Aces of Trades: As a girl, she was interested in sports. Now, she photographs the action

COSHOCTON – She worked hard, decided to branch out and loves it.

“I was a typical kid growing up in the '80s,” assessed Teres Smith. “Since there were no cell phones and computers, my days were filled with going to school, playing outside, catching a local baseball game with my brother, and playing volleyball and softball for my school. I’m a huge Cincinnati Reds fan and as a child I would watch the games that were televised."

“I always thought,” she added, “I would grow up to become a cosmetologist, live a good life, and be happy. Not in a million years did I think I would become a photographer. Other than snapping pictures with my Polaroid instant camera as a kid, photography was not a hobby nor a pastime. I was interested in sports and playing sports but never once said, ‘I want to grow up and be a sports photographer.’”

Today, Smith is a photographer and owner of S&F Photography.

“My primary business lies in sports photography,” she explained. “My style is to keep things comfortable and fun. I try to find new ways to keep team photos trendy and fresh and strive to catch good quality action photo. There’s nothing more rewarding than catching the money shot and sharing it with the client.

“When it comes to senior pictures,” she added, “family portraits, special events like weddings, proms, and engagements, or modeling shots, my goal is quite similar. I want my client to feel comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera.”

Smith grew up in Coshocton, which she proudly calls "Small Town USA." She graduated from Coshocton High School in 1987, then attended the Ohio State School of Cosmetology.

She ran a cosmetology business in Coshocton for a time called Town Center Beauty Shop, was involved in other businesses, then got married and had a son. She started S&F Photography in Hebron in 2011, originally as a joint venture.

“I was at a point in my life,” she said, “where I knew I was missing out on my son’s childhood due to my work schedule. I needed to be a mom first. When the opportunity presented itself to enter this joint venture, it was perfect. I could use a camera and take pictures, so I took a few courses to help me get more comfortable behind the lens. And so it began. I started taking team photos in the evenings for local schools. When the partnership dissolved, I opted to continue to run the business and expand the services.”

Faye Mellor has been Smith’s best friend since they went to Coshocton Middle School together.

“Growing up with Teres was absolutely the best years,” said Mellor. "She was, and still is, one of the best friends I could have ever been blessed with. We may not be sisters by blood, but we’re sisters at heart. And her photography is simply amazing. She did my daughter’s senior pictures and made it so easy and fun.”

“I love what I do,” Smith responded. “I believe each photograph should tell a story.

“I know without a doubt, I was meant to do this,” she concluded, “I realize the hard work, tears, and sweat were all necessary steps along the way. They were the lessons that helped me be exactly where I need to be, and that’s behind a camera. Stopping time for just a moment and catching that memory is such a special thing.”

To learn more about S&F Photography, look on Facebook .

Aces of Trades is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs – whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at ctnews@coshoctontribune.com.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Aces of Trades: As a girl, she was interested in sports. Now, she photographs the action