ART+LIFE: Photographer Emily Sacco

ART+LIFE

Emily Sacco Photographer

ABOUT THE ARTIST Emily Sacco is a self taught portrait and lifestyle photographer based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Her work with The Modern Owl, has been featured on many online publications and can be seen in print on the front pages of the local Charlottesville paper, Cville Weekly. She uses both digital and film cameras to create soft luminous images that tell the stories of her subjects.

When she‘s not photographing, she enjoys cooking, hiking and spending time with her husband, John and their kitty named Queso.

DESCRIBE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF EMILY. My days begin early, around 7am.

I wake up, snuggle my husband and then head to the kitchen for lemon+parsley infused water drinking and smoothie making. I then will drop off my husband to run and then maybe grab a coffee downtown. If I don‘t have a shoot scheduled, I head home. It‘s 10am now and depending on what I did the day before I may photograph a still life, do some editing or research something that I have found interesting. If there is nothing to work on related to photography, I shift my creative vibes to cooking, organizing or deep breathing. After, I always try to fit in some form of exercise. Around 4, I collect my husband from work, then head home for dinner making and podcast listening. I try to be in bed with a book by 8:30, asleep by 9:30.

Likes: summer/floral wallpaper/jazz/sunlight/hot tea/ campfires/braids/adventures/stargazing/ripe fruit

Dislikes: mean people/scratched lenses/wet socks/ cold toast (cold toast might be the worst)

Photo By: Emily Sacco

TALK ABOUT YOUR CHOICE TO SHOOT ON FILM AND DIGITAL FORMATS. Honestly, I would shoot film all the time if I could afford it. Film is irreplaceable and holds a very special place in my heart. The first time I took photos with a purpose was for a black and white photography course I took in high school. It was there that I watched my images develop right before my eyes and fell in love with the entire process of photography. But alas, right now I shoot with a Canon 5D primarily.

My first DSLR was a canon rebel, so I just stuck with canon. There really isn‘t a reason why.

A STORY...

The businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The businessman complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied only a little while. The businessman then asked why he didn‘t stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family‘s immediate needs. The businessman then asked, but what do you do with the rest of your time? The Mexican fisherman said, ''I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos; I have a full and busy life, señor.“ The businessman scoffed, ''I am a Harvard MBA and I could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats; eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman,

you would sell directly to the processor and eventually open your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City where you would run your expanding enterprise.''

The Mexican fisherman asked, ''But señor, how long will this all take?“ To which the businessman replied, ''15-20 years.'' ''But what then, señor?“ The businessman laughed and said, ''That‘s the best part! When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.“ ''Millions, señor?

Then what?“ The fisherman said, ''Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.“ The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, ''Isn‘t that what I‘m doing right now?“

HOW DOES YOUR WORK RELATE TO YOUR LIFESTYLE? I live my life according to 3 rules: be minimal, be honest and live with purpose. These core values really shape me as a person and as an artist. Honesty is what really inspires me inside and out. The seemingly boring details create stories that are no longer just seen- they are feltand that‘s honesty. Seeing things for what they are then continuing to see them for what they could bethat‘s what fills me up and satisfies me. There are so many dimensions to my work. When I‘m shooting I think about the now, the then and what is to come while working with minimal gear, an honest eye and above all- with purpose.

THE WORK OF EMILY SACCO My favorite recent image is of my niece, Evelina and her mother, Theresa. I captured it moments after she was born, in a dark, crowded hospital room. My lens wouldn‘t auto focus on anything because of the low light so I was forced to use manual, which is challenging in any situation that is uncontrolled. I think some of my best photographs are made when I am being challenged the most. It was really important to me not to use a flash or anything too intrusive- I wanted it to be as natural as possible. While making the photo I was literally thinking- holy shit, this is the coolest thing I have ever seen.

I was witnessing a life long relationship begin right in front of me through skin to skin contact. It was so beautiful. The primal mom in me was jumping for joy. This is also one of the only photos taken from above, and I just think aerial photos tell a different story.

A Bride on her wedding day. This was an intimate backyard wedding last June. It had rained and rained right up until her wedding day.

Left and Right: Emily Sacco

One of my favorite editorial pieces to date.

You might recognize this image from January‘s restaurant week, but I remember the image showing off all of Public. It‘s always interesting to me to see how others use images. It‘s never right or wrong, but it‘s always different and I like seeing different points of view- especially when it comes to my work.

An anniversary session I shot in Boulder, Colorado. I was on my honeymoon and was using air b&b to stay in this sick pad. Kodiak is an herbalist and Jae a designer (hence why their space was so cool) . Here the couple is running towards the flat irons in Chautauqua Park very early in the morning in the fall.

morning…Smoothies noon…meditation night…snuggles perfect happiness…Hammock in the woods preposterous…alarm clocks fear….that humans will never be able to fully see past race or socioeconomic class love...freedom extravagance…my favorite dinners texture...beautiful comedy…Forrest Gump work…STANDING DESKS most interesting thing in your wallet/purse...the interesting thing would be if you could find them in another life, you’d be… a tiger lucky charm…husband prized possession…To be honest, my camera a dream dinner… Me and my husband with the cast of Futurama! your most marked characteristic…My can-do attitude inspiration... I really love Leo Patrone, Gillian Stevens and Leela Cyd snack...Dried mangos and seaweed snax!

5 years...Hopefully in a tiny house, in Boulder, CO with a HUGE garden, John and chickens and babies.

''If your dreams don‘t scare you, they aren‘t big enough.''

(My husband and I remind each other of this every day.)