Daily Inspiration: Meet Darlene Sanchez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Darlene Sanchez

Hi Darlene, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
For as long as I can remember, one of my favorite things to do was flip through National Geographic and Life magazines. I was always fascinated by the images that captured life around the world. I still remember being captivated by the famous portrait of the Afghan girl on the cover of National Geographic—that was back in 1984. I’d spend hours studying those photos, noticing every detail. The way light hit the eyes, the texture of the fabric, the emotions captured—it was like a puzzle I couldn’t stop solving.
When I was young, I never considered becoming a photographer. My parents were immigrants who came to this country to give me a better life, which came with the pressure to choose a “respectable” and lucrative career—teacher, nurse, doctor, and so on. Anything involving the arts was dismissed as unrealistic. I’m sure many first gens can relate.
When I went to college, I bounced between majors—first nursing, then teaching, then child development—before finally landing on photography. I took two courses: Photography 101 and History of Photography. After that, I discovered a local community center with an incredible photography program, where I took about five more courses. I went on to learn a lot of things on my own. Soon after, I started booking weddings—with nothing but a film camera. Just me, a friend who I met in college who was also experienced with photography, my one Pentax, and about ten rolls of Kodak film. Thinking back, it was a bold way to start, but I got so much experience.

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?
The road was definitely a bumpy one! Balancing being a mom and a photographer has come with its fair share of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles I faced was convincing people to take me seriously. I wasn’t just a mom with a camera. I put a lot of time and energy into my craft. I remember telling people I was a photographer and seeing a subtle smirk, as if they didn’t quite believe me. Assuming I just put my camera on automatic settings and not understanding how a camera works. It’s a challenge I still encounter from time to time, but it’s also been a reminder to keep pushing forward.
After my daughter was born, I didn’t return to a 9-5 due to daycare challenges, choosing instead to stay home and raise her.
Photography, especially weddings and family sessions, became the perfect solution. Working on weekends allowed me to contribute financially while still being able to stay home during the week to care for her. The challenging part was trying to edit during the week without putting my daughter in front of the screen to keep her occupied. I would schedule my editing around her nap times or editing late at night when she went to sleep. Sometimes I would stay up editing until 3 am and my daughter was up at 7 am. Coffee definetly saved me all those years.
When I had my second child, who was later diagnosed with autism, I had to put my photography career on pause. Our schedule became filled with therapy sessions throughout the week. It was a challenging time, but she has come a long way, and I’m incredibly proud of her progress. In fact, she even took my headshots!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve always been fascinated by psychology, sociology, and personality dynamics. These interests play an integral role in my career as a photographer, helping me connect with people on a deeper level. But beyond that, I rely heavily on intuition—sensing the right moment to capture someone as they truly are.
My main focus is to give people the most authentic view of who they are. My clients who have little ones don’t have to worry about having them sit still for long poses—I want them playing, laughing, and even crying. Most of my work involves minimal posing with some prompting, allowing moments to unfold naturally. This is known as lifestyle photography, and it is a very common style in the wedding and family photography industry.
As a hobbyist, I spent a lot of time photographing college soccer games, which gave me invaluable experience in capturing movement. Movement and emotion are at the heart of my work—these two elements bring life into my images. When photographing children running and playing I use the same settings on my camera as a do for sports.
My passion for photographing people in their rawest form naturally led me to documentary photography—my first love, my true love. As I had mentioned, as a child I was mesmerized by National Geographic and Life magazines. Now, in a way, I’m creating the kind of images that once captivated me. I step into people’s homes and document a day in their lives, making memories of their everyday moments. Because life itself is art.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I can be a risk-taker, and anyone who decides to start their own business is taking a risk, for sure. You’re investing time and money into something without any guarantees that it will succeed. But if you don’t try, you’ll never know. It’s a leap of faith. Looking back, some of the biggest shifts in my life and career came from taking those leaps.
Pursuing photography as a career was risky. Choosing to follow that passion, despite the uncertainty of success, was a huge risk. Investing in camera equipment and software is not cheap. I had no one around me experienced in running a business. That part was all self-taught and I am still learning.
I consider diving into wedding photography with just a single film camera and a handful of rolls of Kodak film was a pretty big risk. Weddings are high-stakes events. You don’t get do-overs! I was still learning, but I trusted my instincts and my ability to capture the moments that mattered. Looking back, it was bold, maybe even a little crazy, but it forced me to grow quickly. I now only do elopements and court weddings.
I believe risk is necessary for growth. It doesn’t mean being reckless—it means trusting yourself enough to take the leap, knowing that even if things don’t go as planned, you’ll figure it out. The most meaningful parts of my life have come from taking risks. There’s been times that I’ve failed, but those moments taught me my greatest lessons.

Pricing:

• Prices start at $300

Contact Info:

• Website: https://darlenesanchezphotography.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/darlenesancehzphotography
• Other: https://g.co/kgs/BFpVk8F

Image Credits
Portrait/headshot -Lola Sanchez
All other images -Darlene Sanchez