Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherina Welch.
Sherina, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
As long as I can remember, I’ve had a love for photography. Even has a child, I would create silly make shift studios, and I’d invite friends over so I could photograph them.
Mind you, the backdrop was wrinkled bed sheets, and my camera was an old rickety film camera. Fast forward to my twenties and photography became my hobby, and my interest was street photography and portraits. When I wasn’t working, I’d roam the streets of Houston and capture anything interesting. (I have some cool images of the Monorail being built!) Fast forward some more and my first baby.
Up until this point, although I loved photography, I wasn’t a technical savvy person and cameras are very technical, so I’d just shoot on auto and hoped for the best! Now that I had this beautiful baby girl, I really wanted to start capturing her. So I became obsessed with learning the camera functions. I studied the manual and then studied it again. I sent hundreds of messages to photographers I adored and asked tons of questions.
For every ten photographers I questioned, I’d only receive one answer. So I’d write down their answers in my journal, and then I’d go out and shoot. I’d make tons of mistakes and figure out a resolution. Lots of trial and error! I ate, slept, and breathed photography and slowly started my business. I have now been in business for over ten yrs, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world!
In 2014, I was ranked in the top three for Houstons Best Photographer. I’ve also been featured in a variety of publications, and a few years ago, I decided to give back to the community and started working on personal projects. Projects that would educate the community about certain ailments that otherwise many wouldn’t understand. Alzheimer’s and Pediatric cancer just to name two.
Since then, my personal projects have received national attention on media outlets such as The Today Show, GMA, Huff Post, and many more. I enjoy capturing children and families in our area, and I am so very blessed to be able to do what I love… Photography!
Has it been a smooth road?
In the beginning, it was quite a bumpy road. I didn’t know one single photographer, so I didn’t know where to begin. And on top of that, the internet wasn’t as resourceful as it is now, so I had to purchase books and take tons of notes. I would look up websites and try and pick photographer’s brains, but wouldn’t get much of a response, so I decided to start reading the camera manual.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with FreeSpiritFoto by Sherina Welch – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My business is FreeSpiritFoto, and I specialize in natural light, on-location photography.
I have clients all over the Houston area and travel quite a bit, but my most common go-to spots are in The Woodlands area. I specialize in maternity, newborns, children, and family. The biggest compliment is when clients decide to invest in me again and again. I still have original clients from ten yrs ago! Another thing that makes my heart melt is their responses to their slideshow. Tears of joy are my favorite!!
I’m most proud of my personal projects. I took something out of nothing and created a beautiful project and shared it with the world. Having my work displayed in art galleries such as the amazing Glade Gallery here in The Woodlands was definitely on my bucket list!
What sets me apart from others? Hmm… that’s a hard question because we have some amazing photographers in our area, but if I had to choose one, I’d get my answer from my client feedback. And clients compliment me on my editing style.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love our diversity! Our city has some really cool vibes from downtown Houston to the Heights, to my favorite spot which is the Buffalo Bayou (love their bike trails), to midtown!
Pricing:
- Creative fees start at $200 and Collections start at $795
Contact Info:
- Website: www.freespiritfoto.com
- Phone: 832-264-5066
- Email: sherinafreespirit@yahoo.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/
FreeSpiritFoto
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
