Today we’d like to introduce you to Sophi Rutherford.
Hi Sophi, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Back in 2017, I took my first climbing trip to Yosemite National Park to go climbing. After being invited to shoot a new multi-pitch climb, I discovered I loved all the photos and that was what gave me the most satisfaction. I ended up taking some online classes and photography business classes from photographers I looked up to and eventually quit my full-time job to pursue my career full-time. About a year into growing a portfolio, I saw on social media that the former editor-in-chief of Climbing Magazine, Julie Ellison, was looking for someone to take photos at a film premiere. I flew out to Boulder, Colorado and made a connection, which led to an internship and budding friendship in July of 2021. Ever since we have been working on projects together and she has been a huge mentor in my career. I have shot for a dream client on a three-month road trip assignment and have been developing a steady career ever since!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been both fairly smooth of a road so far but has definitely experienced some major hurdles along the way. I have been lucky because things have moved at a fairly steady pace for the past 4 years of building a career. I have definitely learned that sometimes, life has other plans which impact your projects as a whole.
One of the major struggles has mainly been with my first film project. I started a passion project, a film called Sand to Stone which highlights to the relationship between climbing and mental health. This was created to also be a learning project and be able to experience the filmmaking business without too much stress. I had a sprinter van for the team to use and on day 1 of the trip traveling to Salt Lake City, one tire fell off the van and cost us multiple days of renting a hotel room, and thousands of dollars in damage. I learned a lot about who I prefer to work with and decision-making. After filming the last subject, I had 6$ to my name and couldn’t afford to drive home.
As usual, there are always concerns and stress about finances and finding a living situation that allows you to do what you love full time without sacrificing meals and necessities. This was something I knew about getting into being a freelance artist, but learned about what it was actually like only a few years ago.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a freelance photographer, filmmaker and writer. I specialize in climbing photography and video. My main motivation is to document people in their environment, doing what they love. I like capturing the imperfect moments that capture the experience.
Whether it’s a climber, mountain biker, sailor or farmer, I love documenting people in their environment, doing what they love. Capturing the imperfect moments that capture the experience rather than a staged shot.
My images and films have a raw and unique feel to them. Each frame is a snapshot of a reality that I can share with others and use to create knowledge, invoke emotion, and inspire people by planting a seed,
How do you define success?
I define success as having jumped a hurdle but without having to have a final goal. I believe success doesn’t have an end. It just means that something has been completed. Life is hard and no one gets out alive.
I find that getting up every day and living the next is a success for me. It isn’t easy, but it is an accomplishment in my eyes. I know freelancing is a journey and definitely not the most steady path, so I will feel successful as long as I am happy and making a difference.
Contact Info:
- Email: sophi.rutherford@gmail.com
- Website: sophirutherford.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophirutherford/
