About Me

Hi, I'm Sonya [sawn-ya].

Young woman with long blonde wavy hair smiling in a black strapless dress, posing outdoors near a stone building.
Woman in black dress and red cowboy boots holds a vintage twin-lens reflex camera while sitting on a wooden stool.

Born and raised in North Carolina, I studied Psychology and Philosophy at UNC Wilmington before working as a paralegal for nearly six years. Long before photography became my career, I was captivated by family photo albums and the way a single frame could hold an atmosphere, a season of life, or a feeling you can't quite name. That fascination with preserving the feeling of a moment continues to shape the way I photograph today.

I’m self-taught, and for over a decade I’ve been refining my eye for film, light, and the quiet details that make a moment feel cinematic rather than staged. My work is shaped by nostalgia, fashion, and the emotional pull of movies and music. I don’t just photograph how something looked, I’m drawn to how it felt in real time. I strive for an effortless balance between documentary in spirit and artfully composed.

Woman in black lace dress standing at Cliffs of Moher Ireland with dramatic coastal cliffs in background.

Outside of photography, I'm a Pisces sun and Gemini rising, and someone who loves reading, music, cooking, crafting, and long stretches of time near water. While I'm grateful to travel for work, most days you'll find me at home with my longtime partner and our two cats. I analyze movies like they're essays and believe the smallest details often carry the most weight. If you see your story through a cinematic lens, layered, emotional, and a little nostalgic, we'll understand each other.

Couple posing together in a circular Instax photo frame, man in black shirt and woman in red top and white skirt.
Gray cat with yellow eyes wearing a floral collar, lounging on hardwood floor.
Couple posing outdoors at a garden event, man in dark suit, woman in floral dress, holding drinks at golden hour.
Studio portrait with vintage camera and red cowboy boots against white background.
Black and white photo booth picture of a smiling couple posing together, man in suspenders and woman in white dress.
Man in black cap holds a small black cat up in a home kitchen, captured in vintage 8mm film style.
A young blonde woman in a black dress holds a camera poolside with palm trees in the background.
Couple posing by a serene pond with a fountain, woman in black dress holding wine, man in plaid shirt with sunglasses.
Black minimalist serif text logo on transparent background.

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Bride in white gown sits on grass beside groom in tuxedo near blooming pink azaleas with Together text overlay.
Couple poses in restaurant for The Anti-Bride feature, man in tuxedo and woman in white blazer with lace skirt.
A black and white photo of a couple sitting at a table with drinks, sharing a casual moment in a relaxed setting.
A bride in a white wedding dress and veil holds a vibrant floral bouquet against a backdrop of pink azalea blossoms.
Outdoor wedding photo collage with couple in white dress and suit against green backdrop at garden venue.
Black and white wedding photo showing a bride in white dress holding a bouquet next to a vintage Mercedes car.
A romantic black and white vintage-style photo showing a couple in formal attire embracing in an intimate moment.