Sarom Thompson

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself: where you’re from originally and where you live now.

Hii! I'm Sarom. I'm Cambodian, born in Thailand, but I grew up in Long Beach, California. I moved to San Diego in 2014 and have called it home ever since. I'm a wife, a mom, and the photographer behind Sarom Photography. I specialize in family photography, and I love getting to meet new families and telling their stories through my lens.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.

Definitely the weather and the food! San Diego has pretty much perfect weather year-round, and I LOVE the food here. From seafood boils to ramen and everything in between, there's always something delicious to try.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

I think it all started when I was just a kid with a camera in my hand. I've always been the memory keeper in my family. I was constantly taking photos, making slideshows and putting together little montages of our family memories. I honestly can't remember a time when I didn't have a camera with me.

But it wasn't until I became a mom that everything really came together. Having my son made me realize just how quickly time passes. One minute they're so tiny, and the next, you're looking back at photos wondering where the time went. I found myself wanting to remember every little detail, even the ordinary moments. That's when I knew family photography was where my heart was.

I want other families to have those memories, too. The little hands, the silly laughs, the way your kids look at you. All the things that seem so ordinary now but will mean everything someday. That's what I hope to give every family I photograph.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

I think you really have to be determined and genuinely love what you do. Running your own business isn't easy. You're pretty much working around the clock, and it's definitely not your typical 8-to-5 job. There will be slow seasons, long nights and moments when you question yourself. But you have to keep going, even when things get hard.

My biggest advice is to be patient with yourself. Success doesn't happen overnight, and you're going to make mistakes along the way. I'm still learning myself. Just remember why you started in the first place, keep showing up and don't give up on something you truly believe in.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

There have been so many sweet messages from my clients over the years, but one that will always stick with me is from my client Heather. She said, "You captured all of our personalities so well, and that is one of my favorite things about you as a photographer. You have a gift. I am so happy to have found you. Thank you for these amazing pictures and memories."

That one really meant a lot to me because that's exactly what I hope to do for every family I photograph. I want their photos to feel like them. Not just beautiful pictures, you know, but memories that show their personalities and the love they share.

Where do you see your company in the future?

Haha, I always dread questions like this because I honestly don't know. Of course, I'd love to see my business continue to grow, but growth looks a little different to me these days. I'd actually love to take on fewer clients so I can give more of my time and attention to each family I photograph. I also want to start creating educational content for other photographers and share what I've learned over the years. I think that could be my next chapter, and I'm excited to see where it takes me.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that being a photographer is just taking pictures. There's actually SO much that goes on behind the scenes. From communicating with clients and scouting locations to editing galleries, marketing and running the business itself. Sometimes I feel like I spend more time behind my computer than behind my camera.

Photography is just one small part of what we do, and I think people would be surprised by how much work goes into it.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?

I'd say one of my biggest struggles has been marketing and, honestly, overthinking everything! Haha. I've always been a creative person, and I graduated with a degree in art and design, so the creative side of photography has always come pretty naturally to me. But marketing myself? That's a whole different story.

I think sometimes I get so caught up in wanting everything to be perfect that I end up overthinking the smallest things. I'm still learning to put myself out there and remind myself that not everything has to be perfect. Sometimes you just have to go for it and figure things out along the way.

What was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

I was definitely a pop music girl growing up. Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears were my favorites. I actually still have their CDs in my car to this day.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

First, a huge shoutout to my husband and son for being my biggest supporters and putting up with my crazy schedule. And to all the amazing families who have trusted me to photograph their memories over the years, thank you! Some of you have been with me since the very beginning, and getting to watch your families grow has been such a special part of this journey. I wouldn't be where I am today without you.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

You can find me at www.saromphotography.com or follow me on Instagram @saromphotography! I'd love to connect with you!