We recently connected with Sam Yang and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sam, thanks for joining us today. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?

I was working as an educator and a school administrator in the Northeast when COVID-19 hit the states. With an empty campus, I decided to pick up photography again which, as someone who has been doing it as a hobby, was not too hard to do. I have been using a camera on and off since middle school and I was a photographer for my high school. As soon as I began taking photos of empty towns and businesses again, I realized these small mom-and-pop shop owners and even the town government might need those photos later when they re-open to boost business. I began taking note of where I went and looked them up online to offer free business photos when they do indeed reopen. It was at the same time when my COVID class of students graduated—and with that, a need for graduation photos (outside with masks). I began getting inquiries to do portraits because people also need fresh photos for their job search after being laid off. So there I was—a photographer by hobby turned into a pretty serious deal in the small college town that I lived in. There was a need for photos, and there was me, who just happened to have picked up a camera out of boredom. The good thing was my initial clients were so impressed by my photos that they could not believe that I hadn’t been doing photography for a long time, which really spiked my motivation.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Sam Yang and I usually start with this spiel about myself, as I do on pretty much all social media platforms: I am a photographer, an educator, a dog dad, a drone pilot, a hiker/skier, a traveler, a doctoral student, a fan of good time and good vibes, and finally, a son. I have strived and aspired to be that guy your friends talk about who can pretty much do anything. I am not confined by one craft, one trade, one skill, or one thing that I am known for or remembered by. However, I mostly do two things: I take pictures of people and I also work in a university as an administrator.
My photographer journey has taken me to too many places: I fly drones commercially, I do full-size wedding photography, corporate headshots, events, protests, and all the other genres of photos in between. I also work as a multimedia journalist and content creator for Kuai, a platform that works with NBA China. I am known as that photographer who can plug in any last minute and get the assignment done.
What sets me apart from the others? Storytelling. Photography does not have a “system” or “rules” that you should follow, other than the basic elements of camera work, of course. I base my photography sessions on how I can tell a story for the client. I spend time getting to know the little details about them that make the photos come to life. Oftentimes I got compliments from clients and their families that the photos I took were “so authentic”, and that they could feel the emotions from looking at the photos.
I never say no to things, and that attitude has gotten me to many places. I covered football games, shot USC basketball from the sideline, and went to the NBA All-Stars as a journalist. I tapped into fashion photography and studio photography because I sensed a need and began learning the basics. Photography is not about what you are good at, but what you are trying to learn next.
Did I mention I am an educator? Because I am. I am currently finishing up my doctoral degree in educational leadership where my goal is to serve the students with equity and inclusion in mind. I also used to teach at the high school level, which really equipped me with excellent communication skills to get along with just about anyone (if you can make friends with teenagers, you can befriend anyone). I have been a career educator in the sense that I continued my work to cater to student needs and support them during times of crisis.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative mind is seeing people thank me for making them look good. It sounds very simple to say but it really hits differently when they took the work I did for them and printed them, framed them, put them in the living room, and sent them to everyone. This tells me that my photos have now become their core memories, and they are proud of these photos or videos. I pride myself in creating work for my clients that will make a memory of a lifetime for them.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have always been pivoting and/or making critical decisions about my professional career as a photographer and as an educator. In 2021, I was approached by the city of Burlington, Vermont and they asked me if I’d be willing to shoot a promotional video for them for the summer business season. The only ask was: shot on a drone. I had some experience with small drones before but to shoot a commercial video project for a city government is no joke. I told them I could do it. I spent the next few weeks taking an online drone class and took the test that would make me a commercial drone pilot. Luckily, I passed and now I could fly drones commercially. When opportunities come up, I never shy away from accepting the challenges.
In 2022, I moved from the West Coast to LA to pursue my doctoral degree. An old friend approached me and asked if I could do short video content for sports teams. I had little to no experience with being a content creator at the time but as usual, my response was “Of course”. In the next few months, I started from scratch and learned the basic skills of videography and social media trends. It was a painful transition for a 27-year-old photographer who just wanted to take some photos in peace, but I knew I had to seize that opportunity. Came October, I connected with that friend who told me he was putting me in contact to work for a social media channel from China to do content for the NBA. That “of course” eventually turned into a semi-full-time gig doing photos, videos, and interviews for multiple NBA and college basketball teams, and I have met so many friends along the way that I never looked back and not appreciate how much I have gone through all because I did not say no.

Contact Info:

• Website: sammydepth.com
• Instagram: sammydepthphoto
• Twitter: sammydepth
• Youtube: youtube.com/sammydepth

Image Credits
Image credit: Mike Ade Ojo, Genfan Chen, Edge Tian