Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Samantha Rishe. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Samantha, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I took a basic photography class in college, which sparked my interest, but I really started learning once I decided to pursue photography and invested in online courses. I’m the type of person who wants to read up on everything so that when I try something, I’ll know exactly what to do—but truthfully, it’s probably quicker to know nothing and just start experimenting. You learn so much through trial and error.

Lighting is everything in photography, so understanding how light works and how shadows are cast is a game changer, whether it’s natural or artificial light. I used to think money was my biggest obstacle because I wanted to invest in new courses, templates, and equipment, but in reality, what held me back the most was being too introverted. You have to push yourself out of your comfort zone, go out, experiment, and network with others. Community is everything—it’s amazing to connect with others in your field.

Samantha, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I grew up in a small town in upstate New York, attended SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and later moved to Los Angeles. I graduated at the start of COVID, which wasn’t ideal for my job search. In between applying to jobs and checking the news, I stumbled back into photography. I found a course that taught me how to make money working with brands from home. After researching, I landed my first client in skincare.

While I was able to get clients, I wasn’t truly excited about each brand. One evening, as I was making dinner, I tried to dig deeper into what would genuinely inspire me to shoot—and the answer was right in front of me: my dinner! I grew up in my grandmother’s kitchen, baking away, and by my mom’s side, cooking—we were always a “make everything at home” kind of family. When I discovered there was an entire industry of food photographers and brands needing images of their delicious creations, I knew this was what I had to do.

Currently, I primarily work with restaurants, updating menus and enticing customers to try their newest dishes. I would love to collaborate more with food brands, creating entire scenes, getting creative, and capturing the most mouth-watering shots. I love setting the scene for the viewer, showing the story behind each product. Food has a way of evoking memories—for me, my grandmother’s pasta sauce recipe still makes me feel like she’s right there in the kitchen with me. I want to create images that spark emotion in the viewer, making them want to reach for a product on the shelf and take it home to try.

I’m most proud of all the connections I’ve made so far and look forward to many more!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is that the more fun you’re having, the more creative you’ll be! Clients love when you’re enjoying the process, playing with the subject until you get it just right for the hero shot. And now, I can finally tell my mom she can’t yell at me for playing with my food!

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Social media is your biggest asset—use it to your advantage. Post your work to showcase your skills, follow and interact with the companies you want to work with, and engage with online communities for advice and feedback. Plus, there are countless free videos on YouTube offering step-by-step guides.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.samantharishe.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sam_rishe/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-rishe/
• Other: Google reviews: https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/106923805740389825196/reviews/@34.0137656,-118.0060426,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m3!8m2!3m1!1e1?authuser=0&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMxOS4yIKXMDSoJLDEwMjExNjQwSAFQAw%3D%3D