by Chelsea Morning
Find out why magic is so important, how she started doing "Imagination Shoots" and what "Friend" she's most like!
Half gypsy, half mermaid, Sarah Peach is a mythical force of stunning beauty, amazing strength, magical creativity and above all else, love.
She's a free-spirited, whimsical soul; wild at heart, child at heart, a coven of proud ancestors in tow. Vast and brilliant, there's no lie in her smile, the word impossible won't cross her lips, she'll create another world on a whim, and be back in time to make dinner. Her eyes can see beyond the ordinary, able to capture the colors of our world, our inner beauty, our outer glow. She reminds us that we truly are magic and made from the stars.
I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and enchantment interviewing local portrait photographer, Sarah Peach.
When did you first become interested in photography?
My first specific memory of falling in love with photography was when I went to NYC with my school's marching band when I was 14. This was during film days, and my camera I brought with me popped open and my whole roll of film was exposed... and the back wouldn't shut. I was pretty devastated I lost all those photos. I had to buy a disposable camera and just deal with it. My sister, knowing how upset I was, and a few close friends helped me recreate those photos by back-tracking our whole day. But even looking through the lens of a cheaply made (super overpriced) disposable camera, I couldn't help but notice how much I loved it. Even though I lost all those other photos, I created new ones with the people I loved. And my love for photography grew from there.
Your photos are full of beauty, creativity, spirit and a lot seem to come straight from another era or even of another realm. I love how you're not the traditional portrait photographer! How do you feel your "nontraditional" perspective helps you in capturing the perfect shot in your couples/marriage portraits, family, maternity and senior year portraits?
I always hope, even on a traditional shoot, that I can somehow capture magic. I feel like everyone has a little magic in them and I try to bring that out. I think my nontraditional approach to shoots really helps me think outside the box, whether I'm doing an Imagination Shoot or a wedding.
You specialize in what you call Imagination Shoots, where clientele can be portrayed as whimsical mermaids, mythical woodland sprites inspired by the natural world, legendary unicorns, enchanting witches, royal maidens, all within stunning magical settings transported from faerie dimensions and fairy tales. It's truly an otherworldly concept. How did it become your specialty?
Part of it is because ever since I was little, I've loved magic and fairytales. And, thankfully, I never outgrew that. The rest of it came when I had my daughter. She became the most magical thing in my world, and my love for everything magic became her love, too, and she became my muse. I would photograph her, and she would ask for things that no one else would, like "can you add a rainbow in the sky?", or when she lost her two front teeth, "make me a vampire" or "make me have wings!!". And I would never know if I could do it, but I'd spend hours trying. And I'd always come up with something fun, even if it wasn't perfect. It was like modern day dress-up with my daughter and being able to bring her imagination to life was magical. It became something I wanted to do everyday and I knew I had to incorporate it into my business.
From mermaid tails to antler headdresses to Harry Potter, the costumes of your Imagination Shoots are fantastically amazing! Do you have a huge wardrobe of beautiful attire to choose from or are all ensembles customized?
Sometimes clients provide their own wardrobe and accessories, but I also get a lot of my stuff from thrift stores or my own closet. I am also lucky enough to be friends with the owner of Pointe Foure, a local vintage clothing store. She is sweet enough to lend or rent out clothing for me quite a bit. The mermaid tails I own are specially made by a company in Colorado called Swimtails, and I'm hoping to get some more very soon. I also love to create, and I make a lot of the headpieces you see in my shoots.
I feel like if I called you up to schedule a photo shoot as a mystical gypsy fortune teller, complete with a crystal ball and caravan, you'd say, "Not a problem!". How important do you feel it is in today's world to connect with our magical side and to let our inner spirit essence shine?
My family actually comes from gypsies! My grandma still has my great-great grandmother's crystal ball. I think connecting to your magical side and inner spirit is so so so important, especially in today's world when people forget to just take in all the beauty and magic around us. And a lot of that comes from our own history and family. I love the quote, "We are the granddaughters of the witches you could not burn." Because not only is it important for us to connect to our magical side, it's so important to pass that down. I brought my daughter up having a strong spirituality and love for our church and God, and I also brought her up with a broad imagination and a love for nature, magic, reading, singing and creating. Keep the magic and beauty alive through the next generation!
You're a family oriented person, it's so sweet how you literally shout with joy your adoration for you daughter and your husband! What do you think you've learned from photographing all different kinds of people and the celebration of all the different kinds of love?
I love love! I know it's cheesy but it's my favorite thing. I think that's why I love photographing weddings and seeing smiles and capturing joy on a mother's face when she looks at her new baby. I think what I've learned photographing different people and different kinds of love, is that love looks different to everyone, but as long as it's real, it's the most beautiful thing in the universe.
10 Little Questions (because it's the little things that mean so much!)
What's your favorite sound?
My daughter's voice
What smell do you love?
There are shops in the Morocco section of Epcot I always have to walk through when I visit, because they are so beautiful and I absolutely love the way they smell. It smells like the perfect blend of different herbs, spices and incense all mixed together. Every time I smell something even remotely similar, my brain takes me back to a specific shop there with a thatched roof, as the sun is peeking through the ceiling and all the different colors of fabric are flowing in the wind.
What mythical creature are you?
Definitely a mermaid!
Rotary dial phones or cell phones?
I like to look at and take photos of rotary phones, but for functional purposes and photo storage, cell phones.
What "Friend" are you most like; Rachel, Ross, Monica, Phoebe, Chandler or Joey?
100% Phoebe, I actually get compared to her quite often.
You're a witch, what's your signature spell?
I'm going to dive into the Harry Potter world real quick and say, "Lumos" since I'm afraid of the dark.
What's your favorite herb?
Basil
What's your favorite essential oil?
Eucalyptus!
What gemstone do you love?
Hematite or Unakite, I can never decide between those two.
What is the universe trying to tell us?
I don't think the universe tells us anything as a group, I think it tells us all different things, you just have to listen or look for your own message. My messages aren't specific words or anything. More like images (ironically) or sounds and feelings. Just the beauty of the world around us. Watching the sunset. Taking a walk in the woods and listening to the birds. Petting my cats. Listening to my daughter sing. My husband's laugh. They aren't exactly messages, more like the things that are the most beautiful- maybe appreciation and thankfulness are my messages.
Facebook: Sarah Peach Photography
Instagram: @mrspeach @sarahpeachphotography
