We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sebastian Bencsik. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sebastian below.

Sebastian, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to start my own business—I just never imagined it would happen at 21. I had a few small business ventures growing up; I sold stick insects in elementary school and sold candy in middle school. In high school, I helped my dad extract and sell honey from bee hives.
My passion for automotive photography has driven me for a while now, but turning it into a full-time career, especially working with major brands, felt like a distant goal. This January, that dream became a reality.
Initially, I followed the conventional advice given to professionals in my field: post daily on social media, run online ads, and wait for opportunities to come in. After months of effort with little return, I realized I needed a different approach. Instead of relying solely on digital marketing, I decided to go out and pitch my services in person to dealerships in Calgary. It was a bold move, but one that made all the difference.
Meeting potential clients face-to-face allowed me to showcase my work directly, build genuine relationships, and demonstrate the value of high-quality automotive photography for their brands. I still can’t believe how well it worked.
Today, I’m proud to be working with some of the most prestigious dealerships in Calgary, taking photos that elevate their online presence. Taking that leap and trusting in personal connections turned out to be the best decision I could have made.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am an Event and Automotive photographer/videographer based in Calgary. I graduated from college in South England in 2024 with a Bachelors degree in Biology but decided I wanted to pursue my true passion in photography.

I am proud of my dedication to make my business work, the quality and consistency of my work and how much I have accomplished in the last few months since starting. I hope to continue in this direction and build myself a name as a successful commercial Automotive Photographer.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

Typically, in the photography world, we’re taught that social media and online advertising are the keys to generating leads. When I first arrived in Calgary, I went all in on this approach—I ran Google Ads, posted on social media daily, and followed all the standard advice. But I am sure that as many creatives eventually realize, the pressure to post every day can start to compromise the quality of your work. On top of that, I was hit with some serious advertising bills and saw very little return on investment. It was frustrating, and I knew I had to find a different way forward.
That’s when I decided to take a completely different approach: pitching my services in person. Instead of waiting for clients to come to me, I put myself out there—visiting over a hundred car dealerships in Calgary, meeting with sales and general managers, and refining my pitch with every conversation. It wasn’t easy; I faced a lot of rejection, and there were moments when I questioned if it would ever pay off. But what I gained from those experiences was invaluable.
Not only did I land more partnerships than I ever did through online advertising, but I also gained confidence and learned exactly what dealerships were looking for in high-quality automotive photography. Those face-to-face meetings gave me insight into how I could tailor my services to meet their needs. More importantly, they taught me that building real relationships and showing up in person can sometimes be far more powerful than any digital marketing strategy. Looking back, it was the best risk I took.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned—especially from taking a STEM degree—is that traditional education isn’t always the most effective way to learn. You can sit through years of coursework in a subject you’re not passionate about and retain almost nothing, yet watch a single YouTube tutorial on something you truly care about and absorb it instantly.
For me, the internet has been the most valuable learning resource by far. While my photography skills have been developed through trial, error, and consistent practice, the entire process has been drastically accelerated by the wealth of knowledge available online. Watching seasoned professionals share expert techniques and amateurs openly discuss the mistakes they have made has allowed me to fast-track my progress.
I am certainly nowhere near being a seasoned pro just yet—after all, I’ve only been shooting professionally for under a year—but the learning curve has been dramatically shortened thanks to the incredible resources on the internet.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sebastianbencsik.com
• Instagram: sebastians_photos
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastianbencsik20/