Melbourne/Naarm based videographer, Sarah O’Mara (she/her) is a stand out creative force in the production of DJ and festival VHS edits. With a passion for capturing footage, Sarah focuses on encapsulating the energy of DJ sets, events and festivals through her lens. Her unique, analog style, married with intensity and energy, creates a sense of nostalgia. Having worked at Pitch Music and Arts Festival, Beyond the Valley, and with artists such as X CLUB, Miley Serious and DJ Seinfeld, Sez is no stranger in the music industry. Coming from a background in interior design, her creativity sees no bounds. Starting out with a small VHS camcorder and posting on social media, the response was overwhelmingly positive. Now, working full time as a videographer and editor, Sarah shares 40 second clips to tease the viewership, in order to promote the artist or event.
Drawing on inspiration from simply being part of the music community, she also credits other artists that have influenced or shaped her as an artist today. When asked who we should keep an eye on, Sarah mentioned Kayli Sandoval, renowned for her mixed media and UK-based artist Harriet Bols, known for her work with artists such as Interplanetary Criminal, Loyle Carner and the Prodigy. Alongside other females in this industry, Sez shares how it can be daunting to work in a male-dominated industry. This pushes her boundaries of creativity and drives her to make space in this industry as a woman.
Urging other creative individuals, and women in the industry, to unapologetically pursue their passions, Sez offers an inspiring perspective to emerging artists: “with enough drive, you can do anything. One day I just did it, and here I am.”
When asked to describe herself in three words, Naarm videographer chose, “driven, fun and creative.” These qualities shine through her work, emphasising the collaborative nature of the music industry; “I love the people I work with, the music and the creative freedom I get.”
Sarah aims to continue her career by remaining committed to blending vintage aesthetics with contemporary art, portraying music events as current and timeless. With work booked in Europe this year, Sez is ready to tackle her next challenge.
Follow along Sarah's journey @sezzz.mp4 on IG.