We put the spotlight on Gunilla — a mother, a photographer and owner of Sugarlight Photography. Here, we find out not only what her business is, but the beliefs and passion she shares and exudes in every photo she takes. Find inspiration as you read about her journey, her techniques, her most cherished moments as a photographer and how her passion for making people laugh and feel comfortable makes for fantastic ingredients of a photo.

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1. Please tell us about your business – the services it offers, what exactly it does and what it is about.

Sugarlight Photography specializes in modern, whimsical and fresh portrait photography for families, teens, children, maternity, and newborns. We always shoot outdoors (except newborns) to help enhance the photographs with a naturally beautiful and lush backdrop.

We offer high-end quality products to go hand-in-hand with our style. It may sound cliché, but that doesn’t make it less true – photographs allow memories to last forever. Our minds only remember the “big picture” of a moment but not the small details. And it’s in the small details we find the true story. That’s where Sugarlight comes in.

The way the children laugh, how they look at their parents when they tell them a story, the way they cuddle up beside them. None of us can go back in time to experience the moments, but we can bring back the memories through a photograph.

2. At what stage would you consider your business to be in right now? What next steps do you plan to take?

I am in a good place. I have a strong — and somewhat unique — style here in Singapore, which differentiates me from others. I offer excellent customer service and quality products, so I’m all good there.

At the same time, I feel there are so many areas where I need to dig deeper. Sales, marketing, and networking are areas I’m still working on. I also am educating myself more and have started putting myself out there (my first networking event EVER was just a few months back).

I guess life is a never-ending learning journey so my goal for the future is to find and learn tools that will aid me and my business to deliver the best to Sugarlight Photography’s clients.

What’s the next step I plan to take? World domination. Just kidding — a little! 🙂

3. What is your favourite part about running your business? What is your least favourite?

One favorite part of running the business is being able to take photographs more and spend less time in front of the computer. But apart from that, it is definitely my clients! Meeting people from all over the world that want to create something meaningful for their home and family. And to go through that experience together — from the first phone call to delivering their products — is the best rush ever!

The least favorite area must be marketing (sorry to all marketing people out there!) just because I haven’t mastered it as well as I would like to.

4. How would you describe your work environment? Are you strict and disciplined, fun and flexible, or somewhere in between?

When working in the office, I am an organised and task-oriented person. I love to strike things off of my to-do list! And then make new ones. I’m quite impatient, to be very honest with you, (just ask my hubby) because I want everything to happen NOW. And you all know that with running a business, things don’t happen overnight. Patience is a virtue — or so they tell me.

When I am photographing, however, I am the opposite. There are no rules, just plain fun — putting my silly hat on, becoming the goofiest person out there. Tickle fights, bubbles, and cuddles are my secret weapons for good photographs, and my clients love it as much as I do!

I always come home dirty from laying on the ground, climbing trees and running up and down everything to get that amazing photograph. The heat of Singapore doesn’t help either!

5. You seem to be overflowing with creativity. Where do you draw the inspiration and ideas you put into every photo you take?

I am always on the lookout for new places to photograph in. I can see a high tree and think “that would be an awesome swing tree” or pass by a lake and think “hmmm, a family on a sailing boat there would be lovely”. It has gotten so far, so even my family suggests locations when we are out driving! I call that teamwork 🙂

Every time I get a new idea, I write it down in my “pink book of ideas” and just wait until the right client comes along and suggest it to them.

Since all clients are different, every session will be truly unique. I always meet the clients before their session to discuss their goals. I love to see the connection between family members, so we have a lovely mix of candid photographs and props in the images.

I am so excited to meet all of you, virtually and in real life! And if you fancy a whimsical and fun photo shoot, you know where to find me!

 

Visit the Sugarlight Photography page to find out more about Gunilla’s work.

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