Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Rue.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
15 years ago, my journalism teacher took a risk on me and put a camera in my hands. From childhood, I’d loved photography, I’d loved the idea of capturing the energy of a moment, but I was never that focused on any one thing when I was young to become half-decent. My mentor could tell after years of teaching that I was a kid from an unstable home and I needed something to hold onto. It started simply enough with shooting for my high school yearbook and newspaper. Today, photography represents the glue that holds my life together. Capturing moments has allowed me to live millions of lifetimes, all in one single existence when you think about it thoroughly. I’ve covered rock stars on tour, revolutionaries taking action in the streets, and right down to the everyday beauty of capturing newlywed couples of their happiest of days. When I was left high school, I left St. Louis for a short time to life in Chicago and attended art school. At that time, my instructors wanted me to examine how images made me feel. I was a ferberized, latchkey kid that had just survived two decades of physical and psychological abuse, I had no desire to talk about my feelings. I craved to learn the tips of the trade, and not discuss what emotions could arise since I finally had something worth caring about.
Dropping out of art school and returning home around 20, I was homeless until returning to academia to major in non-art-related subjects until sometime later, at which point one of my only physical belongings I had held onto was my camera itself. Times were dark after returning to school, there were be bouts of such serve poverty that I would pawn my Nikon for grocery money, and pay it back with the interest at the end of each month to get it back. Truly, a terrible way to live, but at the time you just had to do what you had to do to survive. All the same, every month I’d pay it off and bring it back home.
It’s been a long journey since the days of pawning my gear for food money. Happy to say now most days I have to turn down more work than I can take on because I am already booked. It’s a good thing, but with the pandemic and my previous life experiences, not one I have any intention of taking for granted. Life is incredibly short and difficult, be here and now in the moment and not worrying about the next shoot.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Smooth seas never made for a skilled sailor. To say that it’s been a wild ride from the inception of Sarah Rue Photography in 2008 to now would be an understatement. The biggest struggle of course for myself and most in my generation has always been money and making the leap. Few care about small businesses these days and would rather have the comfort of quantity over quality, making it difficult to make what many of us call the leap. The leap in the world of the arts is essentially when you make the jump from building someone else’s dreams in corporate America to pay the bills, and you are able to work entirely for yourself building your own dreams. Scary right? You have to be your own, HR, payroll, GM, you have to do it all!!! And even scarier, once you’ve made the leap and you’re up and going you may even get the opportunity to work with and share your successes with employees of your own!!! Freaky right?!?! Adulting is overwhelming and worth every second of the struggle. Worst of all, pretty much every system in place is designed to make sure you aren’t able to be successful and you won’t be able to get things off the ground unless you have capitol. What this does create however is a powerful community of fellow artists, most of whom are just as hungry to create as you are. Earlier this year, after an unfortunate medical diagnosis, I made the decision to make the leap once and for all, and while it’s definitely been a bumpy road, I have zero regrets and now live every day making art the way I want on my terms.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Sarah Rue Photography specializes in portraiture, wedding, and event photography. For over a decade SRP has been known for capturing moments otherwise forgotten and the powerful energies behind them. Since 2016 I’ve become more popularly known for my large-scale cosplay photoshoots that typically feature exclusively LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent models. I enjoying taking a story like, Hocus Pocus, or Friday the 13th and making it something that is more so my own. Earlier this year myself, along with an incredible team of four models and three assistants I created my own spin on Alice in Wonderland, but instead of Alice falling down the rabbit hole into the world of Wonderland, Alice falls down the rabbit hole of the world of western medicine, which she is not able to escape unscathed. The series was thankfully well-received and represents a catharsis for not only myself but also my cast of models who similarly to me have fallen down that rabbit hole themselves before.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Do not sell the rights to your actual images unless you are actually getting paid well. Do not accept the base rate of pay, and do not work white-labeled under other brands unless you know how much profit they are making each gig in comparison to how much you are making. Remember, if you are out shooting and doing the majority of the work, you should take the majority of the pay. Value yourself, because no one else will.
Do not work white-labeled longer than you must. Create your own thing.
Before actually taking the leap, get your money straight, reduce your monthly bills to the lowest amount possible and be prepared to be broke.
Do not, and this one is so important, do not work for free. Do not agree to exposure for pay, or a shout-out on someone’s social media page, no. Get paid.
Do carry yourself with pride.
Do treat every photo like it was one shot of yourself.
Do savor every moment you are able to be in the viewfinder.
Do wear glasses and get your eyes checked regularly.
Do bring ALL your gear with you when you can because truly, you never know when something may happen. Gear failures are rare these days, but you never know when another vendor might not show up and you may have to step up. Always be prepared.
Do understand and appreciate, for the same reason some people are still using film, some people will never go mirrorless. Do try to catch vibes, not social media views with your work.
Lastly, remember that as photographers we find ourselves in an interesting place. We are ones not only making art but capturing everyone else’s art. It’s a big responsibility, love it.
Contact Info:
- Email: sarah.rue.photography@gmail.com
- Website: sarahruephotography.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/sarahruephotography
- Facebook: facebook.com/sarahruephotography
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SarahRuePhotography
Image Credits
Sarah Rue Photography.
