How Sophie Traynor Became Successful After Graduation.

During her final year of university, Traynor worked on building her commercial portfolio until her graduation in 2013. Once graduated she moved home and did some freelance work photographing pregnant women, horses and couple portraiture. Alongside this she had a part-time job in a bar and also worked as a college technician in a photography studio. With having two jobs this allowed her to save money alongside her practice.

In 2014, Sophie gained her first client Gorgeous Couture, a clothing brand predominantly dresses, through a friend who studied fashion in University. Sophie was recommended for this job as the client had fallen out with their photographer. In this same year she bought her own studio which was eighty pound a month, allowed her to create a network and be creative again. With this space she worked with a model agency to build up their portfolio, which helped Traynor to also create experience and a fashion photography portfolio.

In 2015, Sophie was granted with another opportunity to work with Russel Hobbs to work with a food stylist. Due to this being her first food photography experience, she creates a simple setting with even lighting. She gained this opportunity though the manager of Gorgeous Couture who recommended her for this shoot. In order to expand her portfolio, she took creative shots for her hairdresser friends rest shoot collection, again using simple lighting. At this point it is important to point out that Sophie was still working part-time in a bar and as a college technician.

Traynor, took to plunge and went full time with her freelance business in 2016 and achieved her first published feature in Look Magazine. Alongside this she began to work with Truelove Company where she had the opportunity to work with choreographers and dancers to update their portfolios which allowed her to be more creative within her practice. Furthermore, she worked with an influencer throughout 2016 and years following.

In 2017, Traynor attended an Azurina event at the London Fashion Week. From this she gained a job with Never Fully Dressed and Coppafeel for a charity shoot (for no expense), which she was suggested through the model she worked with at Azurina. At this stage of her career she noticed that she was not getting acknowledged or networking with the influencer.

In 2018, Sophie worked with George Foreman on their 'This George Can' campaign which she got through working with Russel Hobbs as they were ran by the same individuals. Through this she gained the opportunity to partake in a food styling workshop. From this she also gained the opportunity to work on her first campaign with Remington.

Sophie's work started to kickstart in 2019, with working with Primark on their playstation range, in which she hired her first assistant, which was a person she knew prior to the shoot. She also did a shoot for Cath Kidston.

As covid-19 hit in 2020, Sophie had a hard time adapting to this and rebranded her company and moved to Liverpool, closer to her agency.

Through covid restrictions in 2021, Sophie collaborated with Never Fully Dressed at someones house, which they worked outside with masks on. Moved into a Liverpool Studio with friend Lauren and launched Covet Creative.

She gained a job opportunity through a friend from university, working with Naughty Boy for Naughty Boy's Kitchen, which should have been a full day shoot but had to turn it around in one hour and forty-five minutes.

Sophie participated in her first video commission for Next Up, 2022, this was something she had not done before but found it easy and was another speciality she could add to her portfolio. Through her work with Remington she ended up working with Cloud 9 and IMA Home back to creating still instead of videos. She then worked with LSK Productions on a project for Jameson, where she was recommended by Thomas Duffield, who she had links with through the University of Huddersfield and had only met twice.

Finally, in 2023, she is continuing with her commissioning job and launching her new business with her fired in which she has full creative control over her work.

What can be learnt:

From this, it is pertinent to notice that saying yes to every opportunity is vital when trying to network and create a name of yourself in the photography business. Furthermore, the importance of having a part-time job, especially if it relates to photography (like Sophie's technician job), is influential for success.

Sophie was able to become successful and own her own freelance business only three years after graduation, which she achieved by pushing herself out of her comfort zone and throwing herself into her work. Furthermore, even when she had just finished University she ensured that she was constantly doing photography, for example when she was doing equestrian and couples photography.

Furthermore, she taught us to nurture skills, go over what you know and to not be scared about trying new things and continuing to build new skills. Advancing on this, it is also important to nurture connections, as this is vital for gaining job opportunities which has been represented throughout Sophie's career.