We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Vorva. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with sarah below.
Hi Sarah, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Like most photographers, I knew I wanted to pursue photography, but life ended up taking me down a different path first. Throughout my entire life, I’ve had a camera in my hand, or a camera in front of my face. See, it was my mom who had a love for it. She captured everything growing up. Not only for our family, but for others too. When I was in the 8th grade, I was tasked with setting up my small school’s yearbook. Mom and I did everything ourselves and produced a great little yearbook for them. Throughout high school, I burned through so many disposable cameras. I love capturing my family and friends. These moments are now little treasures to look back upon.
When it came down to choose a major for college, photography wasn’t an option. Instead of medical school, I chose Psychology. I had always been the listening ear in groups, it just came naturally. I took a 7 year road which led me to receiving my M.Ed. in Education with a specialty in Counseling. As soon as I graduated, I packed my bags and moved to Kailua, HI to join my spouse after spending our first married year separated while I finished school.
When I moved, I was quite surprised to find out that no one wanted to hire me. Locals were hesitant to hire military spouses, because our time there was short. Eventually, I found a school that hired me to be a rolling sub. It was one of the best jobs. I followed the “Kupuna” around and listened to her teach Hawaiian Studies to the students. A semester in, I was reciting the Native “HAWAI‘I PONO‘I.” Life was wonderful. I went to work and then snorkeled everyday. However something was missing from my life. My spouse had gifted me a camera since living in paradise. I started photographing the landscape and was able to allow creative juices to thrive.
It can be quite lonely living away from everything you had known. I was lucky enough to find a great group of women who not only were military spouses of all branches, but also photographers. Most of them became great friends later on. They taught me skills and showed me the ropes to having a thriving business. In a year, I was becoming a local name amongst the military groups. Life was pretty great. In 2015, there was a sudden shift in orders and we went back to Oklahoma. So here we are, my spouse, myself and a cat living in my parent’s pool house. My heart sank. I missed Hawaii. It was my home. Jon headed to school with his GI Bill. I put my camera down. Having to relocate and start fresh with a business is extremely hard. I had 0 income. I went back into the psychology world. I became a Licensed Professional Counselor in a year and traveled all over the metro seeing children. Being a therapist is rewarding, but can leave holes in your heart from the constant exposure to trauma, The constant pull of trauma exposure and retaining joy can be difficult. To have heart breaking caseloads and being able to lay them at the door, is not for the faint of heart, but God-willing, I loved all my little clients that I helped along their journeys.
When I was able to have a decent load, I pulled back into photography. I realized how much I love photographing joyous moments, It was the yang I need for counseling. It was challenging starting a new business again. I had great mentors turned friends that allowed me to second shoot with them a lot. I was slowly able to build a name for myself. I did this for 5 years. I balanced a caseload of children, and photographed on the weekends. If that wasn’t enough. We welcomed 2 children into the world. I hustled. I mom’d. I lived through a pandemic while seeing therapy clients and photographing the most weddings I had done up to that date. The Pandemic taught me to slow down a little bit. It’s ok to not hustle everyday. By 2023, I was forced to make a decision; continue counseling and go into private practice or pause my license. If you know me, failure is not an option. And having to choose to give up counseling, was difficult. On the other hand, my business was thriving. But, between my spouse and I, we worked 7 days a week while raising toddlers. We were on the edge of burning out. I prayed a lot. Finally, I took a step and let go of counseling. I realize that I still use a lot of psychology in my sessions. Making the effort of ensuring my clients are heard, seen and captured through beautifully through the lens. Here I am 18 months later, and I am still thriving. I had 2 of my biggest years in photography and even surpassing my income in counseling. If it wasn’t for my spouse being supportive, taking that leap would’ve been twice as difficult.
Life is such a short journey and it’s ok to have more than one career and passion. I laugh when I say “I re-invent myself every 10 years.” In 2023, I celebrated 10 years in Mental Health. In 2024, I celebrated my business being 10.” 2025 is the start of another decade and I’m met with another fork in the road. I am learning to sit and pause for the universe to guide me. I wonder what the new year will bring…
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I have been photographing professionally for 10 years. I have been a full time photographer for 18 mons. My gear includes the MagMod system with godox lighting. Cameras include: Z6ii, 750, and Nikon 100 for film. I am a Wedding and Portrait Photographer located in Norman, OK, but travel everywhere. I have been doing all my behind the scenes with my iPhone on my camera hotshoe. I’ve always loved piecing together music and videos and have been enjoying using programs like CapCut and Scrll. What is my brand? Simplified, it’s family. The camera represents my love for photography. The sun and moon are my children and the sparrow is my spouse. Wanderlust means a desire to travel. Exposures can mean several things. In photography, it means the amount of light letting in or experience. My style has been called: emotional, whimsical, colorful, joyful, moody.
What really sets me apart is my willingness to make a bride’s day run smoothly. I have done everything from cake cutting, to buttoning up dresses to making bouquets. I laugh when I put boutonnieres on people because I have done so many (yet never stuck someone). I’m a pretty laid back person until someone needs to take the lead. I have photographed close to 300 weddings. I’m most proud of just the connections I have made. Some big accomplishments have been photographing for The Oklahoma Civic Center, being top 10 finalist for a photography contest and just being published in smaller magazines. I have written for blogs, been on a photography panel and led multiple styled shoots. I continue to strive to be more like those I admire in the trade.
I want my potential fans, followers and clients to know that at the end of the day, I care about you. I care about new mothers who are finding their new voice. I care about the brides who love their grandparents and want extra pictures with them. I care about the military community and making sure that they are not only taken care of on the outside, but also capturing their special moments. Sometimes caring so much is bittersweet. I have had those instances where my photos are some of the last moments captured. It’s a humbling pill to swallow seeing your images on those slideshows. I love celebrating joy with you, but I’m not afraid to embrace the darkness with you as well. A lot of that stems from my time in the Mental Health world, and it’ll aways be a part of me.
Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
NFTS gives the creator the avenue to be able to make reoccurring revenue from art sales. It allows the buyer to prove providence easier and limits the ability for fakes to be prevalent in the industry. It empowers and emboldens the creator or artist to reach a wider audience through media and IP.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I have had to learn that you cannot please everybody and not everybody will like you or be your friend. I have learned that being in a women led environment which fuels the wedding industry is not for the faint of heart. Sometimes, it feels like I am in high school again. My spouse calls the wedding industry a cabal. People are inherently drawn to cliches to boost their ego. I have learned that I am more of an ethical individual and unwilling to compromise my standards just to fit in, make money and get people to like me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wanderlustok.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/wanderlustexposuresokc
- Facebook: wanderlust exposures by Sarah Vorva
- Other: TikTok: Wanderlustokc
Image Credits
Mine: Kinsey Nicola Photography