Ever feel trapped shooting the same bright, clean images everyone expects? Photographer Sage East knows that struggle. After landing her first big Puma campaign with perfectly lit, commercial-ready shots, she realized something was missing - soul. 

In this episode, the photographer behind campaigns for Nike, Google, Netflix, and Dior reveals how she transformed her work from safe and sterile to moody and magnetic. Learn how she developed her mantra "I don't shoot what it looks like, I shoot what it feels like" and discover the specific techniques she used to find her signature warm, Caribbean-influenced style that makes clients like Don Cheadle and Simone Biles feel vulnerable in front of her lens.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Sage East's Vision 

04:04 From the Medical Field to a Camera 

05:30 Starting Out: Finding a Muse and Shooting Weddings 

06:29 The First Big Gig: PUMA 

09:10 The Motto: "I Don't Shoot What It Looks Like, I Shoot What It Feels Like" 

10:25 Evolving a Signature Style: Moody, Warm, and Experimental 

15:15 The Power of Color Theory and Jamaican Heritage 

17:30 How to Communicate Your Vision: The Art of the Treatment 

24:43 Adding "Director" to the Title 

28:51 Creating Vulnerability with High-Profile Talent 

31:30 Defining "Main Character Moments"

 

Connect with Sage:

 

Follow Sage on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sage.east

Sage's Website: https://www.sageeast.com/

 

Support the Show

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This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

 

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