Meet Dean Sadler | Photographer/Videographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dean Sadler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dean, how do you think about risk?
I think of risk kind of like an admission fee into the next story of my life. And it’s not always guaranteed that I’m going to like the next story or feel the most comfortable but I will learn something and gain some sort of knowledge or resource regardless. I’ve found an understanding that I have to give up or leverage something in order to enter in to the next phase of my journey, whether that’s time, money, relationships, sleep, stability, clarity… risk, to me, is physical proof that I’m faithful and determined and believe in my vision.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always been into art since I was a kid. Not sure why I was so into by being creative or who inspired it but I’ve always been the kid drawing or into music or clothes, etc. Alot of my childhood, I remember spending so much time rifling through old shoes boxes of family photos at my grandma’s house. I would spend hours sitting there looking through old photos of family members and moments in their lives, even some of my ancestors who’ve I’ve never met or had no clue about. I was enamored by them. The stories in them, the connection it brought between me and my family, even something as simple as the look and feel of the film they were using back then. All of it was so fascinating.

I picked up a camera around 2013-ish. At that time I was interning and helping out a clothing brand called “Lifted Anchors” with a couple friends. It really inspired me to pursue my creativity and entrepreneurship. I picked up a used Sony a5000, with no prior knowledge of how to work a camera, simply just because I liked the idea of taking cool pictures of random things – people, minimalist architecture, moments – except at that point, I couldn’t tell you what aperture was or the difference in lens focal lengths or what the hell ISO was. But that threw me into an obsession of constantly learning on YouTube, researching, studying, even sitting in on college photo classes at schools I wasn’t enrolled in. I just wanted to learn how to take better photos.

I started out like many other photographers as the guy in the family or friend group who had a cool camera. Taking free photos of people here and there. And then after getting good feedback and interest from strangers, my wife was actually the one who was like “you should charge people for your work..” and at that time I still was of the mindset of “you can’t make a living as an artist. That’s like making the NBA or winning the lottery.” But after making a few bucks here and there I thought, maybe I could actually make this a thing. So I created an IG page and designed a logo and got business cards. I put up flyers everywhere offering 30 minute couples & family photoshoots for $50, did free work for a while, said yes to every and any opportunity possible & eventually in turned into a full-fledged career.

While doing family and couples work I noticed two things – 1, it was pretty cool to make $100, $200, $500 bucks taking photos. That was insane to me. But 2, I fell in love with the thought that I was now creating those same family photos that I was so fascinated with in my childhood. And photography became wayyyy more purposeful for me in that way. I realized that not only am I gifting photos for people to have and use in their lifetime, but I’m creating work that their potential children and grandchildren and nephews/nieces, etc. will be able to look at, just like I did with my family’s photos as a kid. And that perspective is what fuels me til this day. Its much more than just a photo, it’s a captured moment in their story that’ll live for generations.

Today, I still split my photo/video creation between family/couples work & fashion/portrait work. I love both for different reasons – family being for the sentimental moments and story telling; fashion/portrait work to express more creativity and art stuff.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Definitely start with hiking Runyon as typical as that is. And then after that, probably going to Fairfax and grabbing some sneakers and some clothes. Maybe go to Roscoes at some point or grabbing some tacos and King Taco or Leo’s. Hit a Laker game. LA has soooo many places to go, it’s kind of hard to narrow it down to one area. Plus there’s still venturing out into the OC as well, hitting Laguna and even going up the coast to SD.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Man there’s so many people who’ve supported me and continue to support me while I evolve in business and creativity and as a person. Definitely my wife, she’s been on the ride with me and I really really thank her for being on my team through everything. My dad, stepmom, uncle, grandma, all my best friends, Ed Gregory & the In Color Studios team in Vegas, and 100000% appreciative for every person I’ve had a chance to photograph. Thank you, thank you, and thank you again.

Website: dean@deansadlerphoto.com

Instagram: @deansadlerphoto or @deansadler

Image Credits
shot by me.