Meet Ammar Saadiq of Saadiq Creations in Centennial

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ammar Saadiq.

Ammar, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I first started in photography about 10 years ago, it had always been a childhood dream of mine ever since I was five years old. My father would bring home old National Geographic magazines from the library, which at the time, cost about a nickel. I would marvel at the pictures these photographers would take, and the locations they go to visit. Before I would buy my first SLR, nearly 15 years later, I would dabble in fine art and realism, which my mother trained me in classically, which would then lead me to anime and comics, music, costuming and finally photography. About a year ago, two years having moved from Iowa to Colorado, I was at crossroads on whether I wanted to go back to school for Behavioral Analytics, as my professors had suggested I do, or work my way up the corporate ladder in insurance, or start my own business. I had done freelance work on the side in the past, and had worked with several startups before, in Des Moines Iowa, so I thought to go into business for myself, wouldn’t be a bad idea, however, I was still unsure. After a long conversation with my wise cousin, she convinced me to go into business for myself. I decided to start Saadiq Creations as more than just content and photography company, but a company that could wow and amaze people and businesses and really shows a unique side of their personality and or products and services. 1 year later and six months later, and the business is still going strong, adding on new services, new clients, new partners, future employees and with hopes of going beyond photography and into a true one stop shop for creative media. Saadiq Creations is a true labor of love, and it is my baby.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
With anything, there are always going to be a few ups and downs. Dips in business, breaking equipment, and partnerships that fall apart, to name a few. However, the road to success isn’t a yellow brick road, and sometimes failure and setback, actually open new doors an opportunities for you, that you would have otherwise missed. A few of my friends who own their own businesses, encourage me to stick with it and often tell me that the first 2 to 5 years are the most crucial and that most people give up after 18 months. For me, I’ve learned to roll with the punches, recuperate and see every setback as a learning opportunity and new avenue for success.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Saadiq Creations – what should we know?
What really sets Saadiq Creations apart is a creative flair, customization, original ideas, and bringing the aspect of art back to commercial photography. Every time I work on a project, fans and clients will tell me that they have never seen the type of ideas and concepts that come out of my company, anywhere else. And it’s those words that make me most happy and proud because I really like to give customers a unique experience as well as a unique product that reflects them and who they are as a person or company. In addition, in a world saturated with images and social media, it’s really nice to know I can turn heads on the street, magazines or social media pages.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I think being published in Forbes earlier this year, really put a smile on the face. The opportunity came from a local cannabis company known as Made In Xiaolin. I got the opportunity to work with the owner who asked me to shoot his cannabis cigars for an article running in the vice section of Forbes. The shoot consisted of three sets for Valentines Day, featuring a local model and manager from a dispensary. About two weeks after the shoot, my photos accompanied the article, just in time for Valentines Day. I never thought I would have photos published in Forbes, and it’s been one of my proudest moments so far.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.saadiqcreations.com
• Email: saadiqcreations@gmail.com
• Instagram: @ saadiqcreations

Image Credit:
Model: 1st Image @lil_qianqian, Model: 2nd Image @aisha.yvonne, Model: 3rd Image @Karinadion, Model: 4th Image @that_asian_hippie

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