Meet Sarah DiAntonio | Wedding Photographer & Videographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah DiAntonio and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’ve always known I need a creative career, I studied creative writing in college and learned how to use a camera when I was 10. Until recently, I was stuck working full time in a retail environment. I was unhappy and unable to focus on building my business or finishing the novel that’s been sitting in my computer for years. 2020 was a difficult year for everyone, but it truly gave me the push to dive into my business.

I lost my job due to Covid-19, had to collect unemployment, and I was six months pregnant. I’m lucky enough to have a wonderful husband who supported me during this time. After my son was born in July 2020, I took the time to study social media marketing, video editing, and website design and started building my business. I did photoshoots of friends for free, worked as a second photographer, setup booths at wedding expos and learned new editing software. Now, I’m booked through the end of the year and 2022 is starting to fill up with new opportunities.

I chose a creative career because it’s never felt like work. I used to dread clocking in every day, standing at a register, watching the day happen around me. I get to choose where I go, who I’m with, and what we do. I get to make people laugh and sometimes cry, I get to take a moment from their day and frame it. And when the work piles up, because it always does, it’s work I want to do. It’s the best job I’ve ever had.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a professional dreamer, and a perpetual creator. I’ll always try to create something, even if nothing will come from it. I’m drawn to all forms of art, even if I can only appreciate some of it as the audience. I love to write, play piano and viola, take photos while traveling the world or while celebrating a wedding. I wish I could paint, or throw pottery, or crochet blankets and scarves. A lot of artists eventually suffer with burnout. I’ve found that giving yourself an artistic platform where you’re allowed to make mistakes, to fail, gives you the freedom to pursue your professional endeavors without self-doubt.

If there’s an easy road, I must’ve missed it! I never was good at directions! It’s all just the same road, paved in trial and error. You can’t succeed without making a mistake, or many. You might think the way to overcome mistakes is not to make them again; instead, it’s understanding why you made that first choice, and finding another way to make it work.

I’m a hopeless romantic, which makes for a great wedding photographer. I like to say that it’s my job to take your photos, but it’s my honor to tell your story. I don’t pose my clients like most photographers, I look for the way they hold each other and lock eyes. I want to see the way they are every day, not just their wedding day! I love to take photos that will live on your wall and not on your hard drive. I try to make them laugh(sometimes at me!) by asking them questions about their life together. “Think back to your first date: did you think you would be here?” This question almost always gives big emotions, and it plays out on their face without any hesitation. Seeing the clients I’ve gotten to know really give in to their love and affection is what makes every session special.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
No visit to Naples, Florida is complete without a beach day(or several!). It’s hard to pick just one! My personal favorite is Delnor-Wiggins, a state park with an abundance of wildlife and natural driftwood. Then there’s Vanderbilt, Seagate, Clam Pass, and Lowdermilk, all in Naples! Marco Island is just thirty minutes south of Naples and gives you that small beach town feel, with mom-and-pop restaurants and conch shells littering the shore.

Once you’ve got your base tan, we’ll take a trip out on the boat to Cape Romano! There are tons of scuba and snorkeling charters in this area, and most come with a lunch on board. You can also take a sunset dinner cruise around the bay in the Naples Princess! After your dinner, you can take a stroll through historic Tin City, where you can find the catch of the day or a few souvenirs for your family!

If you’re wanting to see true Florida wildlife, take a trip to Rookery Bay, or one of the many state preserves in this area. You can try the Picayune, CREW, Naples Preserve, or Ten Thousand Islands. Rookery Bay will give you a true Everglades experience, without having to take an airboat! If you’d like to experience nature without wearing rain boots, you can try the Naples Zoo, famous for its giraffe feeding station! Children(and adults!) absolutely love reaching up to hand-feed lettuce leaves to the eager giraffes.

For nightlife, there’s almost too much to choose from! You can catch the sunset on the Naples Pier and take a walk down 5th Avenue, an historic district in downtown Naples. There’s tons of shopping and restaurants, all surrounded by beautiful, multi-million dollar homes overlooking the pier. Turn onto 3rd Ave and you’ll find Cambier Park, with a concert stage and playground, perfect for an evening out with the family. If you’re out with friends, try the Mercato! New fusion restaurants, a movie theater, luxury retailers, bars with live music, so much to do!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Katie Cabak of Ador Photography is my incredible friend and mentor. I reached out to her last year after I saw her in a local wedding vendor group. I loved her style and thought we might work well together. She has brought me onto her business as an associate shooter, lended me equipment, taught me new skills, and even bought me breakfast after a sunrise photoshoot. I couldn’t be more grateful to her for her time, advice and friendship. Thank you, Katie!

I’d also love to mention my husband, Mike DiAntonio. Without him and his unwavering support, my business would still be an idea in my head, waiting for a muse. I couldn’t have done it without you, Mike. Love you!

Website: diantoniophoto.com

Instagram: diantonio_photo

Facebook: facebook.com/diantoniophoto

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwqSqVZNq0wJ2_orwjEWIgQ

Other: Zola: https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/wedding-photographers/diantonio-photo-video

Image Credits
DiAntonio Photo + Video