And the WINNER is...

Each year my husband, along with other members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., participate in an annual "Bowl for Kids' Sake" event, sponsored by Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. It is just one way they give back by supporting our community. For the second year in a row, Photography by Sean Ponder hosted a contest drawing for an on-location photo shoot to support efforts in raising money for Big Brothers, Big Sisters. The way it worked was, for every $10 donated, each donor would have their name placed into the pool to be drawn at the end of the contest period. Promotions for this initiative continued for the entire month of April, then on Friday, May 3rd, we FINALLY drew the name of our contest winner... Asia! She was truly ecstatic about winning the contest and we were excited for her!

So on the day of her session, Asia arrived full of enthusiasm and was ready to shoot! The weather was perfect, and because of the locations selected, we were able to incorporate several different kinds of creative elements. All of the concepts came together quite well and we ended up with some absolutely fabulous shots! Here are just a few:

A special THANKS to everyone who donated to the "Bowl for Kids' Sake" event. Your contributions helped Sean to exceed his fundraising goal. All proceeds went to benefit Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. We encourage each of you to get involved in sowing a seed wherever and whenever possible. Our community needs it! Be sure to "LIKE" our page on FaceBook to stay up-to-date on future opportunities and feel free to share our page!

Thank You so much for checking out our blog. You can also find us on FaceBook, Instagram and Pinterest at Photography by Sean Ponder, and on Twitter at @Sean_Ponder. Stay tuned for more to come!

Blessings!

Angela

The Creative Director

Visit us on the web!

www.PhotographybySeanPonder.com

www.behance.net/PhotosbySeanPonder

 

Why Photography?

When we decided to dive into the wonderful world of photography, it really wasn't a dive at all, but more of a stroll along the shallow end. Just to give you a little bit of history, my husband picked up a camera for the first time as a teen. It was his grandfather, John Ponder's Nikon. He was following in his footsteps, by taking snapshots during regular church events. Once he entered college, his days of taking photos had ended (for the moment), while he focused on a degree in Business Management, and later getting married and starting a family.

Fast forward to 2007, almost 20 years after he took his last photo, he picked up the camera once again; but this time it was definitely a different kind of experience. Although he was only using a point and click camera at the time, he soon realized the way in which he captured images was a far cry from the simple "point & shoot" shots he took before. He truly had a God-given gift. He knew instinctively, if he wanted a certain angle, he would need to bend into it, or circle around his subject, maybe stand on a fixture above or lie on the ground below, just to get what he saw through the lens to meet with his vision. He uses this ability to adapt to his full advantage. He also discovered he had a lot more to learn beyond using the automatic or manual settings and the flash on his Nikon, if he wanted to create a memorable PHOTOGRAPH, and not just to take a picture.

He began purchasing photography equipment and backdrops and taking online courses, to improve on his technical knowledge of the equipment, the lighting, the editing process, and a host of other skills he would need to be successful. Above all else, he would need to shoot and shoot OFTEN, critiquing his own work, and finding areas of improvement with every single image taken. Eventually, he went from simply liking photography, to living and breathing it. He had found his new passion. He is now well on his way to developing his own unique, innovative style.

Now, as his wife and a freelance writer in my own right, he asked me to join him in this new and exciting endeavor. He felt I had a lot to offer in helping to build the brand. It only made perfect sense! I could carve out my own personal niche in the grand scheme, while still helping him to develop a solid brand and reputation for quality with his photography. I focused on studying creative posing, ways to promote, pricing research, and of course, blogging. We also needed to know the business side of photography, so I tackled that as well, including building client relationships.

We are side-by-side at each and every shoot, which has expanded my role to include directing the shoots, from start to finish. Eventually, what began for me as the title of "Administrative Assistant", quickly transformed into the title of "Creative Director". We love being able to work together doing something we truly enjoy, and even more, we love the responses we receive from our clients!

Here are a few client testimonials...

"I had a wonderful experience working with the Ponders. I loved the locations picked out by Angela. They were fierce & edgy! I can't wait to use their expertise for my daughter's graduation pics. I'm looking forward to working with you guys again very soon!" ~ Sheteka A.

"We have been more than pleased with the superior quality of Photography by Sean Ponder.  Their attention to detail, the clarity of the photo, and the unique angle shots have created cherished mementos that we will enjoy for years to come!" ~ Anita J.

"I recently had the opportunity to work with the awesome husband and wife duo, Sean and Angela Ponder, of Photography By Sean Ponder.  I was made to feel welcomed and at ease during my photo shoot, from the moment I arrived. The quality of the photos was exceptional! I have received many compliments and comments regarding the professionalism of their work. I was quite pleased with my experience. You all will go far. You both are humble and strive to give your best. Your blog niche is, to me, one of a kind. I don't know if anyone else does that, but it adds a little something extra to the experience. You two made me look and feel like I was about to walk into my destiny. You all did an amazing job! Truly, you brought my journey to life!" ~ Millette M.

(*A special thanks to each of you for sharing a word about our service!)

If you're looking for an "Out of the Box" photography experience, book us NOW!

  

Thank You so much for checking out our blog. You can also find us on FaceBook, Instagram and Pinterest at Photography by Sean Ponder, and on Twitter at @Sean_Ponder. Stay tuned for more to come!

Blessings!

Angela

The Creative Director

Visit us on the web!

www.PhotographybySeanPonder.com

www.behance.net/PhotosbySeanPonder