Today we’d like to introduce you to Raven Thomas.
Hi Raven, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I was a little girl I used to dress my cousin up, pose her, and sneak my grandmother’s Kodak camera to take pictures. She would go to print them and realize the whole roll was just photos I had taken. After that she started buying me digital cameras for Christmas and birthdays and that is really where it all started.
Over the years I did not always know photography would become a career but I knew I loved creating moments that made people feel something. Whether it was feeling beautiful, seen, or just frozen in time. I went from taking pictures of friends and family to working at Portrait Innovations in college and eventually turning my creativity into a full-blown business.
Now I am a full-time photographer with a studio in Birmingham, Alabama and I shoot everything from portraits and maternity to branded campaigns and commercial work. I have built my business, SassySnaps Photography, with nothing but vision, faith, and a whole lot of figuring it out along the way.
Today I am not just capturing moments. I am curating experiences. Whether it is a mom seeing herself glowing during her maternity session or a brand seeing their product in a new light, I create with purpose. I try to bring a little luxury, warmth, and realness into every experience.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I’ve had to learn a lot through trial and error. There were seasons where I was booked and thriving and others where I was questioning everything; my talent, my pricing, even my purpose.
Running a business by yourself means you wear every hat. You are the photographer, the editor, the marketing team, the customer service rep, and the accountant. That can be overwhelming, especially when you are trying to grow and still maintain the creative spark that got you started in the first place.
There were also moments when I felt unseen, especially being in a smaller market like Birmingham. It is easy to feel like you are working so hard but not being recognized in the way you hope to be. But those moments taught me to keep showing up even when it is quiet. I had to learn how to clap for myself and trust that the work I was doing would open the right doors when the time was right.
One of my biggest battles has been feeling good enough or even feeling ready. People have always told me I was talented but this is the first year I have actually started to believe them. That came from looking back at work I once doubted and realizing “that is actually not a bad picture at all”. I have struggled with my own worth. I have been nominated for this interview multiple times and never accepted because I did not think I deserved it.
But I am done feeding myself that lie. I work hard. And while hard work does not always equal success it does mean something when you do not give up. And I haven’t. I have stayed consistent since starting my business in 2016. There were times when I felt like I did not value myself enough so I would go bartend on the side just to remind myself that if I did not pursue my dream I would end up helping someone else build theirs. That has been the hardest part; learning to believe in myself the way others have all along.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a full-time photographer and the owner of SassySnaps Photography. I specialize in portraits, maternity, and brand photography but more than anything I create experiences. My sessions are designed to feel like a celebration. Whether I am capturing a first-time mom or helping a brand tell their story visually I bring a sense of ease and intentionality to every shoot.
I think I am most known for making people feel comfortable in front of the camera and for how well I pose my clients. A lot of people come in saying they do not know what to do or how to stand but that is where I come in. I guide them every step of the way and by the end they are glowing. That is something I am really proud of. Not just the images but the transformation people feel during their time with me.
What sets me apart is the way I approach each client with care. I am hands-on when needed whether it is helping plan outfits, creating a mood board, or guiding them through the vision. I do not do the same thing for everyone but I show up in the way each person needs. I focus on making sure every person feels celebrated and seen in their own way.
I am most proud of the consistency I have had over the years. I have built this from the ground up and I have done it without losing the heart behind what I do. Every shoot is personal. Every story matters. And I do not take that lightly.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is making people feel seen. I know what it feels like to doubt yourself or to feel like you are not enough so I have made it part of my mission to remind people of their beauty their strength and their story through my lens. Sometimes we get so caught up in our roles just trying to keep up with life that we forget what it feels like to be seen, appreciated, and celebrated.
That is why I love when someone books a session just because. Maybe they want updated portraits or beauty shots to remind themselves of who they are outside of their day to day. I believe those moments are powerful. It is not always about a special occasion. Sometimes the moment itself becomes special simply because you decided you were worth it.
That is what drives me. I want every person who steps in front of my camera to leave feeling better than they did when they walked in. That has always been my goal with this work and honestly with life in general. To leave people better than how I found them.
Pricing:
- Pricing varies by session type
- Custom quotes are available upon inquiry
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Sassysnappedit.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sassy__snaps?igsh=MW83em9neXptOGgyaA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1UghUdbjt9/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Image Credits
Photographer: Sassysnaps/Raven Semone
