Today we’d like to introduce you to Sadie Culberson.
Hi Sadie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in rural Northern California and always felt deeply drawn to capturing beauty. I got my first camera in high school and started dressing up my two young sisters for photo shoots. I loved the camaraderie of building out creative work with other people, and through taking these photos and documenting my life daily, my eye improved quickly. While in undergrad for psychology to go into counseling or research, I started photographing people’s weddings and portraits (all the while continuing the regular photo shoots with my sisters) and, upon graduating, decided to see what could come of a photography career.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve always found photography as a craft to be incredibly fun and rewarding, but photography as a career is far from easy. I’ve chosen to live in Asheville as well, which contributes to slower growth, but the trade-off is being able to raise a family somewhere peaceful and close to nature. I rely heavily on Instagram to form connections beyond Asheville and continuously work on sharpening my brand’s point of view to bring the right people to me. You can be an incredible photographer, but if you don’t offer a service people want to buy, it can be challenging to sustain a career. There’s a very delicate balance between creating something that engages yourself and also engages other people.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a photographer and art director documenting the worlds of art, culture, and design. I’m known for taking an artistic approach to photography, often being heavily involved in the art direction, styling, and post-production. A rarity in the photo world is to do all of your own color work and retouching, but I view it as a vital part of the photographer’s process. I have a very strong sense of what a photo needs to feel right, and post-production is a crucial part of this for me.
What are your plans for the future?
I plan on working more internationally in the next few years and meeting more photographers globally. Having a glimpse into other artist’s personal lives makes me love their work even more. I want to be around more people who are different from me and shake up my point of view for the better.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sadieculberson.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/sadieculb
