Sara Macel

Sara Macel‘s work occupies a niche at the intersection of photography, storytelling and memory. Her breakout success with “May the Road Rise to Meet You,” about her father’s work as a salesman, firmly established her style of “using photography to explore memory and how stories can change over time.” The series emerged from a larger project, her ongoing series “Rodeo Texas,” in which she explores “where I came from and the clichés of Texas, mixed with identifying as a Texan.”

After graduation, Macel spent two years as Bruce Davidson’s studio manager before returning to Texas. When she moved back to New York to work as a producer for the agency Art Department, she continued the “Rodeo Texas” series on vacations to Texas, but with no end date in mind. Seeking more structure, Macel enrolled in the School of Visual Arts’ MFA program. Macel is now teaching and freelancing for editorial and media clients. Last year, she scored her first ad job for M&C Saatchi client Societe Generale, a “complete dream job,” she says, documenting the international bank in her own style. Her biggest challenge now is managing her time as she balances teaching and creating. “That kind of juggling, when it’s all to benefit my career, is such a joy,” she says. “It’s nice to work hard when it’s for yourself.”