Today we’d like to introduce you to Bonnie VanCedarfield.
Hi Bonnie, 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?
I am the owner and sole photographer at By Bonnie Photography. I am absolutely obsessed with all things Savannah, as well as with coffee, reading, and photography.
I have been in business for almost four years now. They have been amazing years filled with personal growth, goals, and amazing people!
A small part-time job for a nationwide photography company gave me the push and confidence I didn’t even know I wanted to pursue photography as a real job. After a few years of working for another company, I realized in order to continue growing, I needed a change. Little did I know that change would be forced upon me in March of 2020.
In the ever-changing landscape and uncertainty of a worldwide pandemic, I started my own company. It felt both exciting and scary as well as completely insane at times!
During the first few months of 2020, where I spent a lot of forced time at home, I went back to school. Taking both photography and business courses and setting up a new business kept me quite busy!
During that first year, I learned a lot not just about business but about myself, what I love, and where my passion in photography falls. At times, these things I was learning about myself were surprising even to me!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Of course, there are struggles. I am thankful for some of them because otherwise, I feel there wouldn’t be as much learning or growth. The biggest struggle for me is myself. I never feel I measure up or am good enough. I wonder if anyone gets my vision or can feel what I feel in my work. Photography style can be subjective, so always wondering if anyone likes my take on the world or on their moments is a constant struggle. I constantly am keeping up with ongoing education to help myself continue to have the confidence to continue, but impostor syndrome is real.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
During my first year in business, I learned a lot about myself. I thought I knew what I was passionate about in relation to photography, but there was so much more inside me I didn’t know existed! I discovered I have a deep love of working outdoors rather than in a studio. I enjoy working with couples and families, capturing real moments over studio setups. I didn’t realize these passions would end up meshing together to make me known for laughing couples surrounded by Georgia’s scenery with soft colors and a vintage flare. Never in a million years would I have thought this would be my style, but it literally came out of me! I can’t even describe how it happened other than saying I could almost feel what I wanted my images to look like, and my style was created by lots of hard work and me pouring myself into shooting and editing! I also allowed myself to be open to what I was feeling over what the trends were. My sessions highlight my love to capture fun moments and put the focus on both the humans and the natural backdrop! One thing that I never thought I would be completely obsessed with is photographing vehicles. But I found out I am! It Is actually one of my favorite things to do! I have incorporated this love into my work and specialize in vintage car sessions giving people both an experience and photos!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
That is a good question because I am a pretty open book. But if I had to pick, I bet most people don’t know that if I could only photograph one thing for the rest of my life, it would be homebirths! I originally wanted to start my own business with the goal of becoming solely a birth and newborn photographer. I quickly realized when breaking out on my own that I prefer more natural lifestyle newborn sessions over studio newborn photography, which led me to discover my love of family photography. I also realized that being on call every day as a birth photographer wasn’t going to work for my personal schedule. So although I don’t specialize in birth photography, it is a calling I feel deep in my gut and something I feel strongly about!
Pricing:
- Standard Digital Sessions Start at $450
- Vintage Car Photo Sessions Start at $750
- Elopement Photography Starts at $575
- Professional Photo Products Range From $500-2,000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bybonniephotography.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/bybonniephotography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bybonniephotography
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/bybonniephotography
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/by-bonnie-photography-savannah?osq=by+Bonnie+Photography
Image Credits
I took and edited all the all the photos except my brand photo. My Headshot/brand photo = Photo credit to Versaguis Photography Edit Credit to By Bonnie Photography
