Meet Sabatani Shetu

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sabatani Shetu.

Sabatani, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was always attracted to photography, always the one whipping my phone out at crucial moments, taking candids of my friends, making my family stop every few minutes while on vacation for family photos. My parents couldn’t afford to get me a DSLR growing up so when I went to college and got my first job, I set aside a bit every month to get that first camera. And when I did, I remember being so excited, so ready to capture masterpieces. So, I set a date with some friends to model for me because I knew I wanted to get into portrait photography. I rushed home to open them up in my old janky version of photoshop and… was severely disappointed. They were nowhere near the quality I thought I’d be able to magically achieve my first try.

As illogical as it sounds, it is a little disappointing to see that you’re just not immediately amazing at something you thought was your calling. So, I took that baby out for a spin a little more, watched youtube videos to learn manual, but nothing clicked. So, it collected dust for about a year before I decided to take a photography class at UGA’s New Media Institute. That class changed my life. The problem with self-teaching, I found, is that you don’t know what you don’t know. Some find success with it, I didn’t at the time. Anyway, I take the class, I upgrade my gear and buy the appropriate lenses. I now know what I need to study more and get to learning outside of and after class. I dive deep into the photographer community online, so I could learn as much about the industry and the set standards as I can. I start taking grad photos for an embarrassingly low rate, as every aspiring student with a fancy camera does. I had the goal to do at least ten sessions, and in one month I did 16 grad sessions.

My last few sessions gave me the courage to start charging more. It’s been about a year and a half since that initial grad season and I’ve been lucky enough to get clients again the following year (for double and triple that initial rate, to be more in line with industry standards). This year, I knew I wanted to get into wedding photography, and had a goal of shooting (again) at least ten between second shooting and lead shooting. I just seconded for my 14th last weekend since April. Although that may not seem like a big number to many, it’s something I’m super proud of because a goal met is a goal met, right? Right now, I’m trying to book my own weddings as much as I can in 2019.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’m grateful because although it hasn’t been the smoothest road, it hasn’t been the bumpiest either. I do my research. I only buy the things I need and try not to fall into the gear-acquisition syndrome. I deal with difficult clients because I know it’s just part of the job. But I also get to work with amazingly wonderful clients too, and that makes it all worth it.

A lot of struggle comes from people undervaluing photo work and therefore me undervaluing my own work too. I’ll get inquiries for a session and when I tell them my rates, I get ghosted, and later see on Instagram they went with (undoubtedly) a cheaper photographer and you can tell. And that happens to a lot of photographers and I guess I can’t really be upset about it because we all started somewhere. I used to bend a lot with my rates because I wanted the business, but was taught to accept that the bargain hunters were not my target audience. I deal with friends that are always seeking a discount or free work that I say yes to because I grew up in a culture where it’s impolite to say no to favors. But I’m learning, and I’m doing better.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a photographer and a designer. I haven’t talked much about the design part of it all because I’m planning on letting design take a backseat to the photo part, only because I don’t want to spread myself too thin in one business and want to show more of a master of one thing versus a jack of all. That and because a designer friend of mine and I are quietly working on a new business that focuses more on that aspect, which will launch sometime next year!

Someone once told me, “The work you’re doing is sacred work. Do not take it lightly.” I am a keeper of memories. That’s all a photograph is, a snapshot of a moment that becomes the past as soon as it’s taken. I want you to remember a moment as it happened. I want you to be in love with yourself and the people around you when you look back on one of my photos. I want your heart to be full and your eyes teary because you can’t believe that so much happiness and love was physically able to be caught on camera.

I’m most proud of a sentiment I get most from my clients, “You make me feel so comfortable in front of the camera, something I’m usually not.” And that’s my goal in a lot of ways. I love to hype clients up, I’m not much of a silent fly on the wall when shooting because I don’t want my clients to feel awkward. I step in, I pose them if they’re not comfortable posing themselves, I laugh, I make jokes, I yell “GIVE IT TO ME” obnoxiously loud and get a genuine laugh. I’d say I’m known for being interactive so that we can work together to get the best shots. And I love to make people laugh in my day to day life so I’m proud of that aspect. I think it sets a tone for my company, that you will be leaving joyful and ecstatic.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Honestly, I think luck has been on my side most of my life. Not to say I don’t work hard, I definitely do but I’d be lying if I said that that’s all it was. I like to think it’s because I’m very open to the world and open to positivity and try to do good things in life, and that’s why things seem to work out for me. I also believe when things aren’t working out it’s because the universe is just trying to make you incredibly uncomfortable in order to push you in the direction of change. And I’m very open to change. So, it may be luck or just my sheer willingness to adapt to situations and flip it into something positive.

Pricing:

• Wedding Packages starting at $1500
• Senior Packages starting at $250
• Event Photography starting at $150 an hr

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sabatani.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: instagram.com/sabatani.photo.design
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sabataniphoto

Image Credit:
All photos were taken by me (except the one of me which was taken by my future business partner over at @c.fore.designs)

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