Sandra got her start in documentary, working for an Emmy-award winning documentary cameramen, Tony Foresta, who taught her the beauty of the image is found in simplicity.
After seven years as a camera assistant and operator, Sandra Valde pursued a full-time career as a cinematographer by attending the American Film Institute’s MFA program in Cinematography. While at AFI, Sandra honed her craft in the art of visual storytelling, learning from master cinematographers and deepening her knowledge of light and composition. She had the invaluable opportunity to mentor under Stephen Lighthill, ASC, Steven Poster, ASC, Larry Parker, and Alan Caso, ASC. Since graduating from AFI, Sandra has been able to take her passion of cinematography throughout all mediums of storytelling.
Sandra shot the last season of the very popular MUN 2 Reality show, THE CHICAS PROJECT, which brought Sandra across the country. Her camera has allowed her to be part of the political and socially conscience filmmaking of BRAVE NEW FILMS. The newly formed news channel Al Jazeera America will feature Sandra’s documentary camera work for a series titled THE AMERICAN DREAM PROJECT: DAISY & MAX directed by Sundance documentary veteran Jennifer Maytorena Taylor. She has traveled the world shooting, from Paris for the relaunched MTV House of Style to Mexico for PBS Voces “Tales of the Masked Men” co-produced by Latino Public Broadcast and ITVS. Some of her other clients include USC, MAX Films, TED, and Mastercard.
Sandra shot indie guru, Gregg Araki’s last two features. KABOOM was an official selection at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, 2011 Sundance Film Festival and released in 40 cities around the US under IFC. Araki’s WHITE BIRD IN A BLIZZARD, which premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival will be released in the Fall through Magnolia Pictures. Her narrative work has been seen in festivals spanning across the world from SXSW to Cannes. Her films HELLO HERMAN, FLY AWAY, ACTS OF MERCY, and CHRISTMAS IN COMPTON are in limited release via VOD. Sandra continues to shoot powerful stories in the realm of independent narrative and documentary. Sandra is also on faculty at the AFI Cinematography Department.
