Meet Sam Spence | Photographer & Art Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sam Spence and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sam, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Having grown up adopted from South Korea and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, I have always known the meaning of standing out. I grew to love the arts at a very young age because it was my earliest form of expression. Dance and photography in particular were my splash of color in what seemed to be a very black and white world. Knowing my creativity was limited by my environment, I escaped life in Kansas City at the age of 14 to travel and seek a lifestyle that was rich in diversity. Since then, I have never been interested in the ordinary or pursuing popular trends. My background as a contemporary dancer has influenced my love for capturing movement and the human body in its unique form. That, coupled with my vision of pushing beauty and fashion boundaries, has brought me to the artistry I harness today. Side note: After years of having already chosen a lifestyle influenced by creative arts, I found out through some paperwork that my biological mother is actually an artist. She also gave birth to me around the age of 14. We have those two things in common: the arts and also the fearlessness it takes to do things in life earlier than most consider the norm.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m really at the very beginning of my career. I have been dancing since the day I was born practically, but after 15+ years chasing a career in dance, I made the complete switch into photography. Things really just took off right after. My very first fashion photoshoot was actually Coco Rocha. Now here I am, a little over a year later shooting big covers and celebrities for a variety of clients. It’s really all been a whirlwind but I love my job so much and I feel very lucky to be in a position where my job never feels like work. I’m endlessly excited about creating new, unique content that challenges myself and intrigues audiences. I have a very exciting 2021 planned so you’ll have to follow to stay up to date.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I really love Southern California and would suggest checking out Laguna Beach, Santa Monica, or Malibu for a good time. I definitely prefer being on the coast to the city.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are too many people to count! There is no one single connection, experience, or person that has lead to where I am today. It’s an accumulation of all those things and I’m grateful for each and every one.

Website: www.samspence.myportfolio.com
Instagram: @samspencework

Image Credits
Photography and Art Direction: Sam Spence