Sarah Dope

Some of you have been wondering where some of my recent gun photos have come from. Well, here you have it. I played one of four asian bodyguards... The video release was last night (online release today):

www.myspace.com/summerofsin

ADD THE PROFILE. SPREAD IT AROUND! HELP PROMOTE THIS TOUR, AND LET'S MAKE THIS A SUMMER TO REMEMBER!

www.myspace.com/dope
www.myspace.com/makeshiftromeo
www.myspace.com/bleedthesky
www.myspace.com/anewrevolution
www.myspace.com/manntis

(and for those curious, YES, I will be appearing at select shows all over the country...)

I was wondering how, after college, you went about getting to photograph bands that weren't friends of yours. I mean, do they hire you or do you just show up? I'm taking a few college courses now on photography and I'd love to be able to do what you do.
Sometimes I will get hired by bands via MySpace, and we'll set something up. Usually, however, I contact their PR to request a photo/press pass for an upcoming show.

Since you're Thai. Can you speak Thai? Teach me a few words, Miss DOPEEEEEEE!!! :D
I speak VERY little Thai. I was born and raised in the States, and my parents never really tried to teach me the language. "Nung, song, sahm, see, hah, hok, jed, pad, gow, sip"... That's 1 to 10. "Sawat-dee-kah" is "hello," or if you were a guy, you would say "Sawat-dee-krab." "Kab-koon-kah" is "thank you," or again, guys would say, "Kab-koon-krab." ...That's pretty much all I know. I know a few other things if I heard them, but can't speak them.

I had read that you worked with some record labels before. How did you get in contact with them? Who do you contact specifically at a record label?
 Well with Immortal/Virgin and Priority/Posthuman, I actually started out as a streetteamer-- doing promotion for free. With Underground Inc./Invisible, a musician friend actually recommended me to the head of the label to start collaborating with. With Warner Bros./Maverick/Sire/Reprise, I started out as an intern, showed them my graphic design & photography portfolios, and next thing I know, I was hired for a while. This all gave me a chance to get to know the 'higher ups' a little better. They usually know the right people to contact regarding press passes.

You want to try to contact the PR person for the artist you want to shoot. Sometimes if you email the wrong PR agent, they will be kind enough to forward your email on to the correct one for you.

I just thought I would write you and tell you I think you seem like such an amazing person! You have such success, being in videos and just being so involved with the music industry in general. You are doing just what I would hope to do with my life. Music is such a passion in my life and can't imagine not having it be the center of my life in the future as it is now. If you wouldnt mind me asking, i was just wondering how the hell you get started with all this? I'm not sure exactly how to word this so it makes sense, but i guess I'm asking about how you "got your start" or whatever. I really admire what you do and what you have accomplished, and though i am still young, the future is on my mind every day. might as well start young i suppose?
The band Dope actually kind of got me started in everything. Back then, I had a big interest in promoting music. I had been going to way too many Dope shows, and started hanging out with them more each time. They eventually started sending me out with all kinds of posters, stickers, pens, etc. to pass out back home for them.

I then started out as a street teamer for sites such as StreetWise.com, StreetTeam.Net (bandbitch), Loudside/Total Assault, TheStreetNetwork.com (Warner Bros.), and a few other labels' street team sits. If you do a good job and are able to prove your work, you get rewards like free merch or tickets. I soon found myself being offered list for different shows, and being asked to promote at them. From there, I started meeting more and more bands (and crew), and started my little networking cycle.

When I took an interest in photography, I turned to my circle of new friends and acquaintances. They were more than happy to help me out as much as they could. They would either give me photo passes themselves, or hook me up with their PR contact information so I could request passes from their agents. I also took a few classes during college. This all built up my portfolio so I could request photo/press passes to biggers shows.

I guess the whole graphic and web design thing came a bit unexpected. I had been dabbling in teaching myself HTML and Photoshop FOREVER, making myself little websites, and every now and then, making little fansites for friends' bands. It wasn't too serious back then until, I think, I hit college. I had taught myself a great deal of coding by that point, and found myself creating a couple of sites that were soon "endorsed" by those artists. I had also decided to make myself a serious website to keep all of my photo work.

As far as modeling goes, it was never a priority with me. I had been approached by an agency once, and decided to give it a shot. You don't know if you don't try, right? I didn't really like it, and went to freelance. It's still not one of my priorities these days, though. Just a hobby.

If you're still in school, my advice is to take AT LEAST one or two classes in photography, graphic design, marketing-- whatever it is you're interested in here... because you can never learn too much. I also advise you to take things into your own hands. Do some researching on your own and start trying to teach yourself... and stick with it. Not everything is going to happen immediately. Hard work pays off in the end.

Well reading your story was incredible. I mean to go to a show and take pictures and then self teaching and other stuff and now you do so much for many bands. You're very gifted. I mean, I really want to make it big and sing and stuff but I feel what's holding me back is the image shit, I mean what I want more is to be myself but I don't want to be like, 'oh I should lose weight to fit in this world of robots and pin up girls.' I mean you're gorgous and have so many things that are so passionate. haha sorry if I sound intense it's just your story kinda inspired me like gave me a boost of confidence like wow. You can do anything but what's your opinons on starting. I mean I know what i want to do but how do you start?
My basic advice is to keep working hard. Find things, no matter how little, that might help you further yourself. As cheesy as it sounds, a little can go a long way... and one thing leads to another. You mentioned you wanted to sing. Maybe look for vocal coaches in your area and take some classes? I've never heard you sing, but even still, whether you are good in singing or not, classes to touch things up and learn more will never hurt.

As far as image goes, IF you are going to do something to change yourself physically, my advise is that you think long and hard about it-- and make sure you are ONLY making the changes for YOURSELF and YOURSELF ALONE. Don't EVER let anyone else's opinions change YOU (inside or out).