Beyond the Camera
Chandrayee Soneja
Chandrayee Soneja, of Soneja Creative, is a native of India who came to Houston in 2015 to pursue her master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Houston and stayed to create a family and a new career as a photographer and creative director. She is also the co-creator of Show Your Pride in partnership with the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce.
“I texted Tammi last year and said I wanted to take some more photos of Pride, she called right away, and we brainstormed and came up with the idea,” she said. “We lugged the backdrop around and took photos at the Chamber events.”
She’s been involved in volunteer work since coming to Houston, first with her temple, Houston Durga Bari Society, where she photographs families at religious events, and then, during COVID when her photography work was curtailed, she got certified as a public accountant and worked with BakerRipley doing taxes for seniors.
Soneja is also an adjunct professor in engineering at her alma mater U of H.
“I’m closer in age to the students, so I can tell bad Dad jokes and relate to them,” she said. “They also can ask me about LGBTQ issues because I’m very open about being a lesbian married to a woman. These students are our future and it’s important they be their authentic selves.”
But as a full time photographer, her passion is showcasing the LGBTQ+ community.
“There are not a lot of LGBTQ photographers, and members of the community don’t always feel comfortable being photographed. That’s what Show Your Pride is all about, being free to show yourself and your Pride.”
Soneja herself isn’t comfortable in front of the camera and poses for her Show Your Pride portrait holding her camera in front of her.
“I took my own picture using a remote trigger,” she said. “Technology is wonderful.”
For more on Soneja Creative, visit www.sonejacreative.com.
It’s empowering, it’s visual, bold, and colorful.
It’s Show Your Pride, the second annual event where the LGBTQ+ community and Allies flocked to pop-up photo booths at various events around town to show their Pride in pictures and three words describing what Pride means to them. It’s about the joy and courage inherent in embracing one’s authentic self.
Chandrayee Soneja, with Soneja Creative, is the brilliant photographer behind the lens, and the campaign is the partnership between her and the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce along with collaboration partners IKE Smart City, Like Minds Communication, Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin, Houston Dynamo & Houston Dash and Cosmo Cool Concepts.
These stunning photographs will be displayed during Pride month at showyourpride.lgbt and on IKE Smart City’s digital kiosks all throughout Houston, on the north side of Shell Energy Stadium and as an exhibit at the Pride In Business Celebration.
We sat down to talk about the Show Your Pride Campaign with Chamber Co-Founder, President & CEO, Tammi Wallace and Creative Partner, Chandrayee Soneja.
Intersections: It must have gone well last year, how many photos did you take and what was the response like?
Tammi Wallace, Chamber Co-Founder, President and CEO: Overwhelming. We wondered if people were really going to show up for this and they did! The expressions of Pride and love were just beautiful.
Chandrayee Soneja, Show Your Pride Campaign Creative Partner: I took about 350 pictures, give or take a few. The joy that shows up in those photos was amazing. Honestly, the number of people who participated, adults, children, dogs. It just blew my mind. Imagine what it will be like in 10 years!
I: Why is this project important?
TW: Last year we were coming off a very difficult time in the Texas legislature (with all the anti-LGBTQ+ bills) and this was a way to share our joy and collaborate with a brilliant Chamber member, Soneja Creative.
CS: Thank you. And I just felt like we still needed to do that again this year. We need to show our Pride and document it every year in the face of controversy.
I: Was it easy to get the other sponsors to join in?
TW: IKE Smart City came from a conversation with Council Member Abbie Kamin. She said we should ask them about showing the photos on their digital kiosks and they loved it. They’re back again this year. The other collaboration partners have signed on this year because they are enthusiastic about this visibility campaign.
CS: No one can say no to Tammi! When she comes up with an idea, the community listens. And the campaign just speaks for itself.
TW: We also have a new partner this year in Like Minds Communication. They are helping us amplify the campaign in a big way. People just want to help.
I: Are there any other differences in the project this year?
TW: We had more lead time this year, and more pop-up photo events. HP hosted a photo booth at their campus, and we had one at City Council and Commissioners Court. Also, we have T-shirts, and the photos will be on all of the IKE kiosks all across the city along with Shell Energy Stadium. Last year it was just two neighborhoods.
CS: Absolutely having the campaign ready to go this year was great; last year we were building the plane while we were flying it! And the technology this year – people can sign up online. It just keeps getting better and better every year. Oh, and I had five days this year instead of one to design the backdrop. It’s very colorful this year and textured. People get excited to touch it; it’s as diverse as our community.
TW: This is a heartfelt campaign – to see the people of our community light up is just wonderful.
I: So, what kind of response are you expecting this year?
CS: Our aim is to get at least 500 photos. With more scheduled photo shoots this time than last year, I think we can do it.
TW: I definitely think so.
I: What are your three words for what Pride mean to both of you?
TW: Love, Resilience, and Community.
CS: Family, Love, and Legacy. Family because that’s what I found in Houston with my wife and two dogs, love because that’s what it is all about, and legacy because that’s what this project is to me. It’s my legacy.
“There are not a lot of LGBTQ photographers, and members of the community don’t always feel comfortable being photographed. That’s what Show Your Pride is all about, being free to show yourself and your Pride.”
– Chandrayee Soneja, Soneja Creative
To see the entire photo gallery, visit
https://showyourpride.lgbt
