Meet Saraphina Churchill | Graphic Designer and Photographer

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

Hi Saraphina, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I used to think work life balance was a made-up concept. I lived and worked believing ‘balance’ was a fantasy. Eventually, I realized I saw work as life and vice versa and how unhealthy that was. It took a personal tragedy followed by a lot of internal work to find the space that separates self and self-employed. Now I have boundaries set for personal time, I take weekends and vacations! I also have non-negotiables on both sides of the scale during the week. The workday doesn’t end until the top three needs of the day are met, and once I end the day to have dinner with my partner etc work can wait until morning.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I discovered very young just how powerful images are in telling a story. My uncle George was legally blind and always carried a camera in his pocket. He would take a picture of something he wanted to see, wait for his film to develop, and then he could see it, magically, up close on 4×6 photo paper. Out of everyone I have ever known, he told the best stories while showing you his vacation photos. Well before we all had smartphone cameras George inspired our family to always document with photos. Imagery as storytelling is my favorite way to communicate.

I loved art school but soon noticed I was a bit more ‘Type A’ than a lot of my classmates. Luckily I took a class taught by a retired commercial photographer who explained the importance of good imagery in marketing and advertising. At last, I found my place in the working world – a creative professional.

No it was not easy at first. I spent a lot of time figuring out how to use words to explain what I do for a living. Most folks hear photographer and think of school pictures or weddings. When I said, “No I do not do that…” people were very confused. But with all things practice and lived experience helps. While networking these days I will tell people my art department is kinda like the show ‘Mad Men’ but without the cigarettes and way less whiskey. That gets a laugh but also helps people see that I am in business services. If I can’t explain it with visual aids, I will try and make you laugh, both if I am lucky.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I moved to Cape Cod in 2009. Everyone comes to Cape Cod on vacation in the summer and hits the beach. But after living here year round I learned that there is way more than the beach here and early fall is actually the best time to visit. Less traffic, less sharks, and less humidity!

Provincetown (or Ptown) is always a great destination you can catch a show, a great meal, and hit up a few art galleries. There are also local vineyards and craft breweries on Cape that are fun to visit and sample beverages. And yes we will go the beach, but in the evening and have a small campfire while watching the moon over the water. That is how the locals do it!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
EforAll (Cape Cod) played a HUGE part in my success and ability to stay sustainable as an entrepreneur. I knew how to be a graphic designer, I knew how to be a photographer, and I knew how to be a passionate and creative person with my clients. But the business side, how to keep records of finances, how to report my profit and loss for tax season, how to budget, and how to think about the growth and future of my business were not really covered at art school. This program is free to the entrepreneur to help fill the gaps by pairing you with a mentor team and subject matter experts to help make your dream of being a successful business owner a reality. I love this program so much I now volunteer when I can to help others on their journey.

Website: https://www.imagesbysaraphina.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imagesbysaraphina/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imagesbysaraphina/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImagesBySaraphina/