Sarah Stanley Mentoring
CONFIDENT, CONNECTED, CREATIVE
Mentoring for Photographers
As a self-taught photographer who’s built a thriving wedding and family photography business, I know how overwhelming it can feel to figure it all out alone. That’s why mentoring matters. A good mentor helps you find clarity in your style, confidence in your workflow, and direction in your business. It’s about more than just technical skills; it’s about empowering you to trust yourself, build meaningful client relationships, and create work that feels true to you.
I’m here to share what I’ve learned, support you through the challenges, and help you grow with purpose, not pressure. The mentoring will focus on natural light photography, whether on location outdoors or within a family home. This approach ensures consistency and accessibility, as studio lighting can vary significantly from one studio to another and often involves considerable expense.
“Absolutely loved our chat. Thank you so much! Really happy with it. You’ve given me so much hope. Just been telling my boyfriend all about it and it's made me feel like I CAN do it!!”
Guidance. Mentoring. Support.
My photography style is built around genuine connection, and heartfelt storytelling; and that’s the foundation of everything I share in this guidance.
I believe in creating a space where couples and families feel relaxed, seen, and celebrated, which leads to those real, meaningful moments we all want to capture.
I bring a mix of warmth, humour, and calm direction on the day of your session and I aim for nothing less than the perfect shot; every time.
HOW IT WORKS
1 hour sessions
Book one or as many as you like.
Tailored to exactly what you need.
Ask anything. Nothing is too small.
Confidence fuels growth and unlocks your true strengths.
1:1 Mentoring Sessions
If you’re looking to feel more confident with your camera, lighting or how you guide your clients, you’re in the right place.
These 1:1 sessions are super relaxed, chatty, and completely tailored to you. No pressure, no overcomplicated tech talk, just real, helpful guidance you can actually use.
Whether you're just starting out or want to refine your style, I’ll help you keep things simple and natural.
Sessions are 1 hour (first session 1.5 hours)
Book a one-off or come back anytime for ongoing support
Studio Mentoring (LED Wall Lighting)
If studio lighting feels a bit overwhelming,
I’ll help you strip it right back.
We’ll cover:
Simple camera settings (I shoot Canon, but it all translates)
How to use LED wall lighting in a soft, natural way
Where to position baby/family for the best light
Creating clean, natural-looking images
Gently guiding your clients so nothing feels
stiff or awkward
Perfect if you want your studio work to feel more
relaxed and less “posed”.
In-Home Natural Light
Mentoring
Natural light can be beautiful… but also tricky. I’ll
show you how to make it work in any home.
We’ll go through:
Easy, go-to camera settings
How to find the best light (even on darker days)
Where to place baby/family for soft, flattering results
Using simple spaces creatively
Natural, unforced posing
This is all about learning to see light and use it with
confidence.
Wedding Photography
Mentoring
Weddings can feel like a lot but they don’t have to.
We’ll chat through:
How to plan the day with your couple
Key moments to capture (without overthinking it)
Lens choices and when to use them
Natural posing for couples
How to guide people while keeping everything
candid and relaxed
Perfect if you want to feel more prepared and in control on a wedding day.
Content Creation Mentoring (iPhone)
Want to capture those behind-the-scenes moments or create highlight videos alongside
your photos? I’ll show you how to do it in a
really simple, natural way.
I use an iPhone 16 Pro Max, so no fancy gear needed.
We’ll cover:
Easy phone video settings
What to film during weddings or outdoor shoots
Capturing natural, in-between moments
Telling a story through short clips
Creating a highlight video you’ll love looking back on
Ideal if you want to add more storytelling to
your work or show more of your sessions online.
Why Learn with Me
When I started photography, I wished someone had explained things in plain English; not tech jargon. My mentoring sessions are relaxed, encouraging, and practical. You’ll walk away feeling clearer, more confident, and inspired to take your photography further.
Investment
I like to keep things really simple, no complicated packages, just straightforward 1:1 support when you need it.
Mentoring investment
First session: £60 for 1.5 hours
Additional sessions: £40 per hour
This can be a one-off session or something you come back to whenever you feel like you need a bit more guidance.
What’s Included
- A relaxed, 1:1 session tailored to you
- Help with camera settings, lighting, posing or workflow
- Honest advice and real-life tips you can actually use
- Time to ask anything. Nothing is too small
Booking More Than One Session
You’re very welcome to book more than one session if
you’d like ongoing support, but there’s absolutely no
pressure, this is designed to work around you.
Good to Know
- Sessions can be in person (Hull) or via video call
- Perfect for beginners, photographers building confidence with their camera, newer family & wedding photographers who would like practical guidance.
- I shoot Canon, but everything I teach can be
applied to other cameras too
Sessions are available in person or online, so wherever you're based, we can work together.
In person is my preferred way to mentor, as we can work through things together practically, but online sessions are a great option if you're further afield.
