Meet Sarah Simon | Travel Blogger & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Simon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I think once you do something you love for work, it’s hard to accept anything else. I’ve had those jobs before, but they were always temporary or didn’t pay enough. I finally realized that I’m the only one who can make it happen, and it’s worth the sacrifices and hard work involved if it means I can be excited to wake up every morning to do something I”m proud of and enjoy. I know I have what’s necessary to do my own work without a boss or even a regular paycheck, because I’ve done it before, so then it became about taking the backwards steps: what do I need to learn to make this a reality?

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a mix of many things. At the core, I am creative and have always wanted an artistic career. I love photography and videography as well as writing, and I’ve done those things, plus some graphic and web design, as much as I can since college. However, I have also completed more academics than I ever planned on, including a degree in archaeology, and today I use SEO for my business as well.

The challenges I faced along my journey have a lot to do with all of this, including the recession, pandemic and health issues, and I feel like life has led me down paths I never foresaw but that I needed. Studying for 2 Masters degrees helped me answer so many of my own questions and also fed the logical part of my brain; I believe that creativity is also logical. Whether I’m writing a blog post, taking a photo or making a video, the end goal the same: I have a central message to convey to the viewer/reader, and I must first be clear on what that is before I can communicate it clearly to anyone else.

As my brand and business continue to develop, the main thing I’m learning now is how to use what people want and expect from me to take them – and myself – one step further. Whether that’s with my blog or photography, there’s an ever-evolving learning process that I go through that I then pass on to anyone who’s reading or viewing what has been published. I’m always trying to learn more about myself and the world through education, travel and more, and it’s fun to realize that’s the point – we’re all just trying to grow into a better version of ourselves, and we’re inspiring one another along the way if we’re doing it right!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in New Orleans, and this is one of the best places to visit in the US – everyone needs to experience it! There are must-visit locations for everyone, and the first one I would take someone to is Preservation Hall to hear the jazz. It’s an experience that is small and intimate, and you’ll never forget it. It’s not the Bourbon Street partying, it’s the actual history of New Orleans being lived out today. Along those lines, experiencing the Backstreet Cultural Museum and the Treme neighborhood, as well as the obvious French Quarter experience, will take a day or two. There are endless places to eat in NOLA that are amazing, so anywhere with local food that has some history is sure to be a hit – examples include Napoleon House, The Camellia Grill, and Morning Call for beignets. Saba is a must for the most unique food that mixes Middle Eastern and Creole cuisine. Riding the streetcar and experiencing a parade or festival is also important. Visiting places like Magazine Street (Stein’s Market & Deli here is the best for bagels), and going further to tour a plantation and Jean Lafitte National Historic Park are also really great things to do.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Everything and everyone in my path technically brought me to where I am. I’m the only one who could do the work, but other people also gave me opportunities, encouragement and advice that were really significant. Laura Peters of Scale Your Travel Blog is one of the people I’m most thankful for. I’ve taken other courses and learned from more people, but SYTB has been the most upbeat, encouraging and helpful part of my journey with blogging and SEO.

Website: https://mukikapupstravels.com

Instagram: @mukikapupstravels

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahsimonj/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mukikapup

Other: https://sjsimon.com

Image Credits
Egypt photo of me at Abu Simbel was taken by Jenny Lord