Meet Sarah Ontiveros

Sarah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin? 

Thank you for the opportunity to let me share it! I’ve had a camera for as long as I can remember. My dad had a big affinity for them, film cameras in particular. When I was about eleven or twelve he showed me how to use his Canon A-1, a 35mm film camera – how to load it, unload it, find my shot, shoot it, and the rest is history as they say. I come from a family where creativity is nurtured and supported, and I will always be thankful for that. Almost every other Christmas, I received something photography related until I could afford to buy them myself. For awhile photography was just a hobby, my favorite one. I never left the house without a camera, and among my friends, I was always the one snapping pictures. I thought I was so good at the time, and even writing that out makes me laugh because those pictures, from my teen years, were truly amateur. The point was that I was having fun, and I enjoyed capturing moments that would otherwise be forgotten. It wasn’t until I had friends in bands wanting pictures, that I started to take it a little more seriously. I felt a confidence being the “photographer” at their shows, and eventually, that led to other bands asking for photos. I did live concert photography for a while, even had the opportunity to shoot backstage at Free Press Summerfest back in its prime. What I noticed about photographing live events was how drawn I was to people and people in their element. I wanted more of that, to capture people at their best, and so I started doing portraits here and there and when someone was looking for a headshot, or family photos, or graduation pictures. Somehow it still felt like a hobby and I still had to work other jobs to support myself. That is until Covid. Twenty-twenty came around and I had just left a job that no longer served me, the world shut down, and I was out of work and could not file for unemployment for having quit a month too soon. Thankfully, I had the support of my parents, which not everyone can say. I was comfortable enough, but still wanted and needed work. When everything started to open back up I was desperate. I knew, after the wake-up call that was and is the pandemic, that I wanted to pursue photography even more. My mother, bless her, had a vacant garage apartment at the time and said to me one day, when jobs were scarce and I was struggling, to use it as a photography studio. I owe her and my father everything. It has been a year this past January that I’ve made this perfect little garage apartment my studio and my business. I have had countless people, from all walks of life, come through these doors and have their photo taken. I don’t take a single one, or a single opportunity or privilege for granted. I have met wonderful people doing what I do and it has opened doors in places I could only dream of. Your portraits aren’t for me, they are for you, and I am only here doing what I have done since I was a young girl, capturing moments and enjoying every second of it.

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?
Covid was a big one, not being able to support yourself is hard in more ways than one. Not only that, it took me a really long time to take my work seriously enough to start a business. I had it in my head that this was only a hobby and that I needed a more practical nine-to-five job. I did a lot of things for free, mostly because I enjoyed it and it was an opportunity I didn’t want to miss out on. I had to realize, at what point were these people taking advantage of my eagerness? A few of them were, and it was hard going forward and trying to make a living with a reputation of unpaid work. Being firm is something I’m definitely still working on, but at least now I know my worth and that even creative passions can be practical.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve dabbled in every facet of photography at some point or another, but portraiture is what I specialize in. Every artist wants to be proud of their work and feel like it’s special and different from the rest, and for the most part I am proud. However, the moments of pride for me always happen as I am taking someone’s picture. Most people have never had a photo session, so coming in they are typically nervous and somewhat stiff. My job is not only to be the photographer, it is to make my studio space warm and welcoming and a place where people don’t need to feel judged or nervous about how they look. When I can do that, I know I’ve done something that I can be proud of. I’ve seen that moment when people have released any inhibitions and get comfortable in front of the camera, they find their beauty and it is magic to behold.

Any big plans?
Movies! My degree is English Creative Writing, telling stories was my curriculum and my second favorite hobby as a kid. I figured, why not marry both of my passions of storytelling and photography? I have been in love with the idea ever since. I’ve dipped my toes into production, took some filmmaking classes, met wonderful and talented people in the film community, and even worked on a short film with a local actor/director. Oh I have plans for the future! Just you wait.