Stephanie Honikel Photography
Photographer Spotlight
Welcome to our first ever “photographer spotlight”! We wanted to take the time to feature some of the amazing photographers that have photographed at Studio House AZ. This week we are featuring the lovely Stephanie with Stephanie Honikel Photography. Read below to get to know her better and see her beautiful work at the studio!
Q. Tell us about you! What is your name, where are you from, and a little about your family!
A. Hi, my name is Stephanie. Born and raised in Germany, I’m a baby whisperer at heart dedicated to capture authentic moments, love and connection that will be treasured for generations to come. I’ve been married for over 12 years! I love spending time with our 10-year-old daughter, Audrey, and our two-year-old Irish Doodle, Jaxon.
Q. What is your business name, website, and instagram?
A. Business name: Stephanie Honikel Photography
Website: https://honikelphotography.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honikelphotography/
Q. What types of photography do you specialize in?
A. I specialize in maternity and newborn photography.
Q. How long have you been a photographer and what made you want to get started?
A. I’ve been a photographer since 2014. A momma myself, I know all too well the anticipation and beauty that lies within pregnancy and how momentous bringing a baby into this world truly is. This is how I fell in love with my passion to beautifully and professionally capture them. Capturing their curly softness, innocence and beauty absolutely makes my heart sing – these are moments we do not want to forget.
Q. Are you a full time photographer? If so, how long did it take you to get there? If you’re not, what else do you do for work?
A. I am a full time photographer. Whether one is considered full time or part time photographer depends on a photographer’s personal goals in my opinion. To some, 1 to 2 sessions a week is considered full time whereas others work 10 sessions or more. It is no secret that the market is saturated with photographers and making a living in this career is hard work. Therefore, it is so important to not only “have a good camera”, but to also know the ins and outs of the business side of the career to make a living.
Q. What inspires you?
A. My clients are the source of my inspiration. I only offer a limited number of sessions a month to allow for excellent service. I highly believe in quality over quantity. Every session is customized to my client’s wishes and I invest a great amount of time getting to know them and what they are envisioning for their photo shoot. Meeting on Zoom or at a local coffee shop, this is the time to get all questions answered and to see if we’re a great fit. I will never be the photographer to just send over my pricing. As clients have different priorities, for example pricing over skillset, I want to be certain to find the right client for my business principles as well.
Q. What is your biggest photography strength and your biggest photography weakness?
A. My strength in photography is patience and my attention to detail. My weakness my inability to put a time limit on my sessions. This may not necessarily be a bad thing for my clients though, right?!
Q. What do you like to do for fun?
A. As a mom of a horse crazy girl, I spend a lot of time at a nearby barn. I also love to go for walks with our big fur baby and meet up with friends whenever possible. I have yet to take advantage of my gym membership at our local health club. Anyone looking for a workout buddy? ;)
Q. Do you have a photography goal you’re working toward?
A. I found my true calling in maternity and newborn photography, though you never know what the future holds.
Q. What advice do you have for other photographers getting started?
A. One advice I would give a new photographer is to invest in a hands-on workshop/coaching program. As a newborn photographer, I was trained and mentored by the very best in the newborn photography industry with emphasis on newborn posing and safety. Watching a few tutorials on YouTube isn’t going to make anyone an expert. Knowing the business side of the career will also help charge the right prices from the beginning and making a living from what you love doing.
Q. What do you love about Studio House AZ?
A. What I love most is that there is a variety of settings to choose from. I also find the hourly rate quite reasonable!
Q. Which rental suite is your favorite at Studio House AZ?
A. The Villa!
Q. If you weren’t a photographer, what would you want to be?
A. That’s a tough one! I went to school for Tourism and Events Management, but I have always dreamt of joining the police. I do believe that everything happens for a reason. Photography has found me. Loving what you do for a living is rare. I consider myself lucky.
