Conversations with Sandra Seitamaa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Seitamaa.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in Sweden, where the coffee flows and the northern lights grow! That’s where my weird name last comes from. Well, actually… it’s Finnish. It doesn’t have much to do with Sweden at all. My grandpa and his brothers made the name up – so, I’m one of the very few Seitamaa’s in the world!

I’ve always been captivated by my surroundings, and from a young age, I wanted to capture the beauty of everyday things – whether it’s a used coffee mug, a fading street sign, or a moody goat (which there was plenty of since I lived on the country side).

I decided I wanted to turn my passion into a profession and studied media production and photography in Stockholm.

My photography really started to take shape after I lost my sister. I had no great pictures of her, and I wish I had photos that captured her energy and her personality. That is why I think photographs are so important because it captures, not only experiences, but memories of people that may no longer be with you – and that way you will always have the photos to look back at when your memories start to fade.

In 2012, I met my husband and moved to Utah. That’s where I started getting clients that wanted a more artistic approach. Consequently, I started taking on more creative projects along with product shoots.

I love the creative process when working with a client, especially doing creative/editorial shoots. Brainstorming and sharing ideas, scouting locations, acquiring props, and turning those visions into a reality.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As a freelancer, I feel like there are always a few struggles, ebb, and flow. Sometimes you get fully booked, and other times your calendar is pretty much free and you’re starting to wonder what has changed. That is just the nature of the beast.

However, it’s taken years of experience to get used to those ebbs and not take them personally. It can be hard to stay confident in your art and you can start to doubt yourself. Which is a constant work in progress.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a photographer (and UI designer), that mainly specializes in portraits. I do the occasional wedding here and there, but I’ve transitioned towards predominantly portraits and product photography as of late.

One of my proudest moments as a photographer was probably being the runner-up in the Unsplash Awards, knowing how many talented photographers there are out there. Another proud moment was when I got a gig with Chewy, the online pet retailer, where I had the opportunity to turn my dogs into fashion models. That was a pretty big win for me. However, I don’t know if the dogs would agree. Haha!

What sets me apart from other photographers might be that I’m REALLY awkward in front of the camera, as a result I can truly relate if someone isn’t feeling comfortable with a lens in their face. Thus, my main goal for my client is to make them as comfortable as possible.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory must be out in nature. I know, that’s not a very specific memory. But I grew up in the woods of Sweden and we explored a lot. We had a lot of freedom to roam – so that’s what I did. I still to this day love to just get lost in the woods, camera in hand and a sense of wonder, appreciating nature.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.seitamaaphotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/seitamaaphotography
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/seitamaaphotography
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/sandraseitamaa
• Other: www.seitamaadesign.com