We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful LaVonda Downard. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with LaVonda below.

LaVonda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Growing up my mother struggled with addiction. Yes, hello my name is LaVonda and I don’t believe in small talk so let’s dive deep! I’m an optimist at heart. No matter how dark things got I was obsessed with holding on as tightly as possible to the good. I’ll never forget holding my first Polaroid. Rapidly waving it back and forth waiting for the image of my family to appear on the film sheet. I had posed our family in the living room in front of the entertainment center, and everything was perfect in my little 6-year-old eyes. It was a day I was safe, we were together, and it was a nostalgic and sober sight. I used the image of that photo to remember what could be, anytime things got dark. When I would watch movies, I would see the walls of my fav characters adorned in images of their favorite people and moments. I’d visit museums and see scientists and historians obsess over the story behind the photos and paintings. I wanted that. To be able to give people a visual story to hold on to, to remember in times of darkness or even in times of joy and reminiscing. I wanted to be a storyteller. Through LaVonda Downard Photography I’ve gotten to bring that vision to life! I get to create timeless, recurring memories, priceless conversational pieces that speak adventure, joy, heartfelt laughter, passion, and happiness into the homes of my clients.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I love diving beyond small talk, so let’s get into it! My name is LaVonda and I put hot sauce on my popcorn. I own over 200 books and still have more on hold a the local bookstore. I kiss my sons way too much. I still have a crush on my husband, we’ve been married 13 years and he still gives me butterflies. I don’t trust cats. I’m a foodie! I love football and HGTV marathons! I want a lot out of life but I don’t need much! I’m just a small town girl… (pauses for my effect lol). I grew in a small village in Ohio. Smaller than the subdivisions here in Charleston. At the age of 6 I because obsessed with learning to capture the good moments. I wanted to be a writer and I also wanted to tell stories in other artistic ways but couldn’t figure out how until I stumbled upon my mom’s old Polaroid camera collecting dust on the top shelf on the darkened coat closet. Even then I was posing my family and encouraging them to express themselves through film.

Today I do the same for my clients. I specialize in capturing intimate, storytelling engaging portraits. Photos that can’t help but make you want to know more about the story and leave you in awe of the connection between the people in the frame. I am proud that I have been able to hold on to my passions and capture authentic photos in each area of my expertise. From intimate weddings and elopements; to sweet engagements, couples, and family sessions. I am beyond blessed to be able to see the dreams and desires of my 6-year-old heart being lived out through my business. Its so surreal.

I want everyone I work with to walk away feeling like their story matters. Feeling heard and understood. Having felt an empathic and supportive experience.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Growing up I couldn’t name 1 photographer that looked like me. I found over and over again that my BIPOC friends had parents who taught them to be realistic and safe. Going for a career in the arts is not safe. It can be hard in the midst of building your business and brand to keep hope when you don’t see a reflection of yourself being amplified anywhere. Hard to walk into rooms and spaces where you don’t know if you’re welcome. I still find many biases in this career towards black and brown people.

Starting out I wish I knew more about my Black Women Photographers (BWP) a “global community. directory, and hub.” This organization amplifies the voices of black and brown women in the photography industry. Being a part of this community has been so inspiring and just wholesome. Everyone should feel like their dreams have a space and place to belong.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Photography has been so overwhelmingly healing for me. That 6 year old girl who struggled so desperately and was clinging to the idea of having a beautiful story to capture on film; now gets to share the frame with her favorite people capturing her favorite memories. I went from a 6 year old capturing the seldom moments of sobriety with her mother; to a mother who gets to photograph her kids with their grandmother who has just celebrated 16 years of sobriety! Yup this story has a happy ending. I’m glad I didn’t wait for things to get perfect but I started capturing our story even when it was looking dark. Somehow even then I recognized the journey was worth documenting. Every part of it.

In business today I’ve had moments where I’ve gotten to capture portraits of families coming out of the battle with cancer. I’ve gotten to capture single moms who didn’t know how they would get through pregnancy and birth, and watch them in complete awe over the life they’ve been able to create for their little ones. I’ve captured the mother son dance of a momma who was said to not have been able to make it past her son’s wedding date; but there she stood low on energy but overflowing with joy and happiness. I’ve helped parents of kids on the spectrum see that a family photo session is possible and you don’t need to apologize for your child’s “behavior”. I have loved making space for everyone at any stage of their journey in this life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lavondadownard.com
• Instagram: @lavondadownardphotography
• Blog: https://www.lavondadownard.com/blog/

Image Credits
The photo of me from my branding session (black dress holding camera to eye) is by Cameron Wilder Photo and has been shared with permission. All other images are by me: LaVonda Downard Photography