First Friday Features: Sarah Cornish

Welcome to The ME Project's first ever First Friday Feature! I thought it was only fitting that Sarah Cornish, from My Four Hens Photography, be my first featured photographer. When I finally learned to shoot in manual mode, (back in 2013), I decided to participate in Sarah's Project 52. In that year, I met a bunch of wonderful photographers. I was inspired by the amazing talent. I was pushed, and grew as a photographer. However, I believe the biggest thing I took from that experience was confidence in my work. I knew I had a long way to go, (and still do), but the fact that someone as talented as Sarah thought my work was worthy of being featured on her blog made me feel like a million bucks! I was also so impressed with the kind and incredibly gracious way that she ran her Project 52. If you're not familiar with Sarah's work, please head over to My Four Hens Photography to get lost in the rich colors, the amazing landscapes in her backgrounds, and the loving family connections she captures with so much heart.

*Sarah wanted me to put a disclaimer that these photos were shot with her phone. (Isn't she silly? They are beautiful!)*

You: The Person

1. How would your family and friends describe you?

A very introverted people person. I tend to put myself into all I do, so I find I need to quiet my mind and retreat as well. I can be very social when it comes to work, but more than anything I feel most vulnerable when I do fully open up to relationships- so it can be a task for people to get close to me. I keep my circle small for this reason. I am oddly more comfortable sharing online than having a phone conversation with a stranger or even going out to coffee with someone I really don’t know well. I don’t care for big crowds either. I also just do not have the ability to put on a facade or half ass anything and am myself always in every situation, so I pour myself into whomever I am focusing my energy on. I wouldn’t have it any other way, but it can be exhausting. I hate small talk but I also hate awkward pauses so I like to be in the company of those that I can just sit in comfortable silence.

2. How many children do you have, and how old are they?

I have five children and another will be joining in our family in just a couple of weeks or so. My oldest is 13 and then we have an 11 year old, 9 year old, six year old and two year old. This next baby will also be our last baby so I am just taking time to enjoy the journey. It seems odd but I wouldn’t even mind going overdue. I do hope to foster some day though so it isn’t about being pregnant or even having babies (though they are sweet and it is a gift.) I just love to be a Mom.

3. What is the hardest part of being a mom of that many children?

I think Motherhood in general isn’t easy regardless of the amount of children or the dynamic. It is raw and beautiful and special. It isn’t meant to be simple though. The hardest part as far as physically care taking was when they were toddlers and couldn’t all communicate their needs clearly. There was of course the exhaustion but there was also adventures and so much imagination so it was amazing to be able to witness. The hardest part now is being sure that I nourish each one of them as the individuals as they are and to remember that being a Mother and caring for other humans is remembering that they DO have their own likes, personalities and are not an extension of me any longer. Babies and toddlers have oddly become easy because I have done it so many times. Dealing with teenage hormones and puberty however is a new journey all together. One I fully embrace but can be scary at times because you want to do it right. You realize you don’t have all the time in the world anymore when they are in their teens and you realize the days of diapers and breastfeeding are so far removed and they are now closer to driving age and real life adult goals and dreams.

4. What does your husband do, and how did you meet?

My husband currently works in the oil field. When we first moved to Colorado he was a stay at home dad but when we had to get better health benefits for our family our plans changed. I met him when I was sixteen at a grocery store. He was the check out boy and I thought he was cute. My Mom made sure he knew it by professing my admiration half way across the store on the way out after bumping into him multiple times and always kind of gushing to my Mom. It is kind of a long story, but he was my high school sweetheart and sixteen years and almost six babies later I couldn’t be married to a kinder, more wonderful man. Most women say that, but we are so much alike we just fit. We more than love each other… we suit each other. He is literally my partner in every way. He also assists in my business so we get to spend a lot of time together.

5. What makes you laugh? What makes you cry?

Everything and nothing. It really depends. I am not overly sensitive… but I can be. I love to laugh so I much prefer to do that though. I don’t like to really cry in front of people and it is pretty rare though that I do. Pregnancy makes me cry. I lose touch with the ability to keep it together and all the feels come out at once.

6. What is your best physical feature? What is one that you would like to change?

My heart? I mean… Vanity isn’t really something I get too into oddly. If I had to pick maybe my eyes because I inherited them from my Mother and a lot of the women in my family share the same almond shaped eyes. Beauty isn’t permanent anyway so I don’t subscribe to all that very much. I do hope to get in shape this year but that is because I really for once just have this need to be healthy. It isn’t a weight loss goal. It is a lifestyle change I am more so hoping for.

7. If you could change one thing about yourself or your life, what would it be?

I think too much. Maybe to just have a little more chill would be nice. It is a blessing and a curse. Thinking too much sometimes lends to worrying too much, and who likes to worry?

8. Do you exercise? If so, what do you do and how often?

I hike and get out quite a bit. I also chase kids and walk up and down stairs all day. I am sure after I have this baby I will be more in tune with my work out regime though. My husband and I work out together when I am not pregnant so I am excited to get back to that.

9. If you need new clothes, where do you shop?

Target? I mean… I love the anthropologies and free people type places but between fluctuating in sizes over the years it isn’t always practical though I may indulge for a special occasion or if there is a good sale. I do love me a second hand/vintage shop though.

10. Where/How did you meet your closest friends?

I grew up with them! I generally don’t have a big group of friends though. My husband is my best friend and I spend the majority of time with him.

11. How many friends do you have that you could call at 3am to bail you out of jail? What did you probably do to get arrested?

Haha just my husband. My family lives cross country or I would have a huge family to back me up though. There is a lot of us. I am not even sure though. Kind of a cop out but I am not that interesting haha.

12. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

Given birth six times?? Well almost six times? haha. I am sure some think having this many kids definitely qualifies.

13. What is the one thing about yourself that you are really proud of?

I love who I am. Not many can say that. I am completely comfortable with myself.

You: The Photographer

14. How did you become interested in photography?

I was interested well before I even hit my teens. I remember wanting a Polaroid camera when I was about 9 or 10. It didn’t happen but I always was a creative kid. It runs in my family so I think it was something almost engrained in me. I also love to color/paint/draw/write/sing etc. It is a huge outlet for me.

15. How long have you been in business?

About seven years now!

16. If you’re in business, what job did you have before becoming a photographer?

I was home with our children full time.

17. What camera/lenses/camera bag do you use?

I keep a full link here: http://myfourhensphotography.com/about/whats-in-my-camera-bag/

18. Do you use Lightroom, Photoshop or both?

Mostly Photoshop but I am comfortable in Lightroom.

19. Do you take pictures everyday?

Nope. Mostly when inspiration hits.

20. What is your biggest struggle as a photographer?

For me, I used to worry there was a time I would no longer be relevant. Now I don’t want to be TOO relevant. I want to be different. Finding ways to do that can be a challenge but it also makes me strive to be better and work harder so it isn’t a bad thing. I just am not the type of person that really wants to fit in. I want my own voice to be heard and to be discerning and clear in my work.

21. How often are you on FB/ Instagram/ Twitter/ your blog?

I am pretty frequent but I tend to be busy being a full time photographer and since I am not overly chatty in my personal life (For the most part) I like having that voice online.

22. How difficult would it be for you to go without screens (no phone/ iPad/ computer/ TV) for one week? One month?

I admit it would be difficult. I really love the netflix. Phones/social media it depends. I actually unplugged from my personal FB for months when I got pregnant with this baby. I like hat quiet sometimes. I do need to be present for my business though since I help support our family.

23. How do you promote your photography?

Word of mouth mostly.

24. Whose work are you most influenced or inspired by?

My own. :) I fully support my friends and love to build them up in the community but many times I will step back and unfollow so I don’t find myself comparing. I like everything to be organic in the way of inspiration. It makes me a stronger artist. Most of the photographers I am drawn to however are nothing like myself.

25. Have you done any personal projects? Is there anything new you are working on right now or plan to start soon?

I have done some and failed most haha. I think this year I just want to photograph my own family more with no strings and no pressure. I don’t do well with uniformity and am an all or nothing kind of person so knowing I have to do something tends to take all the fun out of it for me.

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