Meet Lauren Sephton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Sephton.

Hi Lauren, 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?
Hey! So for reference, there are two sections of A Bright Moment. I work both with brands exclusively to shoot food photography and videography content, as well as recipe development (whether it be for social campaigns, product packaging, website content, etc.). And then I also have A Bright Moment Blog which is where I share my recipes and healthy living tips on my blog and social platforms (Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok).

I’ve always believed in the power of community and how food can bring people together. Certain smells and tastes can bring back nostalgic memories or even create new ones. And with the name A Bright Moment, I wanted to inspire others that whether it’s in the kitchen or even outside, we can use the small things in life to make a big impact.

My journey started as just a girl and her computer with a world of imagination. I was a freshman in college at the time that I started A Bright Moment Blog and Instagram in the Spring of 2018. In between school and work, I would write out DIYs, blogposts to inspire young women in their journey of life, and of course recipes.

After a few months, I had several family and friends encourage me to gather up all the recipes I had been making for them and the blog into a small cookbook. I basically had no free time for the next six months as my goal was to have it all photographed, designed, printed, and released by the first of November that same year to be in a food event I was working in. I had a limited amount of cookbooks ordered and really didn’t think much of it at the time other than a “how fun would that be!” thought. LOL!

I was majoring in Digital Marketing and Advertising (+ a Minor in Creative Writing) at Liberty University. My original plan was always to work for a large marketing agency after college and then later open my own small agency or business of some sort. But never could I have imagined that this spontaneous idea of creating a cookbook would open up doors to a whole new possibility sooner than expected!

Shortly after the cookbook was published, I had the opportunity of being featured in Forsyth Woman Magazine and the Winston-Salem Journal. Fast forward a couple of months, and Forsyth Magazines offered me the opportunity to be a freelance writer for them. I was able to put my creative writing knowledge into action and I fell in love with how I could connect with people through my words, and even more so, how I could tell a story. I then took that passion for storytelling into my blog.

I once heard from a top chef that they’re doing their job right if their food makes you stop, think, and appreciate the food. And that’s what I wanted to do through my photography. So I would spend hours every week researching, learning, and test-trialing new ways to photograph my recipes so that they were appetizing to the stomach, aesthetic to the eye, but also told the story behind their ingredients.

And the story being told could go so many different ways… whether it was illuminating the cultural flavors or seasonal ingredients that were being used, to take you back to childhood with nostalgic flavors, to help others find new quick and easy meals to live out a healthy lifestyle on-the-go, or to encourage others in creating new memories with family-friendly recipes. Food really does have this indescribable power to evoke memories, tell you a story, and create memories.

In 2020, I had a few job offers, including one to work with an international corporation (aka what I thought was my “original dream job”), but nothing had felt right at the time. I struggled with the job offers for weeks. My heart and my mind were too far apart. Finally, I came to peace with the decision of giving myself 6 months to make this business either work full-time or let it stay as a hobby.

So I put in 12+ hour workdays, as well as spent any free time learning even more about the industry. I kept my focus on strengthening what I knew best: Food photography, videography, and recipe development. That would become the mind of my business, but the heart would always stay tuned to connecting with my audience.

By the end of that year, I was making a consistent income with my business. And fast forward 6 months, I had achieved my dream of creating a full-time income. It’s incredibly humbling and I’m very grateful for every person that has encouraged me through this journey because there are so many times when I wanted to give up. But God was so good and faithful to carry me through to this point. It’s crazy to me to watch my small business grow – a real dream come true moment!

To this day, I’ve had the opportunity of working with some amazing brands through my business, but more than that, I’m so grateful for the community I’ve been able to create through my various social platforms. I’ve been able to connect with many wonderful people in my community.

I’ve had opportunities to bring baked goods to those in need in my community, to have brightened someone’s day with a mini cake or a plate of cookies, and to create friendships with people from across the world because of my blog. It’s amazing how social media can connect you with people and create a little community that’s like a big family!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
As with any small business, it’s never an overnight success story. If it is, what’s your secret? Haha.

It took me almost two years of test-trialing my research and learning my own creative style in shooting recipes, plus there was a heavy load of startup costs like software and equipment.

But I think if you can keep your head up and remember the love behind your passion, it’ll always pay off.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Well, I’m a food videographer and photographer, author, and foodie. From running around with monkeys and the native tribes of Panama as a young child to experiencing the down-home cooking in the Italian countryside, my recipes will give you a taste of the world!

You’ll find recipes from achievable dessert ideas to healthy dinners that’ll happily feed the family on abrightmoment.com.

My favorite part of cooking is its capability to make one smile as they enjoy farm-to-table recipes. From Armenian descent and traveling across the world at a young age, my recipes have a variety of cultural influences, along with a few traditional Southern dishes with creative twists.

I also try to keep things sweet and indulgent but lighter on the stomach, and most of the time I’m cooking with olive oil as a healthier substitute for butter!

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
It’s often the photography that determines whether people will want to try the recipe/dish or check out new restaurants, as it can convey a specific mood or emotion they’re seeking. Therefore, I believe the food photography industry will continue to grow as visual appeal grows in today’s world. What’s that old saying, a picture is worth a thousand words! Lol.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: abrightmoment.com
• Instagram: @brightmomentco
• Facebook: @brightmomentco
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ABrightMoment
• Pinterest & TikTok: @brightmomentco

Image Credits
@brightmomentco