Page 13 - BEQ Magazine Iss 19

safely. That she turned it into a lucrative career as his camera until she could save up enough money to
a young adult was both serendipity and a lesson in buy her own. It only took six months of working as
what she did not want out of life. By her mid-20s, a freelance photographer before Savia purchased a
Savia realized that the music industry was not a semi-pro camera.
healthy place for her. Her specialty is concert photography, capturing
“I didn’t like the way the industry was going,” she the energy and creativity of a live show in a still
says. “Sometimes it’s not good to get in an industry image so vibrant you feel like you were there.
too young and too fast and you have to have a really “It doesn’t matter what field I go into, somehow
thick skin to withstand what the industry can throw music is always a part of it,” she says with a chuckle.
at you. That can be actually quite soul-destroying “God just puts me in the path of music. So when I
if you don’t have the right management or people started doing photography again, I would go to
around you. So I decided to leave and take a break concerts and take pictures.”
from it. I got really far She also does
and I was really proud portraits, working
of myself, but I have no with her subjects to
regrets about moving capture a piece of
on for now.” their soul in an image.
Without music Coaxing vulnerability
and songwriting, and authenticity out
Savia needed another of someone in front of
creative outlet. She a camera is a skill, and
was working her way Savia is masterful.
out of a long-term “One of my friends
abusive relationship was modeling for
when a friend me in a studio,” she
suggested they go out recounts. “He has a
and do photography. condition where he
It was meant to be constantly shakes.
a break from the It was challenging
ongoing mental and because I couldn’t get
emotional abuse she him to stay still. He
was experiencing, but was bullied when he
it turned out to be both was younger, for his
a lifesaver and a new condition, and being
career. in front of the camera
“I was in a really, really bad relationship and made him very tense, very nervous. So I said, Let’s
I wanted to do something that would let me be talk. Let’s go out. Let’s go for a walk. So when we
creative,” Savia remembers. “In the past, I would got back to the studio, I put on some jazz music — I
turn to writing so I felt like there was something love jazz — and I said just be you, be authentic. And
missing because I had put writing on a break. A close he did exactly what I asked. I asked him to jump
friend of mine suggested that we go do photography up and down. I asked him to climb up a ladder. He
and loaned me his camera. It was exactly what I enjoyed himself and the photos are gorgeous. He’s
needed.” gorgeous.”
Savia enjoyed taking photos as a child, playing Her professional name, suggested by a domain
with the camera her father gave her then later name generator, is the perfect reflection of this
her grandmother’s camera. But she had only ever dynamic, multi-talented woman. Savia.Rocks
taken pictures as a hobby. When her friend saw the houses her photography and her podcast, as well as
photos Savia produced, he insisted on loaning her
STORY CONTINUES ON PAGE 42

SUMMER 2021 13
BUSINESSEQUALITYMAGAZINE.COM