Sarah Whelden

Sarah Whelden's award-winning approach to cinematography always puts the story first. It starts with asking "why" before ever considering "how." As a queer trans woman, she has a special place in her heart for those in the shadows. She is drawn to narratives that highlight the often chaotic reality between humans and their surroundings, and to characters that are eager to find themselves but may not know where to start. Her commercial work aims to ground brands in reality. Whether it's finding those impossible to re-create moments in between takes, or pulling out all the stops to create the reality we all long for, Sarah is always excited by the challenges of the day. Sarah has lensed multiple award winning films and short form work. Her work has been screened in festivals worldwide, and her feature work can be found on most streaming platforms. Her most recent nomination was for the Jury Prize for Best Cinematography (2020) at the British Horror Film Festival, UK for The Altruist. Sarah was selected for the prestigious ASC Vision Mentorship in 2021. Today she calls Los Angeles home and is available worldwide. She is also a proud member of the International Cinematographer's Guild Local 600.