their brands.
I am thirty years old, married to my partner, Sam, who I’ve been with for fifteen years and we live in a cottage in the Essex countryside with our Cocker Spaniel, Barney.
3-5 fun facts about yourself:
- I’m a proud brand ambassador for an equine and country jewellery company, called Hiho Silver and a country accessory company, called Mackenzie & George.
- I don’t have any photography qualifications. I am completely self taught, but I do have a degree in Equine Studies.
- I am also a country lifestyle blogger. I blog six times per week, including about my equine photoshoots, country fashion, home and interiors, equestrian and country days out, etc. I often attend the biggest horse shows in the country, with press accreditation and then feature the events on my blog. And I also produce a weekly vlog, on Youtube. Both have helped hugely, with marketing my photography business to my ideal audience.
- I currently don’t have my own horse, for the first time in my life, but hope to get back in the saddle this year and will be looking to buy my next horse next year.
