Saba plunged into photography during high school. On weekends, the native Long Islander hopped on the train to explore Manhattan through the lens of her camera. Since these trips, she’s found inspiration in the energy of live music and the intimacy of portraits — especially of her peers. Just check out her Instagram. It’s overflowing with raw photos of friends and moving close-ups of musicians.

Saba likes to have her Galaxy camera settings adjusted before concerts begin. “I don’t want to play with them that much [on location]” said Saba. “I like to stand there… take it all in before I go in and start shooting.” Her Galaxy Note9 “can do what other phones can’t,” Saba noted. Plus, it slides into her back pocket, so she doesn’t have to carry around a bulky camera — especially since some venues don’t allow them.

Saba’s mantra for photographers just starting out: focus on yourself. “Don’t look at others like they are competition because they’re not. Because everyone sees everything differently,” empathized Saba. “Nobody has your vision. No one is thinking the way you’re thinking.” Likewise, don’t look to mimic shots. Experiment with lighting and framing in Pro Mode to find your personal style.

Her dream is to build relationships with artists and intimately document their tours and lives, on and off stage. She’s making moves towards this goal with personal work and internships. “I recently started working as an intern at Cinematic Music Group shooting events and working closely with the head photographer,” said Saba.