Art & Life with Sarah Pardini

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Pardini.

Sarah, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was born in a small town on the western slope of Colorado. I would spend most of my year there and a month out of the year in Boonville California, with my father. In a small town, you really have to create fun since there aren’t many options for activities! I was always outdoors, going on adventures and hitting the skatepark every day. My mother got me a dumpy little 3-megapixel camera and this is when I found interest in photography. I literally took photos of everything, plants, pets, friends, cars.

When I was 14, my mother moved two of my brothers and I to Hawaii. In Hawaii is where I realized I really loved photographing people. I loved directing. I would go to ‘photoshoots’ with my friends every day. I had a really amazing high school art teacher who was super hard on me, but only because he believed in me. Always reminded me to remove hair ties, to not cut off hands. There was this week-long intensive called the Maui Photo Festival, which I attended three years in a row. This is where I learned all of my technical skills! My first year, I was so amateur, went with a dingy little point and shoot camera. The second and third year I was a little more prepared with my Canon Rebel T3i.

During my senior year, I moved to Boonville California to live with my father. I met a high school sweetheart and him and I moved to Portland Oregon so I could attend Pacific Northwest College of Art. In the first year, they don’t offer any photography courses so I focused more on Illustration. When I was 18, I started modeling here and there. At 19, I dropped out of college to intern a photographer. I worked as an intern for two years, before moving to Los Angeles.

When I got to LA, I started working for Clothing company Rip N Dip. I would work retail at his pop up store, photograph events, and run the snap chat account from time to time! After a year, I started working as an in house photographer for a beauty company.

I learned how to photograph the product, and produce beauty campaigns. I really learned how to shoot beauty at this time. My experience at the company was really amazing. I always preferred shooting portraits, and beauty to me just felt like portraits with beautiful makeup. The company dissolved after two years and this is how I became fully freelance in LA! This last year has been so good to me. I’ve met so many amazing creatives. I feel excited to shoot all the time. Would love to work with more musicians and larger beauty brands. Just shot my first huge beauty campaign and can’t wait for that to come out!!

Can you give our readers some background on your artwork?
I am a photographer, but I also do mixed media! My work is so hard to explain because I really enjoy so many different things. I shoot mainly analog, digital upon request. I am really inspired by the eras. 50’s, 60’s, 70’s 80’s, pretty much anything with a theme I really love. Also, love people in their element, being true to themselves.

I hope people look at my images and feel something, anything really. Inspired, happy, grossed out, confused. A really good image will make someone pause.

Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
I think the industry is very saturated. It’s harder to say if it’s harder or easier for artists now because I’ve only lived in the ‘now.’ I mean it’s definitely easier to share your work through social media and web, but it’s a bummer everything is going virtual. Less printed magazines, less art shows.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
People can view my work on my website, www.pardiniphoto.com or on my Instagram @sarahpardini. People may support my work by direct requesting prints, buying a zine, or booking me for portraits!!!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.pardiniphoto.com
• Phone: 9704177710
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/sarahpardini

Image Credit:
‘The January Twins,’ Amaya and Alana January
‘The Fly Twins,’ Grace and Hope Fly
Tiana Garoogian, with my mannequin Craig.
Shelby C, Styled by: Hoza MUA: Priscilla Ono, HAIR: Patricia Morales
Lila Ebel, MUA: Anthony Merante, HAIR: Lisa-Marie
Bryce Anderson, MUA: Sam Visser, HAIR: Paige Pelfrey
Chlarice C., Styled by: Xavier Le Bron, MUA: Anthony Merante, HAIR: Graham Nation

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.