Through Her Lens: The Art and Vision of Emily Sandifer

In the vibrant world of visual storytelling, few names resonate with as much artistry and impact as Emily Sandifer. An award-winning photographer and director based in Los Angeles, Emily’s emotive and vibrant portraits have captivated audiences across the globe. Her journey is not just confined to the lens; her acclaimed short film “Into the Valley” has garnered significant accolades, including the title of “Best NorCal Short Film 2023” at the Sacramento International Film Festival. As the Vice-President of the American Society of Media Photographers, LA Chapter, and an active member of organizations like Women in Film and the Alliance of Women Directors, Emily is a passionate advocate for the arts. With her striking work featured in prestigious publications such as Vogue and Vanity Fair, along with collaborations with luxury brands like Cartier and Ritz Carlton, Emily Sandifer is not only shaping the visual landscape but also inspiring the next generation of creators. Join us as we delve into her artistic vision, career milestones, and the stories behind her stunning imagery.

Artistic Vision

Your work is known for its emotive and vibrant qualities. How do you approach capturing emotion in your photography, and what inspires your artistic vision behind the lens?

The experience of being present has become increasingly important in all aspects of my work. I do my best to react in the moment, just as I want whoever I’m photographing to do the same. I always have an idea of what I’d like to achieve, but for most of the shoots I’m on, there needs to be a certain level of flexibility.

With both photography and directing, my strength is being prepared, but also being very comfortable with spontaneity. It stems from a combination of a) knowing if something isn’t initially working, I’ll find something that does, and I enjoy that process and b) appreciating that life is messy and imperfect. I focus on relating to my subject rather than overanalyzing “imperfections” that can shift the priority of the image or scene.

Career Milestones

Congratulations on the success of your short film “Into the Valley.” Can you share the journey of creating this film and what it means to you personally and professionally?

Thank you! It’s been a long journey.

I met the writer, lead actress, and producer Emily Somers in 2019. She’d been working on the option agreement and script for adapting Ruth Galm’s novel since 2016. She was looking for a director for her short proof of concept of the script, and in 2021, I asked to read it. Everything about it intrigued me: a traditionalist woman caught in the hippie movement of 1967, who turns to robbing banks because she’s dealing with unaddressed anxiety over societal expectations and where she belongs.

Luckily, my vision matched Emily’s vision, and she hired me on as director. This led to also co-producing it with Emily. In July 2022, we filmed it in 2.5 days in the Sacramento Valley, all in areas where the book is set and where Emily frequented as a kid. Then, it was another 6 months of post-production.

We premiered the short film in Summer 2023, and it was around this same time that Emily was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer. On May 16, 2024, Emily passed away peacefully at her home. It’s been heartbreaking - and grief is different for every one of us who knew her - so navigating how to continue with “Into the Valley” has been a day-to-day process for myself personally. 

I’d love to see Emily’s feature length script into fruition. Having gone through the short film process with her and author Ruth, I do feel strongly I could direct it the way they both want. Right now, though, I’m concentrating on the remaining film festivals we’re screening at.

The book and the feature script were haunting to me, and I continue to think about what I could do with the feature every day. I would never want to take Emily’s place, but I do feel very lucky to have Ruth’s support.

Advocacy for Women in the Arts

As the Vice-President of the American Society of Media Photographers, LA Chapter, and an active member of organizations like Women in Film, how do you see your role in advocating for women in the arts? What changes or advancements would you like to see in the industry?

I want to continue advocating for fair contracts and usage for all artists. The biggest concern I have for us artists is being taken advantage of.

As photographers and filmmakers are ever-increasingly finding themselves in more saturated competition, it’s extremely easy to cave in and work for less than you’re worth (or continuously be expected to). And often we do - either because we wholeheartedly want to be involved artistically no matter the budget (indie filmmaking and editorials, looking at you) OR because we’re hoping it leads to a paycheck later as our relationships and reputations grow positively. 

But many of us have also experienced the repercussions if you respectfully stand your ground either artistically or financially: it often means you stop hearing from whoever was championing you last week, and who has now seemingly forgotten you (which is easy in a saturated market).  

All of this to say, I feel the odds of having this type of “ghosting” happen is still oftentimes higher in a woman’s career span, even with the progress that has been made. The industry is struggling, whether it be budgets, resources, knowledge around licensing and copyright, or a myriad of other challenges.

I’m involved in these organizations to first educate myself, then advocate for my own work, and hopefully be a mentor to someone who needs the advice. I encourage fellow photographers to learn their rights and do their best to negotiate for the fairest licensing and rates they possibly can, while still feeding themselves and their families - and feeding their artistic needs. It’s very much a balancing act. The more that we all advocate for ourselves and others, it only elevates the rest of our artistic community. 

Collaborations with Luxury Brands

You’ve worked with prestigious brands like Cartier and Ritz Carlton. How do you ensure that your personal style and artistic integrity shine through when collaborating with such high-profile clients?

Luckily, when I’ve worked with brands of that caliber, it’s typically because they love what I do already and want me to do what I do best. Trust is the key for any brand you work with. As I touched on earlier, knowing your work’s worth in terms of rights and usage is also the key to ensuring your artistic integrity. I won’t work with any brand who doesn’t respect a fair contract.

Inspiration for Future Generations

As someone who inspires many emerging creators, what advice would you give to young women looking to break into the fields of photography and filmmaking? What key lessons have you learned throughout your career that you think would be valuable to them?

When anyone says my work inspires them, I’m flabbergasted and humbled. From the outside looking in, my career might seem much further along than it actually is. I think many of us in artistic careers feel this way.

I’m still considered within the photo and filmmaking industries as an emerging creator, even 20-25 years into my career. I’m still working every single day to get those big juicy bids and climb the ladder.

As far as other advice, everyone is different. A one size fits all approach typically doesn’t work.

So, my key lessons for directors and photographers: Take acting classes; you’ll know how to direct your actors/models into more rewarding performances. And your empathy will be a huge asset.

Your time is precious. Time goes by quickly. Your time on this planet is not guaranteed and you may not have as much time as you think to achieve your wildest hopes and dreams. Drop the ego, do the work, set boundaries so you can take care of yourself, and be kind. Everything else is wasted energy. Guard both your energy and your time. And respect others’ time and energy by the same measure. 

I remind myself of this every single day now, especially when it’s easy to get caught up in all the goals. Again, I think that’s why focusing on being present has become so essential, for us all.