Rising Stars: Meet Sandra Dohnert

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Dohnert

Hi Sandra, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a Puerto Rican born and raised multi-media artist. My first love in the arts was music, where I worked as a singer and songwriter. I moved to Miami, Florida in my early 20’s co-writing and recording songs with many Latin music producers, including some members of the Miami Sound Machine. Later I came to manage and promote other artists, which brought me to my love of graphic arts and photography. Because of my ties to the arts community in Miami, I was able to lovingly amass a portfolio, which opened the doors to the photographic career that followed. Since then, I have moved to Saint Petersburg and have had the continued blessing of photographing national and international music acts on tour for various publications, live music venues and music festival promotors, private, high-end events for record labels, automobile companies, and liquor companies and fashion houses as well as large corporate events and red carpets. Some of my established corporate clients are based in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, Miami and Saint Petersburg. Beyond this, I am a wife to an amazing and creative man and also a mother to a lively kindergartener that does her studies virtually.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Pre covid, one of the struggles I encountered was being admitted into a male-dominated industry. Competing for the same constrained space to get the best shot in a limited amount of time makes the situation more intense, intimidating but also exhilarating – this is especially the case while working red carpets and at concert pits. Slowly I’ve become a familiar face within that group, and more female photographers are joining in. I love making space for those who come in new just like I did. Covid, of course, brought a screeching halt to concerts and corporate events, and this gifted me with a point of reflection and the need to pivot to other genres of photography, which I see as good opportunities to expand. I have turned to fashion photography, private and staff portraiture commissions, product photography, real estate, landscape, and artistic photography. That being said, I have loved every moment of my photographic career. When I’m behind the camera, I don’t take one second for granted, even in difficult circumstances. I am humbled by every opportunity I get to do what I love.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am excited to be developing my newest body of art photographs to be shown at a new gallery opening in St. Petersburg early this year! As far as more on my scope of work, I specialize in concert photographs of national and international acts and d.j. Producers. I have been the house photographer for the amazing people at the Mahaffey Theater in Saint Petersburg, Florida. I have participated in solo and group shows at various Florida galleries. One of my proudest accomplishments is to have been featured multiple times among award-winning photographers paired with amazing and inspiring women in The Bold Beauty Project. This project portrays photographs of women of different abilities, redefining the meaning of beauty. These photos have been featured during Art Basel in Miami at the Art Concept Fair, Art Palm Beach, published in books, among various others. More recently, when covid closures and quarantines began, I went out to photograph my fellow St. Pete artists, small business owners and community and created a photo essay called “ I Miss Us, St. Pete”. https://www.sandrasonik.com/i-miss-us-photo-essay which was covered by Creative Loafing, St. Pete Life Magazine, Heartstrings and mentioned in I Love St. Pete blogs. This helped me stay current, active and to create new bonds within my community at a time when it seemed we all needed it the most. In another facet of my work, I design patterns for an athletic apparel company and create websites and logos for local and international firms. The key is to stay busy, active and constantly learning.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
To find a mentor, ask. Really, the worst thing that could happen is that he or she may not have the resource of time, but you can keep searching and modeling your skills through self-discipline and practice. As for myself, I love to tinker, and I tend to put myself in intimidating and challenging situations, which 100% of the time result in learning and or improved skills. If you love your art, you will get better at it just by not giving up.

Contact Info:

• Email: sandra@sandrasonik.com
• Website: www.sandrasonik.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandrasonik_photography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sandrasonikcreative
• Twitter: @sandrasonik
• Other: https://www.cltampa.com/contact-us/contact/21003637/sandra-dohnert

Image Credits
Sandra Dohnert ©