Behind the Lens

Meet Sammy

 

 

Truckee-based, traveling wherever the story takes me.

 

 

Earthy tones, cinematic light & photos you can feel.

 

A bit about me

Sometimes, life forces us to shift.

I thought I had my path figured out—working for companies like Google and WeWork—until everything changed in 2020. So, I packed up my sprinter van, Felicia, in search of something more. I chased sunsets, captured moments, and somewhere along the way, people began seeking me out for my work.


💫 What happened next? Keep reading to find out how I went from tech exec to full-time Photographer and Artist, learning from the best in the industry and capturing love stories across the world.

 

⬇ [Read My Story]

 

My journey

🚐 From Tech to the Road


I’ve had a camera in my hand since I was 10, but my career first led me into Tech—working for industry giants like Google, living out of my van in the Google parking lot, pouring everything into my work. By day, I was grinding away at my career; by night, chasing something of my own—honing my craft, building a dream in the margins. On weekends, I hit the road, exploring wild landscapes and capturing the world as I saw it—raw, fleeting, real. I kept telling myself stability was the right move, grinding away at a path that never truly felt like mine—until the world pushed me toward something greater.

🖼️ A Life Behind the Lens


In 2020, fresh off the chaos of a failed WeWork IPO (yup, I rode the rise and fall—you can catch the full story in WeCrashed on Hulu) and in the midst of a global pandemic, I packed up my van and set out in search of something more. I roamed the West, chasing golden light, and along the way, people were drawn to the way I captured emotion. That’s when it hit me—photography wasn’t just a passion; it was my purpose.

📸 Training under the

very Best


"Fresh" off Burning Man, I was unpacking my car in my parents’ driveway when Nick Cahill—National Geographic cover photographer—happened to pull up. Nick quickly became both a mentor and a close friend, guiding me as I refined my eye for light, composition, and storytelling.


At the same time, I teamed up with a world-class wedding photographer with over 15 years of experience, offering my business expertise in exchange for the chance to shadow her. I embedded myself in every aspect of the craft—shooting, planning, editing, prep—absorbing everything like a sponge. Wedding after wedding, I wasn’t just watching; I was learning the nuances that take most photographers years to master.


Every unexpected twist, every serendipitous encounter led me here. Photography wasn’t just something I loved—it was what I was meant to do.

A Photographer,

A Storyteller,

A Seeker of Moments

Life has a way of leading us where we’re meant to be. My journey started with a camera, took me through the fast-paced world of Tech, and eventually brought me back to where I belong—behind the lens, capturing stories that matter.


From traveling the West in my sprinter van to training under world-class photographers, I’ve poured everything into mastering this craft. Photography has taken me across the world—from capturing intimate wedding moments in the mountains to documenting the lives of indigenous tribes in Northern Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. Each experience has shaped my approach. To me, photography isn’t just about an image; it’s about preserving a story—one that deserves to be seen, felt, and remembered.


If you're looking for photography that captures not just how things look, but how they feel—let’s create something unforgettable together.

 

“The best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it do.”

– Andy Warhol