Meet Gracie Shafqat | Portrait and Branding Photographer

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

Hi Gracie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Photography became more than my hobby towards the end of my college career. I realized I had to lighten my course load and sacrifice parts of my social life to keep up with how many photoshoots I booked. From that moment on, I never stopped questioning if photography should be my full-time career or if I should keep pursuing the corporate life. I recently decided to leave my full-time job because not only has photography been more of my passion than my other job, but it has brought so many amazing people and opportunities into my life. I knew I had to make my business official and start putting the time and effort into it that it deserves. My business has impacted not only my life but the lives of others and it has made me feel so fulfilled and rewarded over the past few years. My goal for starting my business was to capture a special memory for someone else and connect with as many like-minded businesses as possible. I can say with confidence that I have achieved that goal and will continue to bear that in mind as I expand and network.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

What sets my business apart from others would be my natural editing style and the experience of shooting with me. I will always be your biggest hype woman and try to get a laugh out of you and ensure your experience is the best it could possibly be. I also believe my editing style is timeless and its purpose is to enhance and highlight your best self, not to add unnatural colors or edits that don’t reflect you in real life!

I’m most proud of what kinds of brands I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Over the years, I’ve expanded my portfolio which has allowed me to collaborate with some awesome companies and incorporate new lifestyle content and ideas into their website or social media.

One lesson I’ve learned along the way is that rejection is normal and you shouldn’t take it personally. There have been brands that simply don’t want professional lifestyle content from a photographer or some that don’t even respond to your pitch, but there will also be some that are ecstatic about you reaching out to offer your services. As long as you are constantly putting yourself out there and you have a solid portfolio and mission for them to understand, things will work out – even if it means starting with smaller brands first. We all start somewhere.

Another lesson I’ve learned is that owning your own business takes A LOT of sacrifices and A LOT of patience. There is so much that goes into establishing your business before running it successfully and it may feel overwhelming. There have been times when I feel like I’m drowning with tasks or there is not enough time in the day to get everything done. Remember to make time to relax and show yourself some grace.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

If my best friend was visiting San Diego, I would have to treat them to my favorite food spots. A chai tea latte at better buzz or breakfast at Claire’s on Cedros or Parakeet Cafe is a must. For lunch, I’d have to show them how good the Mexican food is here and head on over to The Taco Stand on the 101 in Encinitas and if they haven’t had Board and Brew before, you better believe I’m making them try that sauce. I love a good margarita so for pre-dinner drinks we’d need to go to Death By Tequila. For dinner, I would suggest ALCE 101, North Italia, Pacific Coast Grill if they want to have dinner on the beach, Blue Ocean Sushi in Carlsbad or Kai Ola in Leucadia, or Pandora’s Pizza if they want something casual! Oh, and if they want home-made tacos, we’d have to stop by Seaside Market and get Cardiff Crack!

For activities, I would love to hike at Torrey Pines or go to Draft Republic in Carlsbad since I haven’t been yet. I also love going to the beach at either D Street, Swamis in Encinitas, South Ponto in Carlsbad, or 15th Street in Del Mar. It would also be fun to go shopping at One Paseo and make a succulent bowl at Pigment then stop by Salt and Straw for ice cream after. If they like to golf, I’d take them to Aviara in Carlsbad and then grab lunch there afterward. If there’s time, we would also need to go to Petco Park to watch the Pads.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

The biggest shoutout goes to my dad. My dad loved photography when he was my age and has passed down his film camera and supported my journey every step of the way. He helped me buy my first camera and practiced with me and mentored me when I had any questions.

The rest of my family and friends also deserve credit and recognition for my success because of their love and encouragement which has always boosted my self-confidence. My mentor Abbey Harmon (@abbeyjophotos) has also been such a great resource and kind soul that I can rely on when I need support from someone in the industry with more experience under their belt.

Instagram: @photobygshaf

Linkedin: @gracieshafqat