Two Point Oh/Sorry You're Not on the Itinerary: Sadie Rose Bailey

Andrew D. McClees (ADM): Hi Sadie, for those that aren't familiar with you or your work, could you introduce yourself, and give an overview of your work?

Sadie Rose Bailey (SRB): Yes hi, hello! My name is Sadie Rose Bailey. I was born in London but currently live in Los Angeles and I’m younger than I feel. My work, or my art as I’d prefer to call it, is based around black and white self processed film photography. I’ve dabbled in everything from portraiture to landscapes, skate to surf and music, music and more music. But my favorite thing to photograph is the life I lead and the people I choose to surround myself with.

ADM: What was the motivation, or impetus behind Sorry You're not on the Itinerary, and Two Point, Oh?

SRB: I’m very sentimental and wanted a platform to “immortalize” the memories I’m making. That’s why I love print publishing. Being given the opportunity to forever encapsulate the moments I hold so dear to me is an absolute blessing. 

ADM: Definitely! that makes a lot of sense -we're definitely big fans of print publishing over here - what got you into print publishing and putting zine/book projects together?

SRB: There was a little boom in the “zine scene” back in London a few years ago. There was a handful of us that would put together group projects, publish solo projects, throw little art shows in DIY spaces... it was a lot of fun. And It was a great way to appreciate art without having to deal with the pretentious art school / gallery side of things. Everyone was roughing it up, smashing beers, tattooing each other and making art. 

ADM: What's your shooting and image selection process like for your zines - It strikes me that both "Sorry" and "Two Point, Oh" were both shot on trips - is there a specific significance to that?

SRB: My day to day life has been a fucking rollercoaster the past two years. I moved myself halfway across the world not knowing what I was throwing myself into and have had to navigate it blind (figuratively). The life I’m living has changed so drastically in such a small amount of time, so being able to take a step back and go on trips gives me the chance to finally breathe and soak it all up. I can get so overwhelmed by the “figuring it all out” aspect of starting fresh that I haven’t been as vigilant with shooting my day to day - which is why my main focus has been a few of the trips I’ve taken. 

ADM: That tracks - are there any trips on the horizon? and based on what you're saying, do you think you'll start documenting your day to day more, going forward?

SRB: I’d love to plan a trip but I feel like the whole world is going on lockdown. I’d like to go back out to Texas with my buddy this summer and my best friend just moved to Florida which would be an interesting experience to document. 

And yes. I’m finally starting to feel comfortable being ~ me ~ and feel like I’m more inclined to pick up a camera and start documenting the little things than I was before. I’m excited for that. 

ADM: Are you working on a new project currently, or do you generally shoot out of sequence?

SRB: I don’t make the projects, the projects make me. So I have no idea! We’ll have to wait and see. 

ADM: Sorry You're Not on the Itinerary is a great title, how did you come up with it, and what's the concept behind that zine, or what prompted the trip?

SRB: ‘Sorry You’re Not on the Itinerary’ is a play on the fact that not only did I write (and stick to) an actual itinerary for both this trip and the ones to follow - but sometimes people feel entitled to your time and effort and you don’t need to constantly bend over backwards to fit them in. 

But to my friends it was more just a joke on the fact that I am super organized (annoyingly organized) and wrote a fucking day by day itinerary for a skate road trip. 

The trip was just a bunch of kids on the road having a fucking crazy time. Sam Cashmore, who’s like a little brother to me, flew over from England to come visit me a few months after I had moved to LA and together, joined by two friends I had met at work, we embarked on this wild ride. No expectations, just fun. And an itinerary, of course. 

ADM: What was the image selection process like for that zine? Were there any particular images that clicked the order or the overall vision into place for you?

SRB: The photographs follow the timeline of the itinerary. It would feel unjust to have it any other way. And in regards to selecting the images- you can shoot a roll of 36 frames and only like one shot. That’s photography. So the process was to just shoot as much as I could, as often as I could (I was the solo-driver of the trip so I was limited at times), and then select the best.

ADM: What've been some of the big influences on your art, photographic or otherwise? 

SRB: The film photography community on Instagram was a massive influence to me when I first started shooting. It gave me a sense of support and belonging that I couldn't find otherwise. But having since taken a step back from that realm of the internet, I’ve been starting to find inspiration from all other aspects of life. Not necessarily just photography.  I don’t believe that my art is limited to just photography and therefore I don’t rely purely on photography to inspire me. Music is a big one. It really makes me feel. 

ADM: Do you often find yourself listening to music while out shooting, or alternately editing projects? - Any particular album or playlist recommendations?

SRB: Never when I’m out shooting. I don’t like to separate myself like that. I like to know what’s going on at all times. But I have music on at the house all day, every day. Sometimes softly playing throughout the night if I can’t sleep well. 

My most frequently played album as on recently is ‘Ultra’ - Depeche Mode. 

ADM: What advice would you give to someone on the fence about doing a trip like one of yours, and documenting it?

SRB: Make sure you know where your days are starting and where they’re ending, but let everything in between just fall into place.

ADM: What's one question you have for the next photographer? - You can answer it if you'd like.

SRB: My question for the next photographer is - what other creative outlets do you pursue? And what does it bring you that photography doesn’t?

ADM: Where can people see your artwork and pick up copies of your zines? will you be repressing "Sorry You're not on the Itinerary"? -- it currently lists as sold out?

SRB: I removed all of my photography from my instagram because I spend too much time and effort shooting and self-developing film for it to be thrown up onto an app that people scroll thru to kill time. All of my photography, or at least the photography I want to share, can be seen in print. 

And no. Once a project is sold out, that’s it. Print publishing is an investment and by refraining from saturating the market with one project, it forces me to buckle down and make more art. My newest project, ‘Two Point, Oh’ is available to purchase via my website www.sadierosebailey.com and you can also reach out to me via email with any questions too. 

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