Rising Stars: Meet Evan Givens of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan Givens.

Hi Evan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m Evan Givens, but most people know me as SadGod. I’m a photographer and poet from Detroit who fell in love with photography at the Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. What started as curiosity turned into an obsession with documenting feelings, memories, and the things people don’t always have words for. A lot of my work lives somewhere between nostalgia and healing, pulling from my own experiences and the people around me.

I’m interested in real human moments more than perfection. Whether I’m exploring themes of love, depression, growth, or connection, I’m always trying to make something honest. I want my work to feel like a memory you can’t quite place but somehow never forgot.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like a lot of artists, I’ve dealt with self-doubt, setbacks, and people who genuinely wanted to see me fail. For a long time, I took that personally, but eventually I realized that every challenge was teaching me something about myself. The obstacles became part of the journey instead of something standing in the way of it.

These days, I’m less focused on proving people wrong and more focused on becoming a better version of myself. I try to approach life and art with curiosity, knowing there’s always more to learn and more room to grow. A lot of my work reflects that shift. It’s still honest about pain and adversity, but it’s also about resilience, healing, and the idea that we’re all constantly evolving into who we’re meant to be.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I like to consider myself a visual storyteller. I view each job, each collaboration, and each project as a puzzle. I want to find the root of every driving catalyst and put that down in the work. Every stroke of a painter’s brush has a purpose. That’s what my team and I make sure to accomplish every time. Every image or visual has to hit, and it has to be uniquely you.

How do you think about luck?
I want to say luck has never been a big part of my life, I attribute all the blessings in my life to the lord and no one else. I feel lucky because of all the amazing artists in my life like Jackson Farrish a great friend and the Videographer I work hand in hand with. My parents have blessed me with a mindset of hard work and have sacrificed immensely for me, and all the friends/Mentors who have helped me along the way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/sadgodofficial
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EvanGivensPhoto