Behind the Digicam

Q: What would your elevator pitch be about your self? 

I’m Sonja Stafford, proprietor of Sonja Stafford Photography. I create timeless, magazine-inspired portraits that assist on a regular basis ladies, households and professionals really feel assured, lovely and seen. 

Q: How lengthy have you ever been a photographer?  I’ve had the privilege of working as an expert photographer for the previous 16 years.

Q: Tell us how you bought began. What was the spark of inspiration?

Photography has been a part of my life for so long as I can bear in mind. As a baby, I used to be continually borrowing my father or mother’s digicam, photographing every thing from my stuffed animals to my little sister. Even then I used to be fascinated by the concept of capturing a second and freezing it perpetually. The ardour took on a deeper that means after I misplaced my mom on the age of twelve. Photographs I’ve of her grew to become my most treasured possessions—permitting me to revisit recollections, feelings and moments that might in any other case be gone. It was by way of that have I actually understood the ability of images. 

Q: How do you discover inspiration?

My biggest supply of inspiration are my purchasers and the tales they carry with them. Every particular person has a singular journey, character, and chapter of life they’re dwelling, and I like discovering inventive methods to inform that story by way of portraits. 

Beyond my purchasers, I draw inspiration from many types of artwork and visible storytelling. Fashion editorials, journal covers, movie cinematography, music movies all affect my work. I’m additionally impressed by texture, coloration, mild, structure, nature and the feelings sure moments evoke. 

I imagine inspiration is in every single place—my function as an artist is to acknowledge it, incorporate my consumer’s tales and create pretty portraits which can be each significant and exquisite.

Q: What is your favourite a part of images?

The response after I present the topic the again of my digicam after we’re a couple of minutes into their photoshoot. It’s like a spark happens they usually actually begin to glow and take possession of their photoshoot and that confidence reveals by way of on movie. 

Q: How did you hone your expertise?

I began as a self-taught photographer after discovering an entry-level DSLR on Craigslist. Not lengthy after, I attended a neighborhood images class in Kenai, Alaska taught by photographer Joe Kashi. That class sparkled one thing in me, and I knew images was what I needed to pursue wholeheartedly. 

I immersed myself in studying every thing accessible. I frolicked finding out digicam settings, lighting, posing, composition and took a neighborhood school course on post-processing. I immersed myself in training platforms for photographers on YouTube and CreativeLive, whereas frequently practising behind the digicam. I refined my expertise by way of hands-on expertise. 

Even after 16 years as an expert photographer, I’m nonetheless impressed to develop, evolve and push my creativity and expertise additional. I attend conferences and workshops yearly to maintain my expertise contemporary and to develop my craft.

Q: What is your dream photoshoot?

A dream can be to {photograph} in a citadel in Europe—I wouldn’t be choosy on what style. It might be a marriage, engagement, or model, signal me up!   

Q: What different “hats” do you put on? Tell us extra about what you’re keen on.

I’m a mom to 4 youngsters and a fur child. Recently, with my husband, we’ve got opened Booch Haus Plant & Gift Lounge in Downtown Mesa. In my free time I like to get pleasure from my time with household by a physique of water whether or not it’s poolside, lakeside, oceanside or riverside.