Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Chong.
Hi Sam, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, thanks for having me share my story with you.
My journey with photography has been full of surprises. It has always been a hobby until I applied for a photographer/social media marketing position for the Make It Nice Hospitality company in New York in which I was able to create content full-time for Eleven Madison Park and The Nomad Hotel. I moved from Vancouver, Canada to New York for the position during my gap year. Looking back, I am so grateful for the experience as it really strengthened my skills in food/lifestyle photography. These days I find myself drawn to capturing humans and nature, hence I try to incorporate both into the photography work that I do.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think pursuing anything creative comes with self-doubt and at times, not knowing whether what you’re doing is good enough. For example, in photography it’s highly subjective. Some people may love your work and some won’t but I’ve learned through experience that it is okay! And it is why there are different photography styles for everyone. There will always be something I can improve in a shot and there will always be greater photographers out there I can learn from. Believing in the work that I do is always a work in progress but I’m getting there!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I started out in food photography and creating social media content in the hospitality industry. Currently, I want to focus my work on engagement/portrait photography, but specifically in nature as it is what I am most passionate about. I love traveling and spending time in nature so naturally, I am drawn to storytelling in the great outdoors. I am also hoping to continue doing more lifestyle/travel photography. To me, lighting and composition is everything in photography and I believe it reflects in the work that I do. I will never say no to a golden hour photography session!
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Trust the process! I was in a place where I felt really lost and unsure of what I wanted to do. But the process has led me to the possibility that I could turn my hobby into a full-time position I get to do every day! It may sound cliche but looking back in my life, everything that happened made so much sense and I was exactly where I needed to be. So even when it seems like you are not going anywhere, you have to trust that you’re headed somewhere.
Contact Info:
- Email: samchongphotos@gmail.com
- Website: https://sammmisamantha.wixsite.com/mysite/home
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammi.visuals
