AT HOME WITH PHOTOGRAPHER, GRAY BENKO

Meet Gray Benko. She has photographed the likes of Zara and Gap Kids, has over 35K followers on Instagram, and resides in Charleston, South Carolina with her “husband, 2 crazy kids and even crazier dog.” We caught up with commercial and lifestyle photographer, Gray Benko to discover how she balances it all!

How did you first get into photography?

After some encouragement from my dad, I picked up my first camera in high school and I just never put it down.

What do you love most about taking photos?

For family shoots, there is something so rewarding about being able to capture the love that flows between a family during that certain page in the history of their lives together. That just doesn’t compare to anything else.

What has been your favorite commercial photoshoot thus far?

Definitely our Zara Brothers and Sisters campaign. That was such a huge honor to have been able to be a part of.

What’s the best advice you can give other working moms?

You can’t be the best at everything every day. As moms, we have so many things on our plates. It’s impossible to balance them all. Cut yourselves some slack.

You might spend an entire day doing laundry and literally get nothing else accomplished, or you might get caught up on your work one day and your kids get frozen pizza for dinner … and that’s okay! We aren’t super heroes.

As a mother of two young children, how do you balance work and play?

Ha! I don’t know. Do I? When you figure that one out please let me know!

Do you have any photo tips for someone just starting out?

Honestly, the best thing I can suggest is to just pick up a camera and start shooting. So many of the best photographers are self-taught so I really feel that classical training isn’t really a requirement anymore.

Learn more about Gray and discover her work at GrayBenko.com.