Photography by Sean Ponder

Sunday, May 14, 2023

Elevation

“Sometimes the only way to transform from ordinary to extraordinary is during periods of isolation. Even the caterpillar knows the way to experience elevation.” ~Angela Shannon Ponder

Greetings Readers!

Excuse me while I take a moment to Reflect.

When I look back over my life, I recognize that I have learned many critical lessons… some good and some not so much, especially over the last decade or so. I’ve learned a lot about myself, what I like and what I don’t like, what brings me peace and what disturbs my spirit. I’ve also learned a lot about people. How they can distract you and throw you off course and how they can drain your energy stores if you let them. Each new year brings me greater understanding of my purpose and reveals to me a clearer path to get there. However, just when I think I am making a little bit of progress, here come the distractions again. Now don’t get me wrong, I do realize they have purpose as well, but I had to learn to balance my life and put all things that did not add value in their proper places. To do that it required me to have an elevation kind of mindset.

My peace is Resolute.

Let me tell you a little bit about peace. Peace is comforting. It’s calming. When the world is full of noise and gloom, peace is like a soothing sound in a silent room. Peace is preserving and once you get a taste of it, you will refuse to allow anyone in your life that threatens to disturb it. Yet there is one important aspect about peace that we should understand… not everyone knows how to access it for themselves. There are those who will even try to engage with a catalyst thinking they can help them crack the code. Truth be told, there are some really unhappy people in this world who are struggling with the absence of discipline, a lack of ambition, low self-esteem, fear and the inability to improve their own quality of life through skill, intellect or creativity. These same people will, unbeknownst to you, make YOU the object of their misery, simply because they can see the joy you are experiencing in your life and they don't know how to tap into it. NEVER let them draw you into their circus or make you feel bad about being happy. You are neither the source or the solution for their issues, so leave them with the freedom and opportunity to figure things out on their own. Be at peace with placing distance between you. Be okay with walking away. Their internal battle is not your concern. One thing I know for certain… at this stage in MY life, I refuse to pacify anyone else’s paranoia or insecurities to provide them with a plethora of peace.

My energy is a Resource.

Elevation sometimes requires you to go into isolation. It is occasionally necessary for you to step away so you can heal from experiences that may have left you bruised, reflect on possibilities, and discover new and exciting opportunities. It calls for you to step aside so you can prioritize you: your peace, your purpose and your passions. You are deserving, especially when you assess just how many demands you have on your time. Personally speaking, I am intentionally impactful in all of my efforts, so if I am called to fall back, my energy is missed. However, instead of me redirecting my energy to my own hopes and dreams in that moment, I tend to give it away, sometimes to people who are not even worthy of it. So many people need you, they lean on you for advice and guidance, your creative mind, your structure, your resources… you know, your time, talent and treasure. Yet with all that you have going on, sometimes you neglect a major part of your life that needs your attention in order for you to advance to your next level. Do you want to know what that is? YOUR GOALS. You are distracted daily, and going into solitude every now and then will help you recalibrate and silence the noise that continues to grab your attention. The noise that is diverting you from doing what you need to do for yourself, to instead do what you feel you have to do for others. So how can you elevate if you rarely devote the time? Let’s go deeper.

Let your decision be Resounding.

Be intentional. Elevation requires separation. It’s not personal, it’s purposeful. In other words, make time for yourself. Today… give yourself grace for the unhealthy patterns and decisions that you have made in life that disturbed your peace or prevented your progress. Going forward, honor order in your life and remove yourself from the company of anyone who creates disruption. Make it a point to not retain toxic ties. For your own well-being, they must be severed as soon as they are identified. Get to a place where you no longer waste energy where reciprocation is not respected. Remember that empty vessels in need of a refill are in search of someone like you for a fill up… never pour from an empty cup. They are not entitled to your abundance, so if you are not consciously and selectively supplying from an overflow, tell them, “NO.” Be authentic and true, because authenticity produces confidence, empowerment and alignment. Unauthentic people do not understand that assignment. Stop feeling guilty for your ambitions. You don’t owe anyone else anything and guilt will only give way to opportunists who come with an agenda… and the gag is, their intentions will never benefit YOU. Finally, stop waiting around for a handclap of praise. Learn to succeed without being affirmed and validated, clap for yourself when you need to be celebrated, and take time away to prepare to be elevated. You owe it to yourself.

We are so grateful that the gorgeous Tomecka Patterson joined us for this concept! Tomecka has a uniquely powerful presence about her that is so emerging that she just seems to jump off the page, yet in a quiet and peaceful way if that makes sense. She is like that “soothing sound in a silent room” and we absolutely LOVE working with her! We hope these words and images from our concept entitled, “Elevation” resonates. Until next time, enjoy!

MUA:
Tynita Lee
Booking Info:
MakeUpbyTynita@gmail.com
Makeup by Tynita on Schedulicity.com
Instagram: @makeup_by_tynita

As always, thank you SO much for visiting our blog. Keep up with the Team at Photography by Sean Ponder by visiting our website at PhotographybySeanPonder.com or on FaceBook at Facebook.com/PhotographybySeanPonder (Like our page!). You can also follow us on InstaGram at Instagram.com/PhotographybySeanPonder.

Until next time, Peace, Love and Light!

Angela
The Creative Director

Thursday, August 11, 2022

PRESSURE

“Funny thing about pressure… it can burst pipes, it can create magnificent diamonds, it can cause catastrophic storms, and when perfectly placed, it can make everyone in the room uncomfortable.” ~Angela Shannon Ponder

Greetings Readers!

No matter how hard you try and no matter your efforts, you cannot convince anyone to like you if they have already made up in their minds that they don’t. It’s just not going to happen. People are miserable and they are out here holding grudges over nonsense, intent and misunderstandings, and generally those people are not trying to get clarity. They could not care less. So if they don’t like you and you know you have done absolutely nothing to harm them, then they don’t want to like you and that’s a personal problem that you need to leave them to deal with. Moving right along.

Stay on your grind and in pursuit of your dreams. Continue to enjoy life, love who you are, and be comfy cozy in your beautiful skin like a chenille blend. Do not let anyone else disturb your groove or destroy your mood. They are evil and they are after your peace. It’s clear that there is something about you that causes them to reflect on their own individual lack. If you have a special gift or ability, if they consider you more intelligent or more educated, if they assume you are more successful, if people are instinctively drawn to your good-natured spirit; and my personal favorite, if they cannot CONTROL you, then nine times out of ten, they will not like you. The latter is actually the most dangerous, because a person that cannot control you will try to change the narrative and influence how others perceive you. Those kinds of people will speak negatively about you to anyone who will listen and inject their own disdain for you then flip it, as if YOU are the one with the ill-feelings. Unfortunately, those who listen to the discontent will believe everything they hear about you instead of using logic in their discernment. But that’s their issue, we’ll move on.

All of this unwarranted dislike is the direct result of pressure applied. Whether you are a man or a woman, it can be intimidating to come face to face with someone who appears to have their shit together, particularly if you don’t. When a person not only has goals, but a plan and the ability to make it happen, that is pressure. When someone is bothered because you're attractive, that is pressure. Pressure is applied anytime favor is on full display and there is nothing anyone else can do to change it or benefit from it. Some will get irritated and think that it's their responsibility to knock you down off of the proverbial high horse they think you are sitting on... with rigor. These poor pitiful souls are envious and they want what you’ve got, so I guess pressure is like a loaded gun and they're triggered. Know your worth and never let anyone else assess your value. Keep on shining.

You can have humility, you can be friendly and outgoing, you can live a life of discretion, but it does not matter to someone who has been made uncomfortable just by you being your authentic self. They can’t stand you! The truth of the matter is that a person can admire everything that you do and they can love everything about you and still not like you. I believe Jill Scott said it in this way… “If I could give you the world on a silver platter, would it even matter? You'd still be mad at me.” Don’t waste your valuable time trying to clear things up with someone who is already dazed and confused. You don’t owe them your side of the story. Let them believe whatever it is they want to believe and you continue to get good sleep at night. Lean in... I’ll let you in on a little secret. You can’t be extraordinary without first being extra. You can’t be outstanding if you’re too afraid to stand out. Keep letting the world know what you’re about, apply that pressure and if you do, you won’t die with greatness still stuck inside of you. My god-daughter, model Jasmine Murphy bodied the persona for this concept, but I knew she would. She always applies pressure and brings the heat, and I would expect nothing less. Enjoy the images that follow and don’t forget to press!

STYLIST:
Rovonya Smith
Instagram: @Seamstress_Queen

STYLIST:

Jasmine Murphy

Statement Piece Jewelry:
Tena Bingham
Instagram: @tenasuniquepieces

Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Mr. G.Q. - The 3rd Annual Photographers' Collab Group Project

Greetings Readers!

We recently wrapped up our 3rd Annual Photographers' Collab group project. The theme for this year's concept was "Mr. GQ" and let me just say that the models did not disappoint. Just to give a bit of background, the term G.Q. originates from the Gentleman's Quarterly Magazine (later renamed GQ Magazine). In popular culture, "GQ" refers to a good-looking, fashion forward, well-groomed man. Basically, someone worthy of being on the cover of the magazine from which the word derives. It is a very complimentary term, not bestowed upon every man, but one who is polished, has impeccable style and exceptional taste. A GQ man is authentic, effortless and capable of making a statement... without saying a word.

The "Mr. GQ" group concept featured models Alexander and Lawrence, two gentlemen who completely embodied the essence of the GQ man. Special thanks to all of the creatives who participated in this year's project: Sheila Upshaw, Reneka Swims, Otis Robertson, Carl Edmondson, Dedrick Roberts and of course, Sean Ponder. Please enjoy samples of their work from the project. Until next year!

Sheila Upshaw

sheilaupshawphotography.com

IG: sheilaupshawphotography

Reneka Swims

renekaswimsphotography.mypixieset.com

IG: Swimsfoto

Otis Robertson

otiscrobertson.com

IG: otisrobertsonphotography

Carl Edmondson, Jr.

cejrphotography.com

IG: CEJr. Photography

Dedrick Roberts

drobertsphotography.zenfolio.com

IG: robertsphotography2020

Sean Ponder

photographybyseanponder.com

IG: photographybyseanponder

Models:

Alexander Daniel

IG: @alexanderbdaniel

Lawrence Jones

IG: @simplylawrencej

As always, thank you SO much for visiting our blog. Keep up with the Team at Photography by Sean Ponder by visiting our links below!

photographybyseanponder.com

Facebook.com/PhotographybySeanPonder

Instagram.com/PhotographybySeanPonder

Until next time, Peace, Love and Light!

Angela
The Creative Director

Friday, January 21, 2022

Conscious Soul

“Now keep in mind that I’m an artist, and I’m sensitive about my shit!” ~Erykah Badu

Greetings Readers!

Good vibes and peace to the soul tribe! It’s been a while. So I decided to take a different approach with this blog post, and make it a poetry piece that I wrote, to change up my style. For this concept, we got the chance to work with the GORGEOUS Tomecka once again... we hope you enjoy it!

You can feel it when you’re in the presence

of a woman with powerful energy.

She is undeniable.

She’s captivating, almost intimidating,

yet draws you in for more…

That’s what they call allure.

Her confidence can overwhelm you,

Like a rushing river can consume you right?

Her mindset, like food for thought,

satisfies the insatiable appetite.

She’s the kind of energy that can’t be diminished.

Magnetic, when she walks into a room,

she owns everything in it.

Intelligent, commanding, capable, aligned,

She’s not just beautiful on the outside,

that’s aesthetics,

But she’s got a beautiful mind.

She is compassionate with a deep understanding

of the human condition.

She advocates for those in need;

with intention, she makes it her mission.

A bold beauty wrapped in mahogany dipped skin,

She’s an enigma.

She is zen and she holds within,

Divine knowledge and wisdom.

She uses it to nurture and raise powerful children.

She is mother in the earth,

Her hand rocks the cradle of the universe.

She invests time and energy into her legacy,

and she does it with such vibrancy.

Her aura is contagious, absolutely outrageous.

You can’t absorb it all at once,

You have to take her vibe in stages.

She’s amazing and she’ll keep you in a daze;

If you breathe too deep, you’ll catch a contact from the haze.

There’s just something about her that intrigues you.

She stays on your mind when she leaves you,

and it grieves you.

Take your time and let it process my dear,

because this one here,

She’s from beyond the stratosphere!

She is drenched in self-love, self-expression,

and self-admiration.

She is pure elation and sweet manifestation.

Just like cosmos and constellations,

She’s deep like thoughtful conversation.

She is class and sophistication.

She is walking validation.

Just so unapologetic,

She’s got that flow, it’s so poetic.

She is truly energetic,

and it’s ALL GOOD, copacetic.

Brighter than the stars on the darkest night;

Ambitious and creative, she’s a prototype,

She has insight, so she could never lose in life.

Her experience is either a blessing or a lesson,

Crafted in the Creator’s image, she gives reverence,

Pure essence.

She is effortless and uncompromising,

Realizing that with or without she is whole,

a complete and conscious soul.

STYLIST:

Rovonya Smith

Instagram: @Seamstress_Queen

ACCESSORIES:

Tina Bingham

Instagram: @tenasuniquepieces

MUA:

Tynita Lee
Booking Info:
MakeUpbyTynita@gmail.com
Makeup by Tynita on Schedulicity.com
Instagram: @makeup_by_tynita

As always, thank you SO much for visiting our blog. Keep up with the Team at Photography by Sean Ponder by visiting our website at PhotographybySeanPonder.com or on FaceBook at Facebook.com/PhotographybySeanPonder (Like our page!). You can also follow us on InstaGram at Instagram.com/PhotographybySeanPonder.

Until next time, Peace, Love and Light!

Angela
The Creative Director

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Retrograde

“In a world full of trends, I want to remain a classic.” ~ Iman

Greetings Readers!

Like the quote says, “I want to remain a classic.” Classic like the Kangol. Classic like the black and white shell-toe Adidas, with the FAT shoelaces. Classic like the warm-up suits. Classic like the Gazelle glasses and see-through chiffon… classic like the Caprice and the Fleetwood Brougham. I know this is not my first time underneath the sun. Some call it deja vu, I call it things I once knew; but either way, my recollection of the things of old, gave me an experienced soul. From the time I was a little girl, I’ve loved everything that spoke to a particular era, namely mine. As an adult, things like old school values, good manners, respect, hard work, classic cars, timeless style and culture, old school soul music and of course hip hop (which for the record started with Generation X, but I’ll get to that later), really tickle my fancy. A good ole throwback is always in order if you ask me. Nothing like remembering where you came from and where it all started. For that very reason, I tend to embrace a lot of today’s music when they use tracks from songs that were released during my day, not all but a lot. It takes me back to a familiar time and I like that; although the lyrics they use bring me back to reality REAL quick, it’s still nice when they give a nod to the originals. Oh and let us not forget the vinyl records… listen, those are treasures that only OG’s and the best DJ’s around know anything about. The official vintage artifacts from decades of good music. Respect to the genres that have stood the tests and transition of time.

When we were young, we played outside with no phones or pagers, and we knew to be home before the streetlights came on. We rode bikes with no helmets or safety pads, rode in cars with no seatbelts, and caught rides in the back of pick-up trucks with nothing to hold onto but the side of the truck itself, even on the interstate… now dig that! Families were close back then. Get togethers were a regular occurrence and we always saw our cousins! Friday nights were spent at football and basketball games and Saturday nights, well you could always find a few of us at the skate rink. I can remember getting my first pair of roller skates one Christmas and spending days and hours in our garage learning how to balance myself. Not sure how long it took me, but once I had achieved at least an intermediate skill level, I took my skates to the street to test them out publicly. Before long, I was moonwalking and skating backwards to Midnight Starr, Whodini, and Roger and Zapp around the rink like a boss! I will always have those memories, but you won’t catch me in skates nowadays. Falling over forty is NOT a game to be played!

I’ve always been an avid reader with a hunger for knowledge, so you could always find me with a book, a pen and some paper close by me. I stayed armed with those tools and yes, we actually used to read books back then (some of us), so our mindset was different. We were on something else. One of the mothers at my old church used to say, “Every generation grows weaker and wiser.” So much truth and it’s wise to listen to the wisdom of the elders. So why a post that takes us back down memory lane? Well for one, I’m a storyteller and it’s what I do. For two, I think it’s important to pay homage to the generations that came before us and to acknowledge some of the things that made the period of their existence special. For three, I’m a PROUD member of Generation X… you know, the generation once thought of as the one who didn’t care about ANYBODY, but is now taking care of EVERYBODY. I found it worth noting that, in addition to the hip hop culture being birthed out of OUR generation, it was also during our time that the personal computer became common AND the mobile phone was developed. Essentially, we are the group that stays bridging the gaps in life and technology (wink).

For this concept, we got the chance to work with the lovely and lively, Cayla once again! Cayla is so cool… she is a WHOLE vibe! She moved through this shoot frame after flawless frame and made the project flow easy and effortlessly, and that’s one of my FAVORITE words! She’s got edge, she's got appeal and she is super sweet! We hope you enjoy these images from the Retrograde concept. More to come from the TEAM! PEACE!

Sunday, July 18, 2021

The Real Housewife of Davidson County

“In this world there are many rulers, but I am the HBIC!” ~ Twana Jarrett

Greetings Readers!

Well I declare! There is a true Southern Belle in Davidson County! She is one who understands the value of grace and exquisite style, simplicity and sophistication... all hallmarks of a classy lady. She embraces the art of southern hospitality and serves it up right nice with a refreshing glass of sweet iced tea. Twana Jarrett offered us a glimpse of high society and divine feminity in her recent concept photo session to celebrate and commemorate her milestone 50th birthday. She has achieved a half century worth of knowledge and greatness through her life experiences and the culmination of which includes a pinch of self-awareness, a dash of self-care, a heaping helping of self-love and a cup of wisdom for good measure.

Twana embodied authentic southern charm while also tipping her tea cup to the culture, by honoring black-owned Tennessee brand, Guidance Whiskey. It was truly a delightful concept and we are thrilled that she chose our team to capture such a special occasion. Happy Birthday, Twana! May you have the most amazing year making memories. Enjoy yourself now, you hear?

MUA:
Tynita Lee
Booking Info:
MakeUpbyTynita@gmail.com
Makeup by Tynita on Schedulicity.com
Instagram: @makeup_by_tynita

Hair Stylist:

Tammy Terry

Beverly’s of Nashville

bofnsalon.com

As always, thank you SO much for visiting our blog. Keep up with the Team at Photography by Sean Ponder by visiting our website at PhotographybySeanPonder.com or on FaceBook at Facebook.com/PhotographybySeanPonder (Like our page!). You can also follow us on InstaGram at Instagram.com/PhotographybySeanPonder.

Until next time, Peace, Love and Light!

Angela
The Creative Director

Monday, April 26, 2021

The Ugly Location Challenge

Greetings Readers!

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Photographers’ Collab Project! The Photographers' Collab is a network of local photographers and videographers who are looking to connect and collaborate with other creatives in the Middle Tennessee area. This year our project was "The Ugly Location Challenge". The idea of this concept was to find one of the most unattractive, grimiest of places to shoot and still achieve a glamorous, high fashion image. The weather was absolutely perfect and made for a great day of shooting from on top of the rooftop and inside the garage.

Each creative was asked to submit their favorite images of the day for each model to be on display in this wrap up blog post. Please check out everyone's skills below and follow them on social media! What will be our project idea for 2022? Stay tuned...

Brandon Hopkins

IG: @bhopkins91