lets get to know each other a little more
Hi, my name is
Sydnei
Appalachian Storyteller
I am a wife, mom, and artist who loves photographing life’s little moments. They may not seem monumental at the time, but as the years pass, they will be. After the birth of my second child, I discovered emotive photography through the All Heart Access courses by Stormy Solis. I absorbed everything I could and began weaving that emotion into my work. Combining this education with my background as a classically trained portrait artist allowed me to approach photography in a new light.
Since then, I have grown immensely. In 2023, I was honored to be voted into the All Heart Access “Top 100 Artist of the Year.” My work has been published in photography magazines and featured on the popular app Unscripted. I continue to invest in my craft to bring the highest quality to the people of Appalachia, a unique and beautiful place deserving of honest, heartfelt images.
As an Appalachian...
I know the power of stories. We tell them to explain the way we live, to instruct, and to remember those who came before us. I remember afternoons of my childhood, sitting cross-legged with cousins on bright orange carpet, listening to great aunts, uncles, and grandparents. They shared stories of the Depression, of wars, of school days, and of the elders who came before them. We would study old black-and-white photographs to meet long-passed family members. The images brought the stories to life and gave us a sense of identity.
I would flip through those photos as stories unfolded in my mind like movies. Even today, I treasure old photographs and look forward to sharing them with my children. In my imagination, my MeeMaw and Poppy get to hold and kiss my babies as stories—and tears—flow.
In the digital age, sitting around and sharing photos is becoming rare. Images are lost, discarded, or forgotten, leaving the visual part of our stories behind. I want to change that. I work with clients who want to capture the little things—the day-to-day moments they never want to forget. Those fleeting, tender pieces of life are worth remembering, and I would be honored to help you preserve them.
AS FEATURED IN
FEATURED IN
more love letters
Zoë
"I've always felt uncomfortable in front of the camera. I go home and see every flaw in every picture. Sydnei dispelled all of my fears, and not only did I get amazing pictures of my husband and I, but I left feeling confident and beautiful. We will definitely book another family shoot with her."ground to get them. Whatever the occasion is, she'll capture it perfectly. Communication was easy with quick responses and plenty of information. Her editing time was also very prompt. I can't recommend her enough."
Paige
"So in love with all of the pictures! I cannot thank Sydnei enough. It was such a fun time and I've received multiple compliments from others. I am obsessed!"
Kathy
"We had a great time with Sydnei. She knew how to engage our almost 4 year old daughter to pose for our photo shoot and have fun at the same time. The photos came out great! We love it! I highly recommend her.
P.S. Sydnei was a great communicator and very helpful with regards to what we should wear and also shared some ideas to make our photos more special."
Molly
"Gosh, I'm in love with every shot! Sydnei did such a good job capturing our family. I cannot thank her enough!"
Sydney
"Sydnei was amazing to work with and captured the realness of our messy family perfectly! She was so patient with our babes and got some of the best shots ever! I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for pictures."
Whitney
"The best!!! Couldn't be happier with our photos. She was kind and engaging with our 2 year old. Things couldn't have went any better."