Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Stofko.
Sam, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I first picked up a camera my freshman year of high school in my first photography class. After that I took photography along with tv/film for the rest of my time in high school. At first, I thought it was just a fun thing to do in high school while I was focusing on playing baseball and school in general. But after I quit baseball my freshman year of college, I decided to buy my friend’s camera and I got back into it, and haven’t stopped since.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Most of the struggles of being a young and inexperienced photographer is getting paid. Taking a lot of free gigs or being paid in “exposure” (yuck) until you’ve proven you can do good work on a consistent basis. Fortunately for me I started working at a local radio station and within a year of working there I became their main photographer for events or in my favorite case… concerts.
SamShootsShows – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Concerts have always been first and foremost hence the name SamShootsShows. Aside from that though I do portraits, nature, film, and all other different types of photography. I’ve also done video for as long as I’ve been shooting. What I take pride in the most is that I didn’t set out to be in the position I am. I started because I thought photography was fun and I still continue on with that mindset.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
The reason I have seen the shows I have shot and been to the places I have been, it wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t work at alt949. Special shout outs to the legend Christ Turner, along with Ciro, Finn, John D. and Sam. And of course, I can’t forget about my family who support my work and push me to keep going forward. And my friends who I can shoot with and share my ideas with and making sure the caption is just right.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.samshootsshows.myportfolio.com
- Email: samshootsshows@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samshootsshows/
Image Credit:
Tame Impala, Billie Eilish, NoMBe, SG Lewis
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