Sophie Trappe

What first drew you to photography, and how did your interest develop into a professional practice and a business?

What first drew me to photography was when I was a senior in high school and joined my school’s yearbook class. I quickly learned the different techniques and skills involved in operating a camera, and I became really interested in photography. I fell in love with being able to capture moments and tell stories through images, so I started taking advantage of every photography opportunity that was available to me. As the school year began to come to an end, I realized I wasn’t going to have as many opportunities to take photos anymore, and I didn’t want something I had grown so passionate about to end. On graduation day, my mother surprised me with a brand-new Canon DSLR, two lenses, a camera bag, and other equipment to help me continue pursuing photography. That summer, I started taking nature photos and sharing them on Facebook, and over time I realized that I could turn something I loved into a way to help other people capture and preserve their own memories. I started by taking photos of my sister and family, and eventually realized that photography was something I truly wanted to pursue as a career. From there, I created a business Facebook page, built a website, and eventually filed my LLC. What started as a high school passion has grown into something I am proud to continue building today.

Authenticity is central to your approach. What makes a photograph feel truthful to you, beyond simply capturing an unposed moment?

What makes an image authentic to me is not simply posing my clients and telling them to smile. I believe the most meaningful images often come from the candid, unscripted moments that happen naturally during events, family sessions, or even business promotional shoots. For example, at an event, there may be people reconnecting with friends or family members they haven’t seen in a long time. Simply having them stand against a wall and pose for a photo doesn’t always capture the genuine happiness and excitement of that moment. I would much rather capture them naturally embracing, laughing together, or smiling so genuinely that you can see their dimples and smile lines. Those small details are what make an image feel real and personal. When clients receive their gallery and look back through their images, I want them to be able to relive those moments and remember not just what the event looked like, but how it actually felt. For me, authentic photography is about capturing real emotions, genuine connections, and the moments that people may not even realize are being photographed.

Could you tell us about the gathering shown in your submitted photographs? What did you most want to convey about the people and the atmosphere?

This gathering was for a 50th wedding anniversary in Iowa. My main focus was capturing the meaningful moments of everyone coming back together in one room to celebrate the love and life of two people they deeply care about. Many of the guests had known each other since they were younger, so I wanted to document the relationships, memories, and connections that made the celebration so special. I also wanted to capture all of the small details that helped tell the story of the event, from the personalized centerpieces on each table to the grandchildren greeting guests and welcoming some of the couple’s closest friends. One of the most important aspects for me was capturing the generational connection throughout the celebration. There were siblings, parents, children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren all present, which created such a meaningful representation of family and the legacy that had been built over 50 years. Rather than focusing only on traditional posed photographs, I wanted to capture the genuine emotions, laughter, interactions, and love that naturally happened throughout the evening. My goal was to create a collection of images that not only documented the anniversary, but also showed the relationships and memories that made the celebration truly meaningful.

These images focus on small gestures: someone writing in a book, a child playing, a woman listening with her hands clasped. What draws your attention to these quieter moments during an event?

What draws my attention to quieter moments during an event is that they often show the most genuine emotions and tell a story without the person even realizing they are being photographed. I love capturing the small gestures, like someone writing in a book, a child playing, or someone sitting and listening with their hands clasped, because those moments help show the atmosphere and emotion of the event. The bigger moments are important, but I think the quieter ones are what help complete the story. They show the little details that someone might not remember years later but will appreciate having captured. I also enjoy watching for these moments because they allow me to photograph people naturally rather than interrupting what they are doing. For me, those images make a gallery feel more personal and authentic because they capture the event as it actually happened, including the quiet moments in between the bigger memories.

How do you help people feel comfortable enough to behave naturally in front of your camera, particularly when you are meeting them for the first time?

I help people feel comfortable in front of my camera by taking the time to get to know them and making the experience feel more like a conversation than a formal photo session. Especially when I am meeting someone for the first time, I try not to immediately put them into a pose or make them feel like they have to know what to do. I will talk with them, ask questions, make jokes, and let them get comfortable with me and the camera. I also give direction when it is needed, but I try to keep it natural rather than making every moment feel staged. I want people to feel like they can be themselves instead of worrying about whether they are posing correctly. A lot of the time, the best images happen when people forget the camera is even there, so I pay attention to those genuine reactions, conversations, laughs, and little interactions. My goal is for clients to leave feeling like they had a positive experience, not like they spent the entire time being told how to stand or smile.

As both a photographer and a business owner, how do you balance a client’s expectations with your own creative instincts?

As both a photographer and a business owner, I think it is important to find a balance between listening to what my client wants and bringing my own creative perspective to their session. Every client has a different vision, and I want to make sure I understand their expectations before we begin. At the same time, they are hiring me because they trust my experience and creative eye, so I also want to bring my own style and ideas into the process. I try to communicate clearly with my clients about what they are looking for while also explaining how I can photograph it in a way that feels authentic to my work. I believe the best results happen when there is collaboration between the client and photographer. I never want a client to feel like their ideas are being ignored, but I also want them to receive something that feels unique and thoughtfully created. Ultimately, my goal is to make sure the client feels heard while still creating images that reflect my style, creativity, and approach to storytelling.

When selecting and editing photographs, how do you preserve the atmosphere of the original moment? What makes an image essential to the final story?

When selecting and editing photographs, I try to stay true to how the moment actually felt when I was there. I don’t want my editing to change the atmosphere or make an image feel overly processed. I focus on keeping natural skin tones, realistic lighting, and the genuine emotions that were present when the photograph was taken. When selecting images for a final gallery, I look for photographs that add something to the overall story, whether that is a major moment, a small interaction, an important detail, or a candid expression. An image becomes essential when it helps the viewer understand the people, emotions, or atmosphere of the event rather than simply being a technically good photograph. I also look for variety so that the final gallery feels complete and allows the client to experience the event again from different perspectives. My goal is for the final images to feel authentic to the original moment and bring back the same emotions the client experienced when they were there.