Meet Sadie Lynn

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sadie Lynn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sadie, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

It took me a long time to find my purpose. Throughout school, whenever people asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I never had a consistent answer. No career path really stood out to me. In seventh grade, my counselor would make my class take career quizzes to see which fields we might belong in, and I always disliked my results. The only thing that stayed consistent was creating. Since I was a kid, I’ve known that I loved art and making things—that I was a creator. However, growing up, I was told that being an artist doesn’t pay the bills, so I never seriously considered pursuing a creative field in school.
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When I was a sophomore in high school, I took a few computer science classes and thought that was my purpose. I continued to take computer science classes up to my senior year, when I failed my AP Computer Science exam. I figured I wasn’t cut out for this career either, especially since I’d been told I wasn’t ‘smart enough’ for other potential careers. I felt like giving up.
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By pure luck, I ended up in a Multimedia class during my senior year of high school. We explored graphic design, website building, video and audio production, and many other forms of digital media. I loved being in this class so much that I decided to pursue a Multimedia Communications degree at Minot State University.
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I’ve always been a visual artist at heart. Some of my favorite moments in college have been designing graphics, photographing people and landscapes using both digital and analog processes, creating videos with classmates, hosting our campus news and game shows, and running social media accounts around campus. I genuinely feel like I’m right where I need to be.
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I’ll be graduating from college next year, and while I’m still figuring out the specifics of what I want to do, I’m leaning into my passions and honing my skills. Right now, I run my own photography business called Sadie Lynn Media and write for my blog Photog with a Blog. I’m also working on a YouTube series called Abandoned Dakota, where I document ghost towns in North and South Dakota and photograph the architecture and landscapes on black and white film.
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Whatever path I end up on, I know photography will always be a part of it; it’s the medium that resonates with me the most. As a photographer, I want to capture the memories and emotions that make up our life stories. Every photograph is a moment frozen in time, and I’ve always been drawn to the idea of preserving the beauty of our world and the history within it.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My name is Sadie Lynn, and I’m from Velva, a small town in North Dakota. I’m currently a junior at Minot State University, pursuing a degree in Multimedia Communications with a concentration in photography. I photograph a variety of subjects, from sports and portraits to architecture and beyond. I also enjoy experimenting with traditional photographic processes like film and wet-plate collodion. My goal as a photographer is to master a wide range of mediums, both traditional and contemporary.
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Urban exploration and travel have always been passions of mine. I’ve worked on a variety of shoots, and nothing compares to heading out and capturing something I haven’t seen before. I love discovering new locations and photographing the environments that inspire me. Whether it’s traveling to New York City or visiting a ghost town with more abandoned structures than occupied ones, I’m always drawn to new experiences and documenting them through my lens.
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Right now, I’m working on a photo/video series exploring the nearly abandoned ghost towns of North and South Dakota. Each episode offers an in-depth look at a small town, complete with on-location video footage. I also capture these towns and their abandoned structures on black and white film. The series, Abandoned Dakota, will begin releasing new episodes on YouTube every month starting in May 2025.
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Speaking of YouTube, I also enjoy content creation. I run a blog called Photog with a Blog, where I share personal insights from deep in the photography rabbit hole and reflect on my experiences as a student photographer. I also post regularly on my Instagram at @sadie.png, where I keep my followers updated on my latest projects.
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My photography has been featured in several exhibitions, including the Minot State Annual Juried Student Show at the Northwest Arts Center, the Taube Museum of Art, and the photography competition at the North Dakota State Fair. My photograph Home Sweet Home won the Ryan and Karina Stander Photography Award at the 2025 Juried Student Show, and another piece, Charred, won first place in the Black & White Photojournalism category at the 2024 North Dakota State Fair.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Authenticity has always been at the heart of my journey as a photographer. I’ve made it a priority to stay true to myself and not cave to the pressure of following trends or doing what everyone else is doing. Growing up, I often felt the need to change myself to fit societal expectations, but over time, I let go of that mindset and started leaning into what feels right for me. I aim to have a clear and authentic voice in my photography and to create art that is both honest and intentional.
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Visual storytelling is another essential skill in my growth as an artist. I strive to create photographs that evoke emotion, prompt reflection, or make you feel something. This can be the subject, the setting, or even the moment itself. I believe every photograph has a story to tell.
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Curiosity has always been a driving force in my work. Exploration and discovery have led me to uncover stories that others might overlook. My curiosity pushes me to seek out the unfamiliar and understand the deeper meaning behind the people and places I photograph.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I am always looking for fellow artists to collaborate with. Whether it’s experimental photography, portraiture, landscape, or architecture, I am open to partnering with other creatives and bringing ideas to life. Some of my best work has come from collaborations, and I enjoy getting to build friendships and meet new people through our shared interests.

If you want to collaborate with me, you can reach out through my Instagram @sadie.png or my website: sadielynnmedia.com.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sadielynnmedia.com
• Instagram: sadie.png
• Youtube: sadielynnfilms