We’re looking forward to introducing you to Sara Noelle Rieth . Check out our conversation below.
Sara Noelle , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I have always wanted to write a book about my journey as a wedding photographer, but I was always too scared to take the plunge. This summer, I broke my foot and was forced to stay off of it for a total of eight weeks which led me to doing the craziest thing I’ve ever done. I completed my first novel in less than three weeks. I didn’t plan it, I didn’t think about it. I just sat at my computer with an idea I had the night before and I made it into a reality. What’s crazy is that it wasn’t the book I thought about writing the last ten years. I was planning on writing my experiences as a photographer and all of the things I witnessed (both good and bad). Instead, I ended up taking inspiration from the love stories I used to write on my blogs as I told each couple’s unique wedding day story. I used the body language I studied for years, the words exchanged, the bickering I witnessed, the wedding party members hitting on vendors and vendors even building friendships and romantic relationships with one another while adding a love triangle and drama that will leave every reader either laughing, crying or craving more.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m am Sara Rieth and I have been a wedding photographer for over fifteen years with over 300 weddings photographed and tens of thousands of people met to date. I always approached photography from a storytelling aspect. You might recognize the name, Sara Rieth: Romantic Storytelling Wedding Photographer. While I still take on four weddings per year, I am focusing on writing my first serial fiction starting with “Photographing the Best Man”. What’s really fun about my book is that the cover and all of the marketing images for it are directly from one of the weddings I photographed. I reached out to my couple as soon as I started working on the book because I knew they would be perfect for the intimacy I was going for. Not to mention, I put Easter eggs throughout my book of real things that happened to me while I was photographing weddings. It’ll be up to my readers to determine what they think really happened or is complete fiction. It’s been fun adding those small details throughout it.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
This is an interesting question because I’ve actually always stayed true to myself. I remember a bride and groom once wrote a bad review about me because I wore white, Adidas sneakers that had holographic stripes on them. You can’t please everyone so my mantra is, “Why even try to?” I focus on working towards the best version of me. Sara Noelle Rieth. I’m bubbly, I love to dance, I love happily-ever-afters. I know what I want and work endlessly to achieve those goals.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Trust the process. I remember crying because I was 4 years into wedding photography and I was struggling to make ends meet for our family. I was working 60 hours a week and felt like I wasn’t seeing any rewards from it. I kept pushing through and worked late–even when I had a baby asleep in my lap or wasn’t feeling the best. If you always show up and always try your hardest, God helps those who help themselves. Great things come with time, hard work and patience.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The wedding industry tells us that weddings will be the best day ever. I believe it is for the couple, but that’s because there is a lot of things going on behind the scenes that our couples and even their families never know about because we’re that good at our jobs. I’ve decorated things when planners or florists were falling behind.
I even stopped a fist fight between the mother of the groom and the mother of the bride once.
At the end of the day, every wedding vendor wants you to have your picture-perfect day. Some things might not go as planned, or they might miss a detail or two, but know they are there, working hard to make your dream wedding come true.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
I literally tap dance actually. I also own a dance studio! I know, I know, I’m crazy for doing so much. I got to know the amazing Abby Lee Miller over the summer as we planned for her to come hold an audition prep workshop. She just stopped by our studio this month and held it. I plan on sending her a copy of my book because she enjoys reading romance novels too! In real life, she’s a sweetheart. She works hard and knows what she wants and knows how to get you where you want to be, but building a friendship with her personally really was a highlight for me this summer!
I also have BETA and ARC readers on my book and as soon as I finish my final draft, my manuscript starts heading out to literary agents in September. I am the most excited about work that I have ever been. I’ve never wanted something more in my career to be honest. It’s nerve-racking, but I am ready to take on this challenge, push myself towards new achievements and start writing more and more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sarariethstorytelling.wordpress.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarariethstorytelling/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/sarariethphotography
Image Credits
All images taken by me personally.
