Rising Stars: Meet Savanna DiStefano

Today we’d like to introduce you to Savanna Velthoven.

Hi Savanna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today. 
I have always been a creative person. As a kid, I loved drawing, painting, and playing around with my mom’s digital camera. Creating anything has always been what fulfills me most. I won my first camera during a National American Miss pageant I competed in as a teen (I was never a beauty pageant kind of girl, but I have always been competitive). I won a Nikon Coolpix as a reward for one of the competitions I participated in during the weekend.

I had so much fun taking photos on that camera and just loved how quick and easy it was to create art. I took a photography class in high school where I learned how to edit photographs and really play with the photos I was taking. I took another photography class in college, but it fell off my radar as a hobby for a few years.

I received my first DSLR camera in college. My mother surprised me with a Canon Rebel for Christmas during my senior year. Two days later, she unexpectedly passed away, and I quickly took to photography to capture every moment I could because you just never know when what you see in front of you may no longer be there.

After college, I became a nanny for a few years and worked part-time as a social media manager. It was then that I started learning how to use my camera and shoot on manual mode.

In 2021, I decided I wanted to upgrade my camera and try photography more professionally. I was working as a paraprofessional at an elementary school at that time and knew I had the summer to build on my photography experience. In order to purchase a professional camera, I knew I needed more cash. I posted on Facebook announcing to my family and friends that I was looking for 20 or so families/individuals willing to purchase photos for just $60 in order to help fund a new camera. I was nervous about the post and thought I may embarrass myself and fail, but instead, I ended up gaining a lot of support. It was my Facebook posts that allowed me to gain experience build my portfolio, and build the foundation for what is not my busy business today!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have taken my business fairly slow since I am currently a high school teacher full-time. The hardest part has been working to grow my business while working a full-time job at the same time. At this point,  I am working two full time jobs and learning how to manage it all.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a photographer in the Metro Detroit area who specializes in portrait and wedding photography. I love working with couples and capturing their relationships in authentic ways with lots of playful and fun prompts. I also love working with families and seniors and watching them grow over the years.

I am most proud of building my business on my own while also working full-time. I have grinded after school and during the summer to network and practice new skills. I am also proud of the fact that my business has taken me as far as Iceland to capture elopements and work with other photographers to practice wedding and elopement photography.

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I think taking risks in the only way you can grow. Sometimes even the smallest steps feel like the biggest risks to us, and it doesn’t matter how “big” of a step you are taking as long as you are taking that step!

I remember feeling like I was taking a huge risk when I made my first Facebook post announcing that I wanted to get started in photographing and was crowdfunding for a professional camera. I was worried about embarrassing myself, but it turned out to be the best decision I ever made! It was through family and friends on Facebook who believed in me that I started my photography business.

Since then, I’ve continued to put myself out there, reaching our to strangers, photographing weddings, trying new things. Each time I do something new, I am extremely nervous, but that is the only way to grow.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned, and the motto I live by, is that even if you’re scared, do it scared.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.savvyshootsphotos.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savvyshootsphotos/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/savvyshootsphotos

Image Credits
Savvy Shoots Photography