Click here to read the full article at Voyage Magazine!

 

Read a copy of the photographer interview from Voyage Magazine Houston with Sara Abdulaziz of Sara Abdulaziz Photography below. [Original Publication Date: January 30, 2019]

 

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Abdulaziz.

Sara, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.

Oh gosh! Where do I even begin? Diapers, maybe?! I truly don’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t surrounded by art. I come from a family of successful business owners, fashion designers, and engineers. Creating is in my genetic code. My father is an electrical engineer with a brain full of knowledge and powerful abstract thinking that has served him well in his own artistic pursuits. His time in engineering school left him frequently with a mechanical pencil, paper, and countless hours in the library where he would create beautiful sketches during his study breaks. Then, there’s my gorgeous mother, a fashion and interior designer who inspires me on the regular with her endless amount of talents. One of my earliest memories as a child is walking the aisles of High Fashion and playing hide and go seek behind the fabrics with my mom. Fast forward twenty-something years, I find myself at the same store getting yards of fabric cut for my own business. It’s funny how life works out. My parents planted the artistic seed throughout my upbringing—yet, I never in a million years would have thought I would become a wedding photographer.

 I fell in love with photography, specifically, when I was in middle school. In sixth grade, I was living in Singapore where the American curriculum was very tech heavy and I was taught how to use Adobe Photoshop at an advanced level. Those same skills and techniques I learned as a sixth grader are the ones I use today to edit and retouch my images. By eighth grade, I had a DSLR in my hand and would use every lunch break to get my friends to model for me so I could practice on my composition skills than spend photography class working on my retouching skills and building my portfolio. In high school, a group of girls petitioned to have the school yearbook allow me to take their pictures. At the time my school had a list of photographers they worked with to provide the yearbook with professional images. So, to have a 16-year-old girl join that list of established professionals was definitely an unexpectant surprise and one for the books! From there Sara Abdulaziz Photography was born! I focused on seniors all through college and it wasn’t until all my friends started getting married that I realized I was ready for a change. I found myself falling in love with every little detail that I encountered on a wedding day and began transitioning into weddings. It came down to the season of life I was (and currently am) in that pushed me into wedding photography. What once seemed totally daunting, became a specialty I couldn’t imagine living without! Sometimes I catch myself in disbelief that this is my full-time job. I get to be surrounded by the sweetest lovebirds you can imagine on one of the happiest days of their life and my heart could not be fuller if I tried!

All in all, becoming a wedding photographer was never something I planned or saw coming, even when the signs were all there. It was organic and unexpected, but I think that’s what makes this adventure so wonderful. I truly am blessed and beyond excited for what lies ahead for my business and our lovely SAP bride tribe!

Can you give our readers some background on your art?

My artistic style is best described as bright and airy in the photography community. I believe in producing timeless pieces of art that capture the joy, color, and organic moments in life. As I take photographs, I pursue a balance between telling a love story and capturing editorial shots. That middle ground is my happy place and something I strive for in every gallery I deliver.

In addition, I believe in providing my clients with heirlooms. My goal is to give my them memories that can not only be cherished now, but most importantly, be passed down for future generations to enjoy. I come from a family of immigrants who have a rich and powerful story that I am proud to have inherited. Had my family not kept a record of our legacy, I would have missed on all the history and love captured in our family heirlooms. I know first-hand how important it is to leave a legacy and I want to do the same for my clients so that their story lives on for years to come.

What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?

It is so important, anytime you are new to anything, to get out and meet your community! For artists especially, it is so hard to find the reason to leave our homes and mingle but you absolutely need to (for your own mental sanity) for the sake of progressing in your industry. For photographers, I recommend heading to styled shoots. They are wonderful ways to practice your craft and make friends with other individuals who are hustling just as hard as you! Cheer them on through this crazy journey of owning a business! I met most of my industry besties at styled shoots and they’re simply the greatest people on the block! You can also join your local Rising Tide Society! Their motto is “Community Over Competition.” You can search up their Facebook page and find the chapter for your Houston suburb and head to a meeting! Each month there is a new topic so not only do you get to meet awesome creatives in your community, you get to attend a seminar and learn amazing things from the speakers they have selected for the monthly meeting. Last, but not least, find a mentor! They will be your friend and teacher through this crazy journey. It’s a whole other world out there when it comes to running a creative business and it is 110% okay to ask for advice and lessons along the way. What I love about this industry is how sweet everyone is! You will always find someone to help answer your questions or they will find someone who can. I also offer mentorships for photographers and those who just want to learn how to take good pictures. You can learn more about it at https://www.saraabdulaziz.com/for-photographers.