It started with a stranger at a coffee shop.

She pointed at my camera and asked, “How did you get that shot?” I spent the next 20 minutes explaining composition, natural light, and how to use the golden hour — and I realized I could talk about this stuff forever. That conversation was the spark that turned me from a working photographer into a teacher.

I’m Sarah, 31, based in Seattle. I grew up in Honolulu, where I started photographing sunsets on my phone at 12. I studied communications in college with a minor in art history, then spent years as a lifestyle and travel photographer before building a following around approachable photography tips for beginners. I write like I’m talking to a friend, because that’s how I wish someone had taught me.

My most-liked Instagram photo was taken on a $200 phone. That blew up into a whole article series about working with what you have, and it confirmed what I’d always believed: great photography shouldn’t require expensive gear. I still shoot with my phone sometimes just to prove the point. Every Sunday morning I do a photo walk — it’s become a ritual I look forward to all week. I once joined a landscape photo walk in Bend, Oregon, organized by James Thornton. That guy wakes up at 4am without an alarm and stood in a freezing river for an hour waiting for the right light. It was the most patient I’ve ever had to be behind a camera, and I loved every minute of it.

I make playlists for different shooting moods. My husband — a software engineer — built me a custom tethering rig because he was tired of hearing me complain about the cable. I once spent an entire vacation trying to get one specific waterfall shot and missed dinner every night. He still brings that up. We’re expecting our first child, and I can’t wait to eventually put a tiny camera in those tiny hands.

Whether you’re shooting on a phone or a full-frame camera, I’m here to help you get better one tip at a time.

Want to get in touch? Drop me a line at sarah@tips.photos.