SNS is my initials. Steffanee is my first name, and photography is my game.
I started photography after realizing just how fast time flies—and how important photographs become when sometimes, they’re all you have left.
Some of my favorite memories are sitting with my mom and flipping through our family photo albums. You know the ones—the four-inch-thick, 20-pound books we had before everything lived on our phones? Those photos held birthdays, vacations, random everyday moments, and people we loved. I don’t think I realized how important they were until I got older.
After losing a very close family member in my teen years, I inherited my great-grandpa’s camera. It was probably the cheapest little digital camera on the market at the time. The battery barely lasted an hour, it never seemed to focus correctly, and I absolutely loved it.
I carried that camera everywhere—outside, family members’ houses, road trips, even Walmart trips. If I was there, that camera was probably there too.
Eventually, I spent an entire summer babysitting and saved enough money to buy my first “real” camera. Then came the fun part: figuring out how the heck to use it.
It took me about a year and a half before I felt comfortable photographing actual people. During my senior year, I started photographing my classmates and quickly realized that portraits were what I loved most.
After graduation, I officially opened my business. And my first sessions? $30. 😂
Then Photography Became My Job, Too
While building my own business, I also worked full-time for a school photography company, photographing everything from yearbook photos to senior portraits. For five years, I worked with kids from Pre-K through 12th grade, along with parents, teachers, and school staff.
I am beyond thankful for that job because it taught me so much of what I know today—not just about photography, but about people.
It taught me how to work quickly without sacrificing great images, how to handle kids of every age and personality, how to make someone comfortable in front of a camera, and, perhaps most importantly, how to pack an unreasonable amount of photography equipment into a car.
I became one of the most requested photographers in my district because schools knew I was quick, efficient, and could handle just about anything they threw at me. And the “difficult” kids? Send them my way. They’re usually my favorites.
Special needs kiddos, shy kiddos, wild kiddos, kids who absolutely do NOT want their picture taken, and beautifully chaotic families are always welcome with me. After five years in school photography, I decided it was time to chase another dream.
Enter: The Dog Pound
In August 2023, I started working at our local municipal animal shelter. My official title is Animal Caretaker, but “jack of all trades” is probably more accurate. Depending on the day, I’m an animal caretaker, adoption and volunteer coordinator, social media manager, photographer, feeder, trainer, paperwork wrangler, and apparently... feral kitten whisperer.
Somehow, I became the person responsible for taming the feral kittens. I think it’s because I like the challenge.
For the record: just because I’m good at it does not mean I want your cats or kittens.
I don’t want your dogs either.
I already have enough animals to get adopted. 😂
Working at the shelter is also a huge reason I started using my photography more for fundraisers and giving back to shelters and rescues in our area. If there’s an opportunity for me to use what I do to help an animal in need, I’m probably going to find a way to do it.
The shelter is my full-time job, though, which is why my photography availability can be limited—especially during the week. Most of my sessions happen on weekends.
Okay, Enough Employment History...
Let’s get a little personal.
I grew up with technology, which means I am the designated IT department for my entire family. Not because I actually work in IT. Mostly because I know how to use Google. Speaking of family—I have a HUGE one. I regularly see or talk to maybe a third of them, and there’s a solid chance I could walk past a few relatives in public without realizing we’re related.
I’ve also been with my boyfriend for 9 years. Let me go ahead and answer the questions:
1. No, I don't want to get married.
2. No, we don't want kids.
Our fur babies are plenty. We have two pit bulls and two cats.
One pit bull has severe allergies and is basically allergic to the entire planet. The other could probably eat directly from a dumpster and wake up the next morning completely fine. I have one relatively normal cat...
And then I have a tuxedo cat who is completely psychotic and has absolutely no chill.
So yes, animals are always welcome at your session. Chaos doesn't scare me. There's a pretty good chance I've seen worse.
So... Who is SNS Photography?
At the end of the day, SNS Photography is just me—Steffanee.
I believe in being open and honest, and I’ll always be truthful with you when it comes to your session and your images.
- I’m not going to expect your kids to behave perfectly.
- I’m not going to expect your dog to sit beautifully and stare at my camera.
- And I'm definitely not going to expect you to magically know what to do with your hands.
That's my job.
So if you're looking for a photographer who will hype you up during your session, gets distracted by shiny objects, has years of experience with animals and chaotic children, and will absolutely act like a fool behind the camera if that's what it takes to get a genuine laugh...
Email me. We should chat. (:
