Conversations with Dakota Sage Matthews

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dakota Sage Matthews.

Dakota Sage, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story with photography began when I moved to Paris to study Film Studies and Production. Inspired by the city, I started carrying a film camera everywhere, documenting the streets and my friends.

After graduating, I moved to Los Angeles and began working in the movie trailer industry. While it was a great introduction to the creative world, I eventually realized it wasn’t my true calling. I moved back to my hometown of Monterey to rethink my next step, and then COVID happened.

During that time, my love for photography really grew. I spent my days roaming the empty streets and experimenting with still life photography. When the world reopened, I landed a role as the Lead Photographer and Videographer at a creative agency in Los Angeles.

It was there that I learned the foundations of studio photography, lighting, and the intersection of marketing and creativity. After a few years, I was ready to take the leap into freelance to develop my own creative voice, and I have been doing that ever since.

I feel so lucky to work one on one which such amazing brands.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It certainly has not been a smooth road. Along the way, I have struggled with imposter syndrome, difficult relationships at work, and working incredibly hard without always being paid what my work was worth.

But one thing I have learned is that it is not supposed to be easy. Some of my biggest failures and struggles have taught me the most valuable lessons, and without them, I would not be where I am today.

It is not always fun, but if you love what you do, it is always worth it. I try to see every failure and setback as an opportunity to learn and grow. It might sound cheesy, but I swear it is true.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a freelance Art Director, Photographer, and Creative Consultant specializing in branded content and social first creative. I love building visual worlds for brands and bringing an idea all the way from concept to the final product.

I am probably best known for creating work that feels vibrant and provocative. I have worked across a range of CPG brands, and I especially love finding creative ways to make products stand out in such saturated markets. My ethos that in the age of doom scrolling, I want to create work that will stop someone mid scroll and need to take another look.

What I am most proud of is the range of work I have been able to create and the fact that I have built my career around something I genuinely love. I started out with a film camera documenting my everyday life, and over the years that passion has grown into a career where I get to work directly with brands and help shape how they show up visually.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My mom has always told me, and it is something I live by every day, “all they can say is no.”

My advice is to go after what you love fearlessly. I have sent countless cold emails and DMs, and I have learned that sometimes all it takes is one person to say yes to change everything.

I also truly believe that the more confident, kind, and passionate you are, the more good things will come your way. Put yourself out there, take the risk, and do not be afraid of hearing no. You never know what that one yes might lead to.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dakota.sagee/

Image Credits
Photographer + Retoucher: Dakota Matthews