Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Ponder.
Hi Sean, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was first introduced to photography through my grandfather, John Ponder. He rarely went anywhere without his camera, especially at family gatherings, and he also served as the photographer for many of our local church events. For years, I could only watch from a distance. It wasn’t until I reached high school that he finally felt comfortable allowing me to handle his cameras. Once I began shooting, my interest in photography was immediately sparked. I vividly remember the impatience I felt while waiting for film to be developed at the local photography store, eager to see what I had captured. That anticipation made the experience even more exciting.
When I left for college and majored in business, photography took a back seat. I didn’t own a camera at the time, so I stopped shooting regularly. Occasionally, I bought disposable cameras to document moments from my college years, but photography was no longer a constant presence in my life. That changed after the birth of my two sons, Sean II and Stefan. I began picking up a camera again to capture the moments and memories of their lives. I captured birthdays, first days of school, family trips, school plays, and countless sports events including T-ball, basketball, soccer, and football. As their involvement in activities and sports grew, so did my passion for photography.
Wanting to take my interest more seriously, I purchased my first Nikon DSLR. What started as just photographing my sons soon expanded into volunteering to photograph their individual sports teams. Before long, people began asking how much I charged for individual shoots. That encouragement motivated me to push further. I immersed myself in learning by attending local photography groups, reading photography books, and studying composition, lighting, posing, and photo editing. After many hours of practice and volunteering, I officially began my journey as a freelance photographer.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In the early stages of my photography journey, everything felt easy. I captured candid moments of my family without any pressure. The difficulties began when I decided to take my work seriously and develop a distinct photography style. As I studied professional photographers, I started comparing my work to theirs and searching for ways to improve the overall quality of my images.
One of the most challenging moments was transitioning from shooting in Auto mode to Manual mode. Also, learning to fully control light using off flash and strobes was overwhelming at first. At the same time, I attempted to master Photoshop after relying primarily on Lightroom, which added another learning curve. I spent countless hours practicing, watching tutorials, and reading photography resources to improve.
During my journey, self-doubt surfaced. I often questioned my decision to pursue photography because my work didn’t measure up to the professionals that inspired me. They made the process look effortless, while I struggled behind the scenes. Adding to this challenge was the constant balancing act of family responsibilities and work, all while trying to build a solid foundation for my photography career.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am the photographer behind Photography by Sean Ponder, serving Middle Tennessee with portrait and personal branding photography. What began as a creative outlet has grown into a client-focused business rooted in visual storytelling and connection. We work with individuals, creatives and small business owners to create story-driven images that helps them show up with confidence and authenticity.
We are also known for our creative concepts. That passion began while watching America’s Next Top Model with my wife, Angela Ponder and studying their behind-the-scenes process. We studied how their creative ideas were transformed into works of art. We were Inspired by series and began collaborating with a makeup artist and stylist to elevate our creative concept shoots. This creative direction led to themed sessions with titles such as Ignite, Unapologetic, High Maintenance, and others. With her love for writing and directing, Angela played a key role in each project by helping direct the shoots, develop concepts, and publish blogs that showcased the final images and the stories behind them.
How do you define success?
I define success as living each day in the pursuit of your purpose and goals, being unapologetic you and staying true to your values, committing to continuous learning and growth, and creating an impact in your community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.photographybyseanponder.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photographybyseanponder/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photographybyseanponder/
