Meet Sage Oexman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sage Oexman.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Like most creative people, I was always drawing, painting, working with clay, or taking photos as a kid. If we were out at dinner and there weren’t any crayons, my mom would let me use her eyebrow pencil and lip liner to draw. (Thanks, mom!) But like many creative people, well-meaning dads push you to get a real job or at least one like theirs. So after jumping around from major to major in college, I eventually obtained a dental hygiene degree and worked in dental for several years.

Although I enjoyed being able to work with my hands and with patients, the creative aspect was definitely missing, and the monotony was tough. Then, after I lost my dad to suicide, I took a step back and reassessed my choices, my life, and all that existential stuff. I quit dental and have been working exclusively as a wedding photographer ever since. I think my dad is probably proud of and happy for me. He was always very gifted artistically, and I have to him to thank for the abilities that I have. He taught me how to carve things out of soap as a little kid and how to work with my hands that really fostered my interest in art and my abilities. Other than that, I have 2 of the best boys a mom could ask for, one super cool but neurotic rescue dog, and five cats.

Please tell us about your art.
I paint when I have time, but my wedding photography has been the main focus lately. My primary goal with that is simply to get to know my clients as individuals and get to know what they want from their photos and to do my best to give them that. I really love getting to know people. They all have their own stories. Although weddings can be stressful to shoot, I love working with all the different people and sharing in their stories, if even just for a day. I feel like it’s so obvious that it’s not worth mentioning, but I hope that my clients see their photos and relive and feel all the feelings of the day, but with a more dreamlike overtone.

My photo style is a little more colorful than what’s trendy at the moment. I use my own techniques to emulate the light leak looks of old plastic film cameras like the Holga, but without photoshopping. Kind of manipulating light to create happy accidents.

I also like to paint angry mermaids. It’s a sort of fantasy feminism about being a woman and delving into your feelings about all the things we deal with and acknowledging the frustration and anger that we aren’t supposed to show as women. So the mermaids are salty, and they are allowed to be.

We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
I guess it’s just a matter of leaving the studio or house and finding places to go and things to do with other artists.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I have a website/online portfolio for my photos. www.desertsagephotography.com. My paintings are in people’s houses. If you ask them nicely enough, they might let you come in and see them. Support by booking a photo session or wedding, or referring others to me. Or just by being peer support with a hug or something if you see me out and about.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.desertsagephotography.com
• Phone: 602-326-5101
• Email: desertsagephotography@gmail.com

Image Credit:
Sage Oexman

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