Sasha Morningstar Sheldon
Q What do you do?
“I am a photographer, a guide, and a storyteller who lends a space for people to transform within a couple hours, and give them the physical proof of all the time and energy they have spent getting themselves to that exact moment in time and space.”
I create a container of safety and trust for people to let their guard down, and explore or embody parts that have yet to be fully known. A space for them to move, feel, and be seen by me and themselves in a new light. It’s there that I capture them in their own flow while being in a place of transition in life or work, all the while they transform in front of my eyes and camera.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. I started with drawing and painting, then slowly started to make the move into photography around the age of 10. My father became my first teacher, and I took classes in school from there on out. I eventually got my BFA with a concentration in Photography. During college, I was shooting for local clothing stores, local bands, and documenting the college experience from my point of view. There came a point in my life as a professional where I realized I was doing what I thought people wanted or needed, instead of being true to myself and my creative voice.
Once I became aware of the pattern I was in, I dropped the role I was playing. I was tired of being someone else for a stranger…whomever that was. I made a vow to myself to shoot for me and only me. To do what felt right in my body. What felt expansive and true. My next lesson was learning and knowing that creatives and healers are all connected to the same channel. From that knowingness, I began to realize that the way I create spaces for healing is so similar to how I was creating spaces for portrait sessions. It was at that moment all the pieces started to fall into place for me with my Ceremonial Portrait Sessions. I found my way of combining my healing work with photography. My two loves.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I stand out with my relationship to light, shadow, and movement. I’m able to get things out of people that are usually not easy for certain individuals. I’ve woven my 15+ years as a professional photographer with my intuitive abilities, my love for dance/music, as well as my experience of being a model for half my life. I truly know what it's like to be on both sides of the camera, and I know how to direct and guide people through their emotional and mental blocks, and connect them to their bodies.
Q What are you working on right now?
I’m continuing to put more of my focus on ceremonial portraits, and traditional fine art portrait work. I’d also love to focus on some personal projects from my past around: gender roles, gender identity, and sexual expression.
Q What’s your style?
I grew up old school by learning to shoot on film and was and still am very influenced by feature films and cinematographers. I grew up on film sets because my father was a camera operator. Therefore, I tend to have elements of film noir in my images, and I at times shoot in a story format as if I was making a film with stills. I’ve always loved working with humans, taking portraits, and natural/available light.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
In one way or another, I always want to focus on telling stories and taking people on a journey. A journey I hope that inspires others towards creative expression, healing, expansion, and exploration within. Whatever medium calls for a particular project or story: photography, writing a novel, scriptwriting, or directing.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
It seems like a vast majority of people don’t seem to value and respect photography like they used to. The dawn of the iPhone and affordable digital cameras I feel have created some of these issues. Though I see the lack of value across the board with most creative fields/mediums, it’s not just with photography.
I’ve noticed a block for others to be able or willing to see the amount of work that is involved to create something: the education, the hours of learning/study, the money spent on tools, equipment, software, and the upkeep of equipment, and the work that is involved before, during, and after a project (especially in a photoshoot).
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
I would have someone help me do editing of images, retouching, and social media management/marketing.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I would have told my younger self to get out of your own way, trust your intuition, stay true to your vision and voice, don’t change yourself for anyone but yourself, don’t be afraid to be big and shine your light (get a life coach or therapist to work on your childhood wounds so they don’t affect your career and dreams), put yourself out there more…it will get easier the more you do it, live in Europe and do an artist residency, spend some time in new york after college and focus on your art and what stories you want to tell. Write, keep writing and save it all.
I feel like I would have had a version of this talk with myself in high school, and again in college. Both were such pivotal points in life as far as growth, finding my voice, and figuring out who I am.
Though, on the flip side…I feel there are no mistakes. My journey was my journey for a reason. I feel it’s possible in some parallel dimension I made some of those different choices. So, I like to believe that there is a part of me out there somewhere living that other experience, and I'm proud of her. Just as proud as I am of all the versions of me that have lived and died in this life. I’m right where I’m meant to be, and so are you.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I’d love to learn more about the business side of things, marketing, and how-to/what to do to get in front of agencies or production companies for representation.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I’d love to continue to focus on ceremonial portraits, portraits of artists of all kinds, fashion photography, do more traveling, documentary photography, have some art shows, and get an agent.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
When the client and I get one another. It feels effortless, and most of all like play. They are willing to meet me and themselves in a very vulnerable and honest place. We’d have easy and flowing communication. They are willing to trust me, let their guard down, and allow me to do my thing. An ideal client would trust my vision, follow my lead, come with an open mind and open heart…let themselves go. They would let me do what I do, and we’d create something we can both love and be proud of.
Q: What is your rate?
Ceremonial Portraits start at $ 755 Portraits start at $ 375/hr
Branding for labels start at $ 500/hr with 2hr minimum (image usage, retouching, casting/booking is an extra fee)
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
What their desires are, how they need support (expectations of my role), their vision, timeline/deadline, and scope of the project.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Taylor Montague is an amazing art/creative director and graphic designer. She is a natural talent, and anyone can tell that she loves what she does. She’s extremely passionate about working with creatives and helping to support them to live out and pursue their dreams.
Ryan Ashton is a writer, director, and actor. He’s able to tap into his sensitive nature, but then turn around and serve up a witty one-liner. Ryan has a unique ability to remember the things you wish you could remember about life: like all of the details of the street you grew up on, the colors, the sounds, the smell, how you felt on a certain day walking down that street. He makes a crew feel like family, and that they are a part of something special. He’s someone who guides with his heart and intuition. You can tell he was made to do these things, it’s in his bones.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
I dance as often as possible, write, create images, and sometimes paint (not as much as I’d like to).
This member profile was originally published in February 2022.