Meet Shara Bachman of Bachmanville Photography in Irvine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shara Bachman.

Shara, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always loved pictures…I remember thumbing through picture albums as a child, each image helping to preserve memories of people and experiences in my heart. Once I had my own children, pictures held that much more power in my heart…. They grew and changed so fast, and I wanted to hold on to each precious moment. I had bought a ‘fancy’ camera after the birth of my third baby, and a sweet friend offered to teach me how to use it properly. I moved that switch from ‘auto’ to ‘manual’ never knowing that I was altering the course of my life.

I was a typical mom with a camera for a long time, just capturing my own little people. After a while, people began to ask if I could just take some pictures of their family for them. It was a fun hobby, but I never thought it could become a real business, a career….and then I found newborns. There was something so different about photographing these brand new little people. I was able to use my creative artistry to capture each precious detail on these babes. I took classes, traveling across the country to learn from other photographers in the industry I respected and admired. I practiced posing, and editing, and safety until I found my consistent style. Six years later, I have photographed hundreds of babies, each so special and unique. And I find myself having the opportunity to now teach other photographers, which is such an honor.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I never set out to own a business, to be an entrepreneur…. I just simply loved capturing images that a family could treasure for a lifetime. trying to figure out all the ‘business-y’ parts continues to stretch me.

In addition, there are a lot of talented newborn photographers, and many of them live locally to me. Being an artist is incredibly personal- even though they are pictures of other people’s babies, they are also such a reflection of me. I pour so much time into every session, from dreaming up unique set-ups for every baby, to the session itself, and the endless hours of editing afterwards. It is easy to look at other artist’s work and second guess what you are doing, if you are good enough, especially when bookings are low. I’ve had to really dig deep and believe in myself and my style and not be distracted or discouraged by what is happening around me in the industry.

The other challenge has been trying to run a business on my own and also be a mother to three children and a wife. The balance of time is tricky. I often hear “you’re so lucky to work from home!” and I am. But it is also really hard. My children don’t understand why I can’t just stop and play with them when I’m working…it often feels if I’m succeeding at work, I’m failing as a mom. Learning how to balance these two huge parts of my life is definitely a work in progress.

Bachmanville Photography – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
There are a lot of newborn photographers in my area, so it’s important to find a way to stand out in a crowded industry. I’ve worked very hard to perfect my lighting and posing…. You might call me a bit of a perfectionist! My images have a darker, moodier quality to them than a lot of typical newborn portraits. I want my images to have a very natural, organic feel to them, so I don’t do any themes or fancy props- the focus is all on baby. I have a studio full of high-quality blankets, outfits, headbands, bonnets and props for my babies. All parents need to bring is their baby! It’s important to me to make sure and connect with each family. I love hearing mom’s birth story, or finding out how big sister is adjusting. Being a mother myself, I know how difficult those first days can be, and I want to love and support the entire family.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
We live in a culture where it is easy to base our success on how many likes or shares we receive, and that can be really discouraging for an artist. I’ve had to work hard to get to a place where I feel successful because I stand behind the product I’m giving to my client, and they are genuinely happy with their entire experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bachmanvillephotography.com
• Email: bachmanvillephotography@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/bachmanvillephotography
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/bachmanvillephotography
• Yelp: yelp.com/biz/bachmanville-photography

Image Credit:
All images courtesy of Bachmanville Photography

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