This photo was taken on the Pentax 35mm. Yosemite National Park.
Why become a photographer, when everyone you know is a photographer?
I have never been someone who puts a lot of trust into "trusting the process"; I grew up in a world where hard work is the one thing you should be proud of and creativity wasn't necessarily something to be celebrated. Or maybe it was the you work so hard that you have no time to be creative? At my ripe old age of 30, as I enter what I consider to be real adulthood, I’ve started asking myself: what am I worth—to myself—without creativity? Without creating things that bring me joy and that allow me to heal? We all carry some form of trauma, but what I didn’t expect was that this work would help me heal small parts of myself. And honestly, isn’t that the best part?
I remember being a kid and being asked the question every child hears: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”. My answer at the time was a Veterinarian; I loved animals, I still do but truly......how can you expect a child to know for certain what they want to be as an adult? I suppose it creates a sense of wonder and curiosity, because what are we if we’re not curious about things we have little knowledge of? It wasn’t until I got older that I decided I wanted to be a photographer and I think it stemmed from a real love and appreciation for National Geographic.
I was never a National Geographic magazine collector (maybe one day when I have a library room in my house) and I don’t remember the exact moment things changed for me but I imagine it started with a documentary David Attenborough narrated about the earth and all the wonderful things that inhabit it. I later found National Geographic to be the goal, I would later find that goal to float in and out of my curiosity, my interests changed and my perception of National Geographic was always that it was centered around the natural world. It truly wasn’t until the last couple years that I realized National Geographic is much more than that. It’s a brand that celebrates and explores cultures, people, food and nature. And it wasn’t until I joined the military and was able to experience some of those cultures for myself that it really struck home; it was never about just photographing for the sake of taking a picture, but to allow someone looking at the photo and experience something through your lens. It took me a long time to trust myself enough to even consider that being a photographer is something that I could be decent at.
I purchased my first real camera while I was on deployment at a port in Dubai in 2015. It was a Canon EOS Rebel T5 DSLR, I bought it for $500 and it became my prized possession. I had no idea how to use it, I didn't really have a way to research while on deployment so I just took it everywhere I went. Some of those photos live in the adventure section of my portfolio. You'll find photos from Japan and Singapore, I'm working on locating photos from Dubai, Israel and Bahrain. I sold that camera quite a few years ago and when I look back at those photos, I wonder why. I’m surprised by some of those images. The composition and framing, despite knowing almost nothing, were better than I expected. I even managed to capture an electric storm out at sea. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I knew I wanted to remember those moments—through joyful, curious eyes experiencing the world for the first time..
After selling that camera, photography faded out of my life until 2023. I expressed my interest to my father-in-law and he mentioned a film camera he had; a Pentax 35mm. He lent it to me and I started to document every trip, I and my husband went on. I think some of my favorites are from an anniversary trip to Canada, those can be found in my portfolio as well. Eventually, I was loaned a Canon EOS 40D, and I dove in—watching old tutorials, learning composition, and understanding the basics. Then a friend asked me to shoot her engagement photos, and that’s where Sabrina Marie Photography was born. If it weren’t for her (shoutout to Emma), I don’t think I would have had the confidence to invest in myself, let alone start a business.
I did tons of research on cameras, took lots of personal opinions into consideration, looked at what camera the more outdoorsy people recommend and with every penny I had, I bought a Sony a7iii. I will go more into this camera in a later post but portability was huge for me. I needed something that was small, lightweight, versatile, weather resistant and durable. With this camera I have been able to capture some unforgettable memories, I've created relationships with local businesses and documented some of the most meaningful moments in my friends’ lives as their families grow.
I want my photography to reflect the moments in life we often overlook, the small in-between moments, I want it to celebrate love in all forms, represent all people and show you what you look like from my perspective. In my early 20's, I had the opportunity to experience people and cultures much different than my own. I only wish I had the perspective then that I do now—the courage to ask questions and truly understand people’s stories. Those experiences shaped me into someone more open, more curious, more accepting, and more creative.
I have learned so much already - from the people who have encouraged me and the people who have trusted me to tell their stories. This work has shown me a level of creativity I didn’t know I had. I believe we grow wiser with age, and that we’re meant to have different seasons in life. Fortunately, I landed in a place when I was 28 where I was able to purchase my first professional camera and start a business. I have learned so much in the last few years and I expect to learn so much more but I’m looking forward to growing as a photographer.
My dream job is still working with NatGeo, but for now capturing your most precious moments is equally as fulfilling!
