I'm Rebecca Sponga

I am a nature and portrait photographer based in Northern Virginia and the DC Metropolitan area. Photography found me early on in childhood when my mother placed a disposable Fujifilm Quicksnap in my hands. From there, photography braided itself into the threads of my being and grew with me. So much so, that once aptitude became skill, “my eye” for photography guided me through the world. Like breathing, I composed photos everywhere I went, with and without conscious effort. And like breathing, I couldn’t not photograph.

My professional work started in 2021 after I resigned from my position as a high school Social Studies teacher. Portraits were my strong suit so I worked with a diverse range of people, from couples to families to small business owners. Many confessed how they typically felt shy in front of a camera but with me, they didn’t. Hearing that motivated me to improve my craft so I could continue making people feel comfortable in front of my lens. I wanted nothing more than to capture that sliver of second when a genuine emotion rose before me and to do that, I reminded myself—over and over and over again—that photographing a person was an intimate act that relied on patience and trust.

Over time, and with a lot of practice, my style morphed into a reflection of the natural world around me. Earth tones contrasted against shadows or darker colors invigorated my creativity. I couldn’t resist the outdoors after that: I lost track of time walking through Virginia’s forests, snow-mobiled up a mountain in Idaho, dove into the bluest waters in Maui, and trekked through the Alps along the border of Italy and Switzerland. My camera was with me every step of the way and led me to a new passion: Conservation and Sustainability. My next goal is to collaborate with groups and communities dedicated to protecting this beautiful planet.

Though I have come a long way, I must admit that photography is a never ending adventure. It’s humbling to know that I have something new to learn every day, that I always have room to grow. That’s why I will continue capturing the people and places that make life’s unrepeatable moments more easily remembered.