Welcome, Friend, to the chaos and escapades! I'm thrilled to have you stop in for a cup of coffee (or hot tea, we don't discriminate here).
Today we're talking stories and photography. I had several thoughts for how to approach this, formally, "professionally," academically... but while we love the academia here (dark, light, green, etc.), we hate the undue pressures and unrelenting professionalism.
So from here on out, take a seat on my couch, and we'll talk over food and drinks with company to warm the soul.
MY JOURNEY TO STORYTELLING PHOTOGRAPHY
Now how did a smart 4.0 GPA girly like me end up a college dropout, living anything but the life anyone saw for her? Well, to answer that, we have to go back to very little me.
THE EARLY YEARS ~ MY INTRO TO STORYTELLING
As the youngest child in my family, I talked. A LOT... so much that everyone was always having to tell me to shut up or quiet down. Yet as a teenager, I had learned to be too silent, observing everything around me without feeling comfortable joining in. While my life has been anything but "normal," it also has taught me something that will always be a part of me:
There are hidden stories everywhere that deserve to be told and no two lives are alike, no matter how similar.
From ages nine through fourteen, my family drove through 42 us States visiting churches for missions work. It nurtured a passion for travel and adventure from a very young age, and with all that time in the car, I was left with a LOT of spare time on my hands. All that driving time offered the perfect opportunity to really dive into the arts of storytelling.
I would read 300 page books in a day, devour movies (inside and out), listen to hours of music, and just watch out the window, imagining every kind of scene or scenario you could dream of. When I wasn't in a car, I was surrounded by new groups of people I could eagerly listen to as the adults talked about their lives and backstories.
I found two things out through this:
1) to sit in the middle of a supermarket aware that every single person there has their own unique life, joys, and burdens... is one of the most eye-opening, mentally overwhelming things you can do.
2) story is one of the most beautiful and important things in the world.
THE OTHER YEARS ~ MY INTRO TO PHOTOGRAPHY
As a teenager, I was gifted my first professional camera and found a whole new world of storytelling. At first I experimented mainly on "micro" photography, focusing on the hidden stories of the world around me before slowly, but surely transitioning into live subjects through the years.
When I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to be a storyteller, so I started college as an English major... before switching to a filmmaking major... to a visual studies major... before realizing they were all too confining and fell heartbreakingly short of my passions.
I knew I didn't want to spend two more years on side quests when I already knew my path. And more than that, I didn't know if my passion for storytelling would survive the closedminded critiques and confinement to fit mainstream media.
So, you guessed it (and I already told you). I left, I moved to a new state, and I began to do what I do best. Get my hands in the mud. Get the dirt under my nails, and figure it out on the go.
THE REST OF THE YEARS ~ THEY GOT MARRIED!
I cannot begin to express how grateful I am I made that decision. Since then, I've met some of the most wonderful people in the industry, my wonderful clients, and others who have supported and helped me along the way.
Never did I think my life would look like this. Yet here we are, sitting on my couch with snow outside, writing to you, planning sessions with my dream clients, creating beautiful art, and telling some of the most moving stories...
Until I realized my belief against it was the only TRUE obstacle in the way, I never thought I would be able to. From that moment, the love of stories and photography began the most beautiful marriage.
STORYTELLING PHOTOGRAPHY?
You're probably thinking "Okay, Sarah. I get it. You've established your unhealthy obsessions with the stories and lives of others, but why do you have to call it storytelling photography? Isn't it just regular old photography?"
Yes. …And no.
Yes, because... you're right. I'm using a camera to manipulate the light and capture the objects in front of me. I'm not using photoshop to alter reality and create moments that weren't there. I'm simply using a little black box with some sensors to take pictures. But so, so much more.
No, because it don't stop or start there.
WHAT IS STORYTELLING PHOTOGRAPHY?
Whether it's a destination wedding or creative session, Storytelling Photography starts with you. It explores your story, your heart, your passions, and what makes you... you. How did you meet your muse? What makes your unique chemistry light up and make dancing green fires.
Storytelling photography brings in elements of your everyday life and moments from your wildest dreams. It brings new life in dynamic images as we together create memories you'll always hold -- tangible masterpieces for you to look back on and say "that's me!" and to feel seen as your most authentic self. Storytelling photography creates a photographic biography of you.
Why do I Need Storytelling Photography?
Imagine it's your wedding day. It's been a whirlwind of planning and decisions. The day has finally arrived. All you want now is to live in and cherish the moment without posed distractions.
You want to look through your heirloom album and remember the raw emotions of the day: the tears as you saw each other for the first time, the laughter at the celebration, and the intimate first moments as a married couple. Whether it's a destination wedding, an intimate elopement, or a breathtaking private wedding, you want your day to be centered around the celebration of the love you share.
Or maybe we're planning a creative session. Whether you're an artist, a musician, or simply just on a journey of self-discovery, a creative session can be a beautiful experience. Storytelling photography helps you express your vision, capture your unique style, and create images that inspire and empower you. It becomes an inspiring moment you can look back on for years to come.
Storytelling Photography is far more than just the images. It's the story, the experience, and the memories. And if you learned anything about me above, you know that I can't wait to tell your story. Click here to schedule a consultation and let's bring your vision to life!
Sarah <3
