Since my boyfriend pledged Iota Phi Theta he influenced a new genre of event photography for me. When you google Greek photography you'll see some pictures of Greek women, the countryside of Greece and other things that you didn't want to see. I photographed his probate because I'm a photographer and I wanted his special day to be recorded professionally. When he crossed he became a life member of that fraternity and watching him dedicate himself to this organization has been so benefactions to his growth and maturity.
Well shopping for paraphernalia in Savannah introduced me to Moncello Stewart who owns Sigma Graphics with his brother. Its the only physical shop in Savannah where you can buy jackets and other items covered in your fraternity or sorority letters. Shopping there brought up conversation and an exchange of cards. Long story short I've been shooting Greek event photography since and I'm really loving it.
When I shoot events I'm looking for the meat and potatoes of the event but these events are different, especially when you see all the chapters and years of Delta women or Sigma Men come together. To see these elderly men and women support their organization really hit home for me to see that these colors they dedicated their life to are colors they wear inside and out, it is seriously till death do they part. The beauty in the relationship between the individual and the ethics and mannerisms of the organization is something I seek to capture in every opportunity I get. Every founder they honor and recognize made it possible for them to chant what they chant and wear the letters they represent. How monumental is that!
Since my boyfriend pledged I get the question often as to what will I pledge...
One would think I can't because my school doesn't have greek life but if I wanted to bad enough I could pledge at another school in Savannah or later in life perhaps in a grad chapter. But even though my appreciation and fascination for Greek life has tremendously increased I've come to realized my place. I'm all about leading, making a change for the better, and sharing life stories for others to learn from but as a sister in a sorority I would be doing that as well as I could with my photography. Not to mention I'm not one to have so many female counterparts. Maybe being in a sorority could fill the void in my life since I grew up with very few good female friends but that's not a reason to join a sorority now is it?
If I must answer the question, I WOULD pledge with a sorority that I grew up to know as a supporter in education and especially uplifting young women in my community and that sorority is Delta Sigma Theta. I still have my honor certificated I got from them every year from middle school into high school and two mentors in my middle school years were Deltas as well. Now I know what the ornaments in their offices symbolized. BUT since I don't intend on pledging I intend to be myself... A photographer, a one-day wife, and a supportive youth like I always am. I put others before myself and I do lots of things out of the kindness of my heart cause God blessed me I want to bless others. And if I was to take part in anything associated with Greek life it would next to my man. My pictures are contributions to the NPHC and the organizations they unite. But my love and supportive nature falls under what some would call a sweetheart. And when I marry my Iota man that is a role I'll proudly take on, cause in that role I can simply be myself wholeheartedly.See my GREEK Photography on my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Saje-Creations-Photography/189060964466716
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