Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Harrison.
Hi Sarah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m originally from Canada and was adopted from South Korea at birth. I grew up in Montreal, where my dad — an avid amateur photographer — gave me my very first camera, a vintage Praktica LTL from the 1970s, for my 11th birthday. That gift sparked a lifelong passion for photography.
Between that time and moving to Tennessee permanently (nearly 20 years!), I continued exploring photography in Montreal on a more amateur and experimental level, trying out different styles and techniques just for the love of it. It was my creative outlet for sure, something that always brought me joy, no matter what else I was doing.
I left Montreal in 2013 and began photographing professionally in Tennessee in 2014, focusing on family portraits and small weddings, at first. What started as a passion project quickly turned into something much bigger. When COVID hit, everything changed — my business took off almost overnight. The demand for photography kept growing, and I realized this could be more than just a side job.
After six years of balancing photography with a full-time office position, I finally made the leap to pursue it full-time. It was a huge risk during such an uncertain time, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Today, I run my own photography business capturing portraits, branding, and lifestyle imagery.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Yes — it’s definitely been a learning experience from the very beginning, and I can’t deny that I’m still learning (and open to learning!) every single day. When I started, I had to figure out everything on the business side — pricing, accounting, managing clients (which is a huge thing in itself!). Like many people stepping into entrepreneurship, I didn’t know how to run a business right off the bat.
Finding affordable studio spaces to rent was another challenge early on, as was coming up with my own sales pitches and marketing strategies. There’s so much that goes into running a photography business beyond just taking great photos. And of course, balancing work and family life has been an ongoing part of the journey — but it’s all been worth it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in headshot photography that’s used across a wide range of fields — from corporate and creative industries to entertainment and personal branding. I love helping people look and feel their best in front of the camera, no matter who they are or what they do.
I think what sets me apart is my ability to make anyone — from a CEO to an artist to someone who’s never had professional photos before — feel comfortable, authentic, and confident. I’m most proud of how far my work has come. When I started photographing higher-profile clients and even a few celebrities, it really hit me that I must be doing something right with myself and my business (lol).
As much as I LOVE working with people, I also enjoy doing luxury real estate and product and apparel photography. I’ve been shooting all recent Greystar-owned properties and developments in and around the Nashville area and I’ve also been working with Arrowhead Tactical, a local clothing company, for the past 3 years, among others.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’m personally a risk-taker for sure, I always have been. I’ve always believed in taking chances because I have that “you’ll never know unless you try” mentality. Some of the biggest turning points in my career came from trusting my gut and stepping into the unknown. I think risk is essential for growth; it’s uncomfortable, but it’s also where the magic happens. You can prepare all you want, but at some point, you just have to leap and trust that you’ll figure it out along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sarahbarreharrison.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahharrisonphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photosbysarahharrison
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbarreharrison
