We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lily Sanders a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lily, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
The groundwork for what I do now in regards to cinematography and filmmaking stems from a fascination with photography that I had in high school. Taking photos as a teenager really helped me understand the basics of composition, ISO settings, white balance, and what aperture to shoot at depending on the scenario. I was able to expand on this knowledge by majoring in Film at the Savannah College of Art and Design, beginning college in 2018. From there, I was blessed to have incredible professors and peers (both alumni and current students) who were patient and incredibly insightful in an otherwise daunting world of filmmaking. Professors Amanda Kulkoski, Goran Pavicevic, and Alan Caso are all industry professionals who made me excited to learn and ask questions about lighting, cinematography, and camera movement while also giving insightful feedback. In regards to speeding up my learning process, I think I should have (and honestly, still should) watched more movies- there’s always something to learn from a film in regards to camerawork. One of the most essential skills I learned is to really study the mood of the script or treatment you’re shooting- it’s one thing to light a beautiful scene with nice lenses but if it doesn’t match the feel of the script or message being conveyed, you’ve made a mistake. Paying attention to lensing, aspect ratio, frame rate, and filtration choices can all enhance your film exponentially. Communicating with your different departments (not just camera) is also crucial- as is getting on the same page as your Production Designer, Gaffer, Key Grip, Stunt Coordinators, etc. I think my own fear of failure has been a big obstacle that’s stood in my way of learning more, but it’s important to think of everything as a learning experience if nothing else. I also used to be incredibly shy, which is proved difficult in an industry that relies on communication and trust.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a 23 year old Georgia-based music video and fashion film cinematographer as well as a camera assistant for feature films, and commercials. As a cinematographer (or Director of Photography), it’s my job to dictate the overall visual style of a project in regards to camera and lighting. This includes working closely with a director or client to convey the message of their project in the most beautiful, gritty, or realistic way possible. As someone who shoots a lot of music videos and advertisements, which I’m often working not only with the director of the project, but also the artist or designer in order to get the look they want in the most achievable way possible. This not only happens on set, but also in various stages of pre-production before the shoot even starts, as well as weeks or months of post-production far after the cameras have stopped rolling. Camera, lens, filtration, lighting, and grip selection is all apart of a lengthy process in pre-production, whereas working with a colorist and editor is a lengthy part of post production (and I love it all). Something that I believe sets me apart is that I’m also a member of the International Cinematographer’s Guild as a 2nd assistant cameraman (or 2nd AC) on feature-length films. As a 2nd AC, I’m often put in charge of maintaining the camera equipment, preparing us for various weather-disasters, keeping camera notes for editors/film labs, marking actors, and doing everything in my power to make the 1st assistant cameraman, cinematographer, and camera operator’s lives as easy as possible. Working as a 2nd AC is actually how I broke into the industry, and has allowed me to watch incredible cinematographers and camera operators work- inspiring me to learn from them and ask questions that have helped me grow.
I love all aspects of the camera department, but working as a cinematographer is where my passion lies, and I’m lucky to be surrounded by incredible peers and clients who have put their faith in me! While music videos and fashion/commercial shoots are my bread and butter, I’m always looking to expand my craft out of my comfort zone- last week I had the pleasure of even shooting an action short with a massive fight scene, which was an exciting way to learn more about dynamic movement and lighting continuity.
What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?
Back when I was in college, filmmaking was absolutely more of a passion/side hustle that I’m proud to say is now my career. While I know going to film-school is a controversial debate, I have to say that attending an arts-centered college and being surrounded by industry professionals and fellow creatives was a massive help to my career. In 2020, I was working primarily as a waitress at various restaurants around Savannah, and got contacted by a peer of mine about a music video gig that he was unavailable for. This is where I met Olivia Battles, an incredible producer, and Rocco Salerno, an equally as incredible cinematographer. After working hard on that job with them, I began to build a good reputation and started to get offered jobs by people they had connected with. Initially, the shoots were infrequent, but as the industry picked up in 2021 and I maintained a good work ethic and continued to build relationships, my calendar began to fill up. A key milestone was my first high-budget feature film, called “The Accursed” in 2021- a friend of mine knew I had camera assistant experience and pulled me on to work with him as the “B” Camera second assistant cameraman. It was an incredibly rewarding and challenging few weeks of shooting, and I learned so much from David Newbert, the cinematographer, and Andrew Miller, the “B” camera operator. They were not only extremely experienced, but also incredibly kind and willing to educate a green 20-something year old on the ins and outs of the camera department. The biggest thing that has helped my career is taking chances, working hard, and just being kind. A positive attitude and staying humble will get you a long way. Since “The Accursed” wrapped in late 2021, I’ve had members of that crew reach out to me offering work throughout the country and I couldn’t be more thankful.
Another milestone was a member of a production company in Savannah reaching out to me to shoot a music video titled “DANCE” by Jay Safari in spring of 2022, which really expanded my knowledge of working on music videos as a cinematographer.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
As a creative, I like to pour my mind, body, and soul into every project (as I’m sure many others do), which can be extremely taxing, but also immensely rewarding. Seeing something you’ve dedicated your time and heart to come together is a feeling that’s indescribable, especially if you have a team of equally as motivated people with you. Watching a polished cut of a film once it’s finished with your director or gaffer is really a “Wow, we did that!” moment. So much of being an artist is rewarding, it’s hard to name just one thing. I’ve made lifelong friends through working as a creative, and have learned so much about myself in the process. I’ve really been able to find my voice, and discover what lies at my core in the essence of art. Even my college thesis, “Evade” was incredibly enlightening- it’s a variation of a personal story that I found insanely cathartic to bring to life. Finding who I am, and experiencing places, people, and things I only dreamed of before my career has been so beautiful in my journey as an artist.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @lilyysanderss
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013806441175
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLQYXDDAh2707LaeyAdRK9Q
Image Credits
Jordyn Jacobson Madison Lambert