This week in our At Home With series, we speak to NYC-based Saavan Sagar about her life as a photographer and a model, her relationship with her body and how she incorporates more time for herself into her everyday life.
Tell us about you and the journey of how you got to where you are today.
For a long time I was working full time in childcare which I did really love and enjoy - As with many people I'm sure, during the pandemic I was feeling very isolated and disconnected from creativity and generally living beyond just managing basic survival. It was at this point that I started exploring photography and short form video as a hobby and then a career. At that particular moment, people were unable to gather for what was business as usual level production. I considered this and thought it would be as good a chance as any to write some emails to a few of my favourite brands asking for products in exchange for some photos I would take on self timer in my garage. After a few of those collaborations I was getting emails from them asking me to do it again for a rate that was life changing for me! Eventually I was too busy to do both these jobs so I left childcare and went full time as a photographer and influencer.
As a photographer, how would you best describe your work to someone who’s never seen it before?
I still have a tough time answering this question because in so many ways I feel like I am still refining my style but I will say that I am most attracted to light - rich tones from hard light, shadows, color gradients that only a natural light can achieve - and that is what entices me to take a photo.
Is photography your only creative outlet, or do you find your expression in other ways, too?
I come from a very crafty mother; she was a seamstress for a theatre company when I was young, as well as a gardener as a hobby and job. I would consider myself generally creative because that was modeled to me my whole life. In my adulthood it shows up in interior design mostly whether it be making curtains, building furniture, or painting.
You also work as a model. How has this had an effect on the relationship you have with your body?
My relationship with my body is an ever evolving one - there have been harder times than others but I will say that luckily the industry is so much of a safer place now than I can imagine it being in the past. One liberating idea that I return to often is that there are a lot of people involved in the process of booking me for a job. At the point that I walk on to set there has been a lot of eyes on me, a lot of deliberation, and a lot of discussion about my qualifications to be there. Therefore the most professional thing I can do is show up to set exactly the way I am - not any smaller so I try not to gaslight myself into any imposter syndrome.
How do you stay connected and feeling good within yourself?
It depends on the season. Recently I have been taking a lot of days off - usually outside of the city which helps to remind me of what a big world it is with truly endless possibilities. Routine is very important in a lot of ways and sometimes it’s just as important to break a routine to break a cycle of negative self talk, whatever it might be about.
What have you got coming up for the rest of the year?
For the rest of the year I am working hard on expanding my creative practice - shooting subjects that might be new to me, pitching myself relentlessly and seeing who else might want to take a chance on me. There is so much work to create in the world and the only way to get qualified for it sometimes is to do it first.
Shop Saavan’s edit here.
See Saavan’s Instagram here.
