Written by: Chloe Smith
Mila Bales, senior mass communication photography major and Anna Sianipar, a local photographer, have merged their talents into a new Chattanooga-based photography business, Pollen. Focusing on wedding and engagement photos, the duo captures candid moments that tell a story for clients to relive special memories.
“We were at my house one night,” Sianipar recalled, “and Mila looked at me and jokingly said, ‘What if we went into business together?’ And, of course, I said ‘yes.’”
From that moment, Pollen began to take shape.
Though the business is new, the duo’s experience in photography goes back several years.
“Anna and I both have been doing our own photography for many years,” Bales said. “Individually we both specialize in portraits, whether that be creative shoots, grad photos, etc.”
Teaming up offered a supportive solution; going into the industry alone can be overwhelming, according to Bales.
“The idea to collaborate came in the most organic way,” Sianipar said. “After that, opportunities just fell into place, showing us that this was something we should pursue.”
“Our goal is for our clients to look at their photos and truly relive those moments.”
When asked what inspired their business name, the duo explained that the word “Pollen” had come up when asking friends for ideas.
“At first, nobody really liked it,” Bales said. “However, when we started working on this business, ‘Pollen’ just started to stick, and we couldn’t get it out of our heads.”
When the pair discovered that the Instagram handle @pollenphoto was available, they took it as a sign that their new venture was meant to be.
Starting a business together has been an incredible experience for them.
While both individually specialize in portraits, Pollen focuses on wedding and engagement photography. Their style is rooted in capturing genuine moments and the often-overlooked details of an event.
“Our goal is for our clients to look at their photos and truly relive those moments,” Bales explains. Sianipar adds, “We emphasize candid moments that truly tell a story, steering away from the typical ‘stark white’ aesthetic and leaning into a creative, intentional approach.”
Starting a business together has been an incredible experience for them. Mila described working with Anna as feeling like “kids having a playdate, making our dreams come true.”
Looking into the future, the two photographers envision Pollen growing in scope and community engagement. Along with wedding and engagement photography, they want to expand their horizons to include candid photos at local events, as they did at their recent 423 Market photobooth.
“Our photo booth at 423 was a great way to meet some of our community, and we absolutely loved taking pictures of different friend groups on digital cameras in Anna’s van,” Bales said. “This is something we can definitely see Pollen doing again for other events on top of our engagement and wedding photography.”
As they build their portfolio, their goal remains to create an experience that feels as unique and authentic as the moments they capture. Those interested in booking Pollen for their photography needs can contact @pollenphoto on Instagram.
