Today we’d like to introduce you to Savanna Sturkie.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My freshman year of college, I was studying international affairs because I wanted to be in the CIA (ha!). Well, that didn’t exactly work out. I ended up switching majors to journalism. I could utilize my emotions more powerfully, I think. Photojournalism was a class option, so I took it, and it took to me. I love creating photography about as much as I love consuming it. I adored learning about famous photographers and photojournalists, and I still love becoming inspired by them. I think that’s incredibly important, and a huge part of not becoming burned out. Staying inspired by great people. There’s plenty of them.
Maybe I’ll just say that. Photojournalism was a class option, so I took it, and it took to me. I became obsessed, and that’s kind of…it? I love creating photography about as much as I love consuming it. I adored learning about famous photographers and photojournalists, and I still love becoming inspired by them. I think that’s incredibly important, and a huge part of not becoming burned out. Staying inspired by great people. There’s plenty of them.
Please tell us about your art.
I’m a photographer, but not just one kind. Right now, I am primarily focusing on weddings, which I actually never thought would happen. I guess I expected to be one type of thing, but I really don’t want to be. I find joy in many ways and always have. I have lots of hobbies and interests, and that kind of translates to my photography. While I didn’t expect to love wedding photography as much as I do, it’s become practically my bread and butter, and frankly, it makes me really happy, because it makes other people really happy. I also adore food photography and always have. That’s what I expected to end up doing, all the time, forever. But, again, I don’t want to sing just one tune (and I think that’s okay). I love food photography for many reasons. One: it’s something every single person in the world can appreciate. We all have to eat, and most people LOVE food. Especially when it looks good! Also, it’s everywhere. The grocery store. Instagram. Billboards. Menus. Everywhere you turn, there’s photos of food. I’d argue it’s one of the most photographed items in the world. I just think it’s fascinating, and when it can be artful, I love it.
My biggest inspirations are Henri Cartier-Bresson, Annie Leibovitz (I got her portrait book for Christmas and saw her lecture, WOW!), Jim Richardson, Sally Mann, Diane Arbus, and Edward Steichen.
As far as my artwork, again, I am focusing on couples and weddings, but also food and editorial work. Because I was first and foremost a photojournalist and storyteller, my style definitely leans authentic and real. I don’t really like over-edited styles, but that’s just me. I love colors, contrast, and authenticity. I like tears (happy and overwhelming ones), candid and in-between moments. I hope people can take away my authenticity.
As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
Not in money, but memory. And I don’t necessarily mean fame, either. Because memory is not the same thing as fame. Fame equates money and parties. Memory is something else. Of all the people I mentioned that inspired me, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Annie Leibovitz, Sally Mann, etc. — I can remember photos they took clearly in my head. For example, I think my favorite portrait by Leibovitz is actually a portrait she did of her own mother, that I can picture so easily. There are, of course, others like them. Painters, musicians, the list goes on. There’s even fellow photographers I follow on social media who inspire me, and I can think of photos they took that I think are so amazing that they appear in my head like my own memories. I think that’s true success.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I guess I hate to say this, but people can mostly see my work on Instagram but isn’t that the world we’re living in? I’m trying to get better at using social media as a tool, but I have such an enormous love-hate relationship with it (again, don’t we all? I know I’m preaching to the choir). My work is also on my website at savannasturkie.com, and in magazines here and there! I was featured in the November 2018 issue of The Local Palate, a few issues of Atlanta Magazine over the years (I will be in the shopping section of February 2019, hey-0h), and in one of last spring’s issue of Food & Wine magazine. It’s on the goals list for more editorial work in 2019!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.savannasturkie.com
- Email: savsturkie@gmail.com
- Instagram: savannasturkie
Image Credit:
Headshot by Savannah Shaw Photography, all other images by Savanna Sturkie Photography
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