Today we’d like to introduce you to Savannah Ponce.
Hi Savannah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started photography as a hobby, on my phone. It started as just taking photographs as a hobby of rocks, sweets, and anything I saw cool highlights with a mix of shadows! Then as I got older, I started going through some processing and a little bit of trauma. As I was going through this process It began to feel therapeutic and a way for me to let out emotions I wasn’t able to express through communication.
Photography started when I was little, my mom had gifted me a small camera. I had used it to take silly photos and videos but never understood the art behind photography. Then as I got older I wanted to be passionate about something. I tried sports like soccer and basketball. I tried different types of art like drawing in a notebook but still didn’t have the love or passion that I saw in people.
Like my mother, she loves writing and can write all day if she could. Or my Dad working on social media, meeting new people, going to events, and having fun while doing it. I wanted something that I could glorify God but also share venerability without using words. I tried writing stories and I hate it, I would get bored. Drawing in the notebook got boring after a while and became more about copying others than doing my own art.
Then I got a brand new phone and decided to play with it like taking photos of rocks or of my baking skills like Pinterest! Then I started watching videos of photography and having inspiration in my head. My mom is a photographer as well so I was using her camera which was a very heavy body with a huge lens. To edit and export my photos I was using pics art and face tune!
But I really wanted to try to shoot someone else than just myself because I had done self-portraits throwing anything on my face like makeup, paint, glitter, confetti, pretty much anything I could get my hands on! My best friend Melanie, I had asked her to do a photoshoot with me and she said yes. The pictures are horrendous I will show them on here, but I was just starting out and learning as I went.
Then I started doing more trial and error with a whole bunch of different editing styles like dark and contrast, bright with artificial lights, etc. I started realizing I could balance what I love like what I saw through the lens and edit it making it my own. Then I wanted to get my own camera so I asked my parents and they told me if in a year I continue to grow my photography and have the same passion then they would consider it.
So YOUR GIRL worked her butt off and studied photography. I did shoots of my own, watching videos, grabbing magazines while studying the poses and angles, and I did this for a good year. Then on Christmas, they surprised me with a camera, and Karina (My dad’s wife) bought me my first lens which was 50mm. Thanks to my mom, I do use her lenses which help me get different perspectives on angles and photographs.
Photography has been my outlet like therapy while also being fun. I love planning shoots, meeting new people to create art, and inspiring others while doing what I love. God has given us different talents and gifts, photography has been my talent and I give all glory to God and praise. Without him, I wouldn’t be able to do it!
Now I am planning photoshoots left and right with people who inspire me!! Thanks to my parents, friends, and my number one God!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Some obstacle that I had to figure out was insecurity! I felt with a lot of creatives and experience also can come competition. I had felt that I wasn’t good enough because I was comparing myself with other creatives. I had to battle and pray hardcore with God that he had a gift for me and he had a purpose bigger than my little human brain.
I always now have to trust him and remember he sees my future not me. To put my trust in him and give him my insecurities! Because if I put trust and everything in my control it won’t only fall apart but my mental state wont is able to handle what God can.
Why am I going to try to control my life when God is the one who created me and my life. I also struggle with a creative block which can definitely be a challenge but I surround myself with people who inspire me and then ask God for help. That works for me!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I do originally photography but on my website I also blog! So I love to write and take photographs. I do not specialize in any photography but I love photography that is very raw and real.
One of my favorite photographs I have done is a photograph of me crying with a full face of makeup. This photograph was very real to me and the emotions in the picture as well. I have worked with models, kids, families, and organizations and it all has been a blast!
My two favorite photoshoots are when I have a connection with the client whether it’s business or for fun and when I help someone express an emotion, a moment that they love or needed to release. I am known as a photographer but also I love baking, Jesus, cooking, and videotaping while editing reels for Instagram or TikTok!
What do you think about luck?
God has really had a hand in my life, ever since I saw photography and the seed He has just blown my mind!
I love to steward what God gave me and the resources so it definitely plays a part in my business but also my joyful attitude because what I do is for him at the end of the day and to create joy with those with who I work!
Pricing:
- 150$ for 1 hour+2 locations= A FUN PHOTOSHOOT!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://savannahponce.wixsite.com/sapphotography
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sappicshots?igshid=NWRhNmQxMjQ= https://instagram.com/sappicshots?igshid=NWRhNmQxMjQ=
Image Credits
@SavannahPonce of SAPPICSHOTS
