Meet Sonya Le | Portrait Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sonya Le and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sonya, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
I don’t think enough people realize that there is so much work that goes into post-production of photography. When my clients are persistent to ask for updates on when finished photos will be ready after a shoot, I find it necessary to tell them what goes into my process. I may have hundreds of photos that I have to cull through, upload the photos to my digital workspace, get into the creative and technical steps of editing, and with that, may involve indecisiveness and requiring me to walk away from my computer and come back to ensure for a fresh palette of mind and figure out any inconsistencies. When editing is finally ready, I can export and upload it to my client’s personal online gallery. This often involves additional work to review the final photos, create a unique viewing experience for my clients and also decide what I may want to post on my social media to promote and highlight my latest work. It truly is a labor of love poured into each session, for me at least, whether it takes me a couple of hours to complete a gallery or maybe months. There are several factors that can influence the timeline of photos and I hope more people who seek services from professional photographers will be compassionate and kind in respect to this. We’re only human, not machines!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In my full-time job, I’m a worker’s compensation defense paralegal. I worked hard to graduate in three years with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Philosophy & Religion, knowing fully well that I wanted to be in the legal industry and gain work experience before potentially going to graduate school. I think at age 21, I accomplished a lot that settled in all at once, and felt a type of imposter syndrome. I looked around and didn’t have anyone else going through what I was at the time. I admit, I went through a difficult transition from a first-generation student who worked towards two degrees while maintaining two part-time jobs to a full-time adult in a post-graduate life, struggling with a quarter-life crisis. I felt proud I had moved to a new city, started to live alone for the first time ever, and landed a job that was just what I wanted. You’d think this all sounds “easy” since everything was going according to plan, but there were several emotional, mental and financial challenges. What has helped me through it all, has honestly been mental health counseling. I think as independent, strong, hardworking and motivated as you can be, you cannot forget to reach out for human support. And, if you’re fortunate to have the means or access, a professional mental specialist. I adore my therapist and have been so grateful for our relationship, I think it’s gotten me to my most mentally secure and healthy state. I would like for people to know, my story didn’t come easy despite the accomplishments or timeline, and true growth should never be deemed linear.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
In Charlotte, where I’m based, I would take my friend to: a morning spin class at Cyclebar Waverly to start the day off, brunch at Le Peep, specifically in Fort Mill, SC, where we’d have mimosas and a home styled breakfast, then head out to a small pond or lake in Weddington/Waxhaw area to fish and have some seltzers basking in the sun, and probably get to drive around with the windows down enjoying the views of country side of things. Other must visits may include: a local brewery or bottle shop like Pintville to try out new varieties of beer and wine, shopping at Atherton Mill in South End of Charlotte, and probably some seafood at Pearlz Oyster Bar in Ballantyne or Be’s Banh Mi and Noodles for a hearty sandwich or bowl of noodles. Throughout our excursions, I’d most likely be carrying a disposable film camera to document the moments!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to @rebekahadelephoto on Instagram, a fellow photographer located in North Carolina! Rebekah is an amazing supporter for lifting me up when I was completely unsure of my professional and creative work and never making it feel like a competition between us. I think after meeting her for the first time exactly a year ago, our collaboration and time spent together really sparked a new period of photography for me. She was encouraging and led me to be more confident in a new phase of life/photography. I think she has been a great person to know within the industry and am incredibly grateful for our friendship!

Instagram: @sonyalephoto

Image Credits
Portrait of me was taken by Rebekah Adele Photo