Sarah Marie Spectrum of Seattle on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Sarah Marie Spectrum shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Sarah Marie, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Something outside of work that’s been bringing me a lot of joy lately is… coloring books. I’m rediscovering what used to bring me so much joy as a child.

There’s something so grounding and soothing about sitting down with a blank page (or one filled with line art) and a handful of colors. It’s creative without pressure: no deadlines, no expectations, no clients. Just pure play. Coloring taps into that childlike part of me that remembers what it feels like to create simply because it feels good. I also have an extreme love of every coloring tool ever. One of my best friends got me new paint pens for my birthday and they have been so much fun to use.

It’s become a small ritual of peace in my week. It is a beautiful reminder that creativity doesn’t always have to be grand or perfect to be meaningful.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Art and creativity have shaped every part of my career. They’re the lens I see the world through and the foundation of how I help others express their identity, whether through visuals, storytelling, or transformation.

My career has focused on fine art cosplay and fantasy portrait photography, creative design across multiple industries, and bringing imaginative concepts to life through branding and visual storytelling.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
There are two moments. The first was standing in the Scottish Highlands in 2019 after losing my sister stateside in a car accident while I was on my trip. She wasn’t taken off life support till the month after, but she was gone by that point. I had dealt with so much guilt that I didn’t drop my trip and return back as it had happened while I was in the middle of it. We had talked about traveling to Scotland for years and I knew in my heart she would rather me stay there and finish my trip. When I got out of the rental car and stepped out onto the overlook I took in the expansive space and it was as if my world shifted. It felt like the line had been drawn. I had finally stepped fully into the world of After. When the grief is full and you know you cannot return to the Before. When everything was fine and my sister I could call whenever I wanted. This was now the After, where I was faced with my mortality. It gave me a deep appreciation for where I was and the air in my lungs. The fact that I was able to be there in such a beautiful place. It was healing to be there.

Secondly, when I was walking the streets of Rome in 2022. I was struck with how old that city was. That I was walking on ground that people had walked over for thousands of years. The sheer amount of life and history that was all around me fully hit me. How we live our lives then we are gone so fast. What would be my history? I felt this resurgence of wanting to experience anything and everything life had to offer. To be kind to everyone around me.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
There is nothing wrong with wanting to dream and explore. Your dreams are not selfish, nor is wanting to chase them. And dressing up in costumes is perfectly fine!

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
There are five lies that come to mind right away. I’ve broken them down below.

1. “Art isn’t valuable unless it’s perfect.” Photography is storytelling, not flawlessness. The industry can hide behind perfectionism because it’s afraid of emotion.

2. “You have to stay in your lane.” No! You can shoot cosplay, portraits, branding, fantasy, whatever lights your soul. Creativity has no lanes.

3. “Clients only care about the final image.” Wrong. They also care about how you made them feel. The image is the receipt of the experience.

4. “Success is all about the gear.” Gear helps but vision, connection, and imagination matter more. You can also make a lot of really cool things without the latest, newest gear.

5. “You can’t be both an artist and a businessperson.” Art thrives when you stop apologizing for wanting to be paid.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
Honestly? At a fandom convention. They are loud, busy, and a lot is always going on but I feel like I’m at home. Everyone is so excited about their fandoms, shopping, seeing their favorite guests, etc. There is so much happiness there. It is a community that I love.

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Image Credits
All Self (Sarah Marie Spectrum)

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