This week’s ambassador spotlight shines a light on Vanessa Sanders of Vanessa Marie Photography. Read on to find out more about Vanessa, see some of her work, and find out which bluebird chic strap is her personal favorite! (And for the next two weeks, her pick will be available at a discounted rate in the shops.)
Hi! I’m Vanessa. I’m a photo-journalistic photographer residing in Beaufort, SC with my husband, Mathew, who is currently serving in the Marine Corps. We have our fur child, Cosmo, a little chihuahua who thinks he’s a doberman pincher. When I’m not shooting a session, I can be found lounging around on my couch watching my favorite TV shows Suits and Shadowhunters, eating pepperoni pizza, and sipping on a Coke. I love traveling and getting out to see new places, but I’m also a homebody too! Visit me at: http://vanessa-marie.com/
How long have you been a photographer?
I’ve been a photographer for over 5 years, but finally made the jump to transiting into a full-time business earlier this year after discussing things with my husband and him pushing me to break free from having to answer to someone instead of being my own boss.
What impact do you want your business to have on others?
I’m a photo-journalistic photographer. I want people to feel the emotions that I have invoked in the images. I specialize in military graduations and homecomings, so I mainly shoot families and loved ones being reunited with their service men and women. I want them to feel the joy, relief, and tears of happiness that my subjects exude while I capture these priceless moments for them.
What advice do you have to other women who are thinking of starting their own businesses?
Never give up. It’s going to be hard. You’re going to have moments where you cry out of frustration, moments where you lose friends you thought would support you, and moments of self-doubt and wonder why you started your business to begin with. Stay the course and you will succeed. Will Smith put it best and I live by this quote every day. “If you’re absent during my struggle, don’t expect to be present during my success.”
What is the best part of being a photographer?
The best part to me is being able to be present and capture moments for people that would have otherwise been left for people to simply remember them by. Pictures allow us to stop and think back to that day and to feel what you felt that day. I also love being able to reflect back on my past work and my work today and see how much I’ve grown.
What kind of camera(s) do you own and what role does it play in your life?
I currently own both the Canon 5D Mark III & Canon 5D Mark II. My dream cameras. I purchased the Mark II in May 2014 and the Mark III just last month and haven’t put them down since. It’s not the newest camera out there, but it’s not the camera that makes the photograph, it’s the person behind the camera that does it and what they see as they capture that photo.
What’s your favorite thing about your bluebird chic strap?
Lately I’ve been really meshing with the color Olive since my husband has enlisted in the Marine Corps and his Service Uniforms include several things that are Olive green in color. I tend to gravitate towards darker colors, black, purples, gray, etc, so this strap suits me. I love the material as well. I can’t stand the rough and bulky straps that press against your neck and cause discomfort. My bluebird chic strap is so soft and I look forward to using it every time I’m shooting.
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Over the next two weeks you can save 20% on Vanessa’s’s ambassador pick! Offer ends 12/31/17
[ click here to shop this style in our shop, on etsy or on amazon handmade. ]
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Thanks for sharing with us today Vanessa and for supporting the bluebird chic brand!
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