Meet Sandra Emmeline

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Emmeline.

Sandra, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I feel in anyways, photography came out of nowhere and changed my life’s trajectory. I’m a full-time registered nurse. I’ve been one for almost eight years, with experience in emergency and trauma. I had also spent my entire life in music, and always thought I would be doing music forever. Growing up and living in Ohio, I spent most of my teenage and adult years writing, performing and recording music. I’ve put out albums and toured. There were years where I was playing gigs every week, all while still working as a nurse. But I honestly was getting burnt out from it. I felt lost like I had lost my direction. I was almost 30 years old and I wanted to start over. I moved out to LA to either renew my waning passion for music or to find what I truly was meant to do. I spent my first year and a half in LA doing music and even landed a huge gig with Cartoon Network at Comic Con. But the unexpected happened.

A friend offered to sell me his camera. Now, I had a camera before but was never really using it except for taking photos of my cat (of course!). I was still struggling to know all the technicalities of photography and honestly didn’t take it very seriously. I always thought it was just a hobby for me. But when I came across his camera, I felt a random urge to take the plunge and buy it. Which by the way, is not normal for me because I’m usually pretty savvy, financially! The camera was a Canon 6D, and he sold me a few lenses with it. I played with it at first, and then it ended up on the shelf, collecting dust. That is, until a few months later when a friend asked on Facebook if anyone could take photos of him. I thought to myself, ‘I wasted all this money on that camera, I better use it!’

I remember hiding my nervousness as best as I could for that shoot. I had done so much photography research on Youtube prior to the shoot. We shot in Malibu and I had him walking towards me in the ocean. The water was cold and I almost fell in with my camera. And I remember thinking to myself ‘What the hell am I doing?’ but I also remember how excited and how natural it felt to be shooting someone. I also realized that being a photographer is sort of like when I was the frontwoman of my band. I had to be directive but also clear, adaptable and positive. And I noticed the importance of speed, which also came naturally for me being an ER nurse (and ER nurses are VERY proficient in stressful and high paced situations!)

When I showed him the photos, he turned to me and said “You need to do this professionally.” The conviction in his voice made me realize I may have just tapped into a hidden talent. Sure, I’ve enjoyed taking photos on my phone for Instagram. But I never thought I had what it took to actually be a photographer. After that shoot, all I wanted to do was photography. It was constantly on my mind and it made me so incredibly happy. Perhaps this is what I had been searching for. Regardless, I finally felt whole. Music will always be a huge part of my life. But photography is what I live and breathe for. And now I am shooting for models, clients, and brands. I’m very aware of how incredibly lucky I am to have found this in my life, especially during a time where I felt so lost. And I don’t take it for granted. I never went to photography school, so it was a learning curve for me when I started. But like any serious photographer, I’m always learning. And I love every minute of it.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Nothing is ever smooth. Like any form of art, photography has its ups and downs. I think my biggest struggle is seeing other photographers on Instagram or magazines and wishing I could shoot like them someday. I often have to remind myself that I have my own style, and that I need to be proud of what I’ve accomplished in such a short period of time. But I think it’s good to look up to those who are better than you. There are some amazing lighting techniques I often see done by world-famous photographers and so I started renting out a studio in downtown to experiment and learn. But I always feel that there’s so much to learn and so little time. I know it’s all in my head because anything is possible. Fortunately, I’ve gotten assistance from so many amazing other photographers in real life and online. The photog community can be very supportive.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Sandra Emmeline Photography – what should we know?
I’m a digital photographer specializing in fashion, portrait, and lifestyle in the LA area. Style wise, my photography tends to be more editorial with either bold or moody colors. I love catching moments of vulnerability in my subjects’ eyes. Some of my favorite shots are ones where I catch my model between poses or off guard. I always try and talk to my models before every shoot to get to know them, their likes and interests. I use that to make the shoot as enjoyable and comfortable an experience for them because if they are comfortable, then that’s when the best (and natural) looks come out. Whether it is a big smile or a more contemplative look, that’s when they show me who their truth. Real emotion in a photograph is powerful, and that’s what I try to capture.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
This is going to be a long list of people. There are so many amazing people in my life who deserve credit. I would feel bad listing some and not everyone else so I’ll just leave it at that. But to all those who have helped me along the way, you know who you are, and I am forever grateful for your wisdom and support. Also, I will say that the website CreativeLive has been an amazing source for me as a photographer. For anyone who wants to learn from world-class photographers, check it out. I’m a huge fan of Lindsay Adler and her style, and she has a lot of great classes on there.

And I know I said I wasn’t going to list anyone, but I do need to thank my parents. They didn’t want me to move out to LA. I get it, I’m their only daughter and when I came out here, I was all alone in this big intense city. But they were very supportive when I got into photography. I think they saw me transform into a happier person. My mom always reminds me to take good care of myself because sometimes I overload my schedule or forget to eat. But overall, they are my biggest supporters and I hope I make them proud.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sandraemmeline.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandraemmeline/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandraEmmelinePhotography/?ref=settings

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