Let me preface my "why" by expressing how grateful I am that you've found your way here and taken the time to learn more about me and the story of how I've ended up where I am. The people I serve are the backbone, heart, and soul behind my artistry; connecting with people from diverse walks of life has allowed me a glimpse at the complexity of the lives we live and given me a greater appreciation for my close-knit community I've built in Harrisonburg and the surrounding area. My love affair with chasing light took hold when I was an awkward middle schooler, trying to find my place in the world and decide how I wanted to impact it. Everything fell into place when I found a Nikon D3200 in my hands for the first time; it felt like a homecoming, and ever since, I've been committed to strengthening and refining my craft. It was in high school that I began taking portraits, and I soon found that—though I still appreciate photographing nature and landscapes—interacting with friends (both old and new) and helping them relive their most joyful moments brings me unrivaled delight. Both my family and teachers became the cornerstone of my support system, pushing me relentlessly to pursue my art. When my high school career came to a close, my photography had been displayed at Drexel University alongside the work of talented, young photographers across the nation; it was then that I realized I could turn my art into a career, but God had different plans.
Let me preface my "why" by expressing how grateful I am that you've found your way here and taken the time to learn more about me and the story of how I've ended up where I am. The people I serve are the backbone, heart, and soul behind my artistry; connecting with people from diverse walks of life has allowed me a glimpse at the complexity of the lives we live and given me a greater appreciation for the close-knit community I've built in Harrisonburg and the surrounding area.
My love affair with chasing light took hold when I was an awkward middle schooler, trying to find my place in the world and deciding how I wanted to impact it. Everything fell into place when I found a Nikon D3200 in my hands for the first time; it felt like a homecoming, and ever since, I've been committed to learning and strengthening my craft.
It was in high school that I began taking portraits, and I soon found that—though I still appreciate photographing nature and landscapes—interacting with friends (both old and new) and helping them relive their most joyful moments brings me unrivaled joy. Both my teachers and my family became the cornerstone of my support system, pushing me relentlessly to refine my art. When my high school career came to a close, my photography had been displayed at Drexel University alongside the work of talented, young photographers across the nation; it was then that I realized that I could turn my art into a career, but God had different plans.
I gave the college life a whirl for two years, all the while trying to convince myself that I was making the "mature" decision to cast my photography aside as I concentrated on earning my degree. However, neglecting my creative outlet soon took a toll on my inner peace, and it took little time at all to ascertain that my artistry was no longer merely a hobby, but rather a part of me that I couldn’t simply block out. I juggled two part-time jobs, a full college courseload, and my growing business before finally plunging into portraiture full time—and it was the best decision I could have made.
Since taking that leap of faith, I’ve been published internationally 9 times; been voted first place in WSVA's Shenandoah Valley Best contest in 2022 and 2023; been nominated as a finalist for the DNR's Best of the Valley competition in 2021, 2022, and 2023; met the love of my life; and met some inspiring people along the way. God pulled me away from my uncertainties in the blink of an eye and placed me where I should have been all along—here, freezing the fleeting moments of love and light that we long to experience forever. I'm beyond privileged to call this not only my career, but also my way of life. It's a blessing to serve each and every one of you, and I look forward to sharing your joys with you and helping you preserve them to reminisce upon years in the future.
Award-winning, INTERNATIONALLY PUBLISHED
PHOTOGRAPHER
I gave the college life a whirl for two years, all the while trying to convince myself that I was making the "mature" decision to cast my photography aside as I concentrated on earning my degree. However, neglecting my creative outlet soon took a toll on my inner peace, and it took no time at all to ascertain that my artistry was not merely a hobby, but rather a part of me that I couldn’t simply block out. I juggled two part-time jobs, a full college courseload, and my growing business before finally plunging into portraiture full time—and it was the best decision I could have made. Since taking that leap of faith, I’ve been internationally published nine times; been voted first place in WSVA's Shenandoah Valley Best contest in 2022 and 2023; been nominated as a finalist for the DNR's Best of the Valley competition in 2021, 2022, and 2023; met the love of my life; and connected with some inspiring people along the way. God pulled me away from my uncertainties in the blink of an eye and placed me where I should have been all along—here, freezing the fleeting moments of love and light that we yearn to experience forever. I'm beyond privileged to call this not only my career, but also my way of life. It's a blessing to serve each and every one of you, and I look forward to sharing your joys with you and helping you preserve them to reminisce upon years in the future.
When you give me the privilege of being your photographer, you become more than "just a client" to me; you become a cherished friend. It brings me unmatched joy to bear witness to the facets of your life that harbor joy and warmth.
As our time creating together comes to a close, my utmost desire is for you to leave feeling more in love, more empowered, and more connected to your loved ones. I want the moments we share to not be merely a "session" to you, but rather an experience that transcends the years to come.
My Philosophy
love
"Shooting with Sydney blew my expectations out of the water and will for sure be a hard experience to beat. Her people, photography, and communication skills are impossible to go unnoticed as she is one of the most well-rounded photographers/people in the Valley. As a young individual myself, seeing Sydney strive and accomplish her goals and having such a great reputation for herself as a photographer is so inspiring and motivating to me. Her work is top tier and worth every penny." - Faith, Broadway High School Senior
client
"her work is top tier and worth every penny"
Client Love
love
"I could not imagine a better photo session than the one Sydney blessed me with! The process of booking and shooting was so easy, and she took such care to hype me up, help me pose, and produce the prettiest images of myself that I’ve ever owned. The pictures are bright, high quality, and capture all the joy I felt during my grad session. I would 100% book Sydney again and am so grateful for her services."
- Ella, James Madison University Graduate
client
"I would 100% book Sydney Again"
Client Love
love
"I am absolutely in love with my senior portraits taken by Sydney Coffman Photography! Sydney is so kind and was more than willing to take my portraits on my farm, making my portraits even more personal and special. My senior session was a wonderful experience and I would recommend Sydney to anyone!"
-Kaytlynn, Turner Ashby High School Senior
client
"I would recommend sydney to anyone"
Client Love
love
"Sydney is fantastic at what she does!!! I was searching Instagram for a photographer to take my senior pictures when I found her account and knew right away she was the one. I love her style, the way she has a vision for every picture, and her editing is beyond amazing. I am so happy with my senior photos!"