But what would the person who decided which images make it into National Geographic say about it?
And that’s exactly where my conversation with photographer and former Director of Photography at National Geographic, Sarah Leen, begins.
Sarah spent nearly twenty years photographing stories for the magazine before becoming its first female Director of Photography, helping shape the visual storytelling of one of the most iconic publications in the world.
But Sarah’s career didn’t stop behind the camera.
In 2005, after nearly two decades working as a photographer, she joined National Geographic as a photo editor — eventually becoming the magazine’s first female Director of Photography in 2013, overseeing the visual storytelling of one of the most influential publications in the world.
Today, Sarah works as a highly respected photo book editor and mentor, helping photographers shape their long-term projects into powerful visual stories and books.
We talk about both sides of photography — what it takes to create meaningful images in the field, and how editors decide which photographs truly carry the story.
Along the way, Sarah shares stories from her years working with photographers around the world, what she looks for when editing images, and why great photographs often communicate something deeper than what words can explain.
Of course we also share a few laughs, talk about life in Maine, gardening, good food, cats and the small everyday things that often inspire creativity just as much as the big photographic adventures.
So grab a coffee, slow down for a bit, and enjoy a conversation that goes well beyond photography.
⏱ Chapters
🔗 Sarah Leen
Website:
https://sarahleen.com/
Visual Thinking Collective:
https://www.visualthinkingcollective.com/
🎧 Listen on the podcast:
https://thecameracafeshow.com/sarah-leen
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