Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Derek Samaha. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Derek, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?
It’s hard not to think about how much further along in my career I would be had I started earlier, but I am also at peace with my path so far and aware that it doesn’t mean my journey won’t be just as epic.
At the ripe age of 27 I decided to finally roll the dice and pursue photography full-time. Having only had the occasional headshot, baby shower, or engagement shoot up until then, it didn’t seem like a viable career path at the time. I had been comfortably working as a tour guide for 7 years getting paid to travel the world. Which was an incredible experience that I’m forever grateful for, but there was something unsettling about coming home from all these trips and seeing your friends progress in their careers, while feeling a stagnant since I knew deep down I wasn’t going to tour guide forever.
It’s funny how I hesitated for so long due to the uncertainty of a photography career — yet as soon as I committed my energy to it, everything naturally snowballed. And although our good ol’ friend Covid really put a halt to all that momentum – now that we’ve bounced back, I am proud to say this past year has been my most successful one.
Derek, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a Toronto based photographer who enjoys shooting funky moody scenes in dramatic lighting that lean toward some form of tension, suspense, or tap into the human experience.
I take a lot of pride being a self-taught photographer, and although I may be terrible at math, I am grateful that photography was one thing that came naturally to me.
It is one of the very few things that can calm my overactive mind, allowing me to just be present and connect better with whomever is in front of the lens. I like to be silly and have fun on shoots, adding genuine human flare to the experience so that everyone can feel more comfortable and leading to more authentic end results.
I feel I have already come a long way and look forward on seeing what unique experiences this journey brings me.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
If you’re not creating anything, then you’re only consuming. It is quite rewarding to be able to create something from scratch that you can look at and be proud of. The fact that I have been able to support myself by pursuing my passion has been extremely fulfilling and given me purpose.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I feel I’m nowhere close to where I want to be. There are so many inspiring photographers that motivate me to improve my craft that it feels like a limitless pursuit. I also feel I’m still exploring my creative voice. Like many of us, there are personal traumas/experiences that I would like to raise awareness on – but have a hesitation to touch on sensitive topics as I want to make sure the execution is done right.
I want to create powerful images with depth and impact, I want to be more authentic and vulnerable with my work, and I may not be there yet, but I am confident one day I will be.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dereksamaha.com
- Instagram: @dereksamaha
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/dereksamahaphotography
Image Credits
Derek Samaha