We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Savannah Williams a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Savannah , 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?

At the age of 3, I lost my Dad and Grandpa in the same year. Loss continued to snowball from there, and I’ve been riding the waves of grief for as long as I can remember. When photos became the only thing I had left of my loved ones, I started documenting all of my friends and family because I wanted to make sure I remembered every moment with them. Not only that, I wanted them to remember these moments, too. My mom put my first disposable camera in my hands and told me to “Just have fun.” So my friends and I would take silly photos, dress up in the craziest wigs and just embrace the moment. I wanted everyone to have a laid back and relaxed time in front of the camera because photos are supposed to be fun – not forced and awkward. And the best part was always getting the developed photos back from Walgreens. In January of 2022, I lost my mom to Stage 4 Gastrointestinal Cancer and it was completely unexpected. It has become another driving force behind my business and my passion behind this work. You truly never know when the last time will be with someone you love, so take the effing pictures. I promise you, it’s worth it.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have been in the photography business for 9 years and started at the age of 17, during my Junior Year of high school. I have done a little bit of everything when it comes to photography, but I now specialize in elopements, couples, and solo portraits. I am currently based in Cincinnati, Ohio, but over the last 3 years, I have been traveling all around the U.S. to document incredible humans. After being in the industry for years, I noticed more people saying that they despised being in front of the camera because the photos always felt too posed or simply not like them. I’m a nontraditional photographer who is giving an experience, not just a photo session. I want to teach my clients the art of not giving a f*** and to just embrace their true selves. I want all of my clients to feel safe and comfortable while working with me – that is my top priority. I take the time to direct my clients and walk them through the entire process. I want every session to feel like a true reflection of the human(s) in front of my camera.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I was working as a leasing agent back in 2019 and I was attacked by an unknown man who came into the office one day. It shook me up badly and I started feeling unsafe in my hometown. Two days after the attack, my husband had a job interview in Ohio and he got it! They gave us two weeks to pack our house in Illinois and hit the road so we made the move. I was nervous but so excited to have a fresh start. I had never been to Cincinnati before, and instead of finding a new job, my husband said “You should do photography full time.” I went to work on my website and making myself known on social media. I joined a local photography group and connected with others in the area. It changed my life and career forever.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Google! SEO has been amazing for my business since moving from Illinois to Ohio.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.savannahlinn.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/savannahlinnphoto
• Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/savlinnphoto/

Image Credits
Savannah Linn Photography