Meet Sam Stofko | Photographer

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

Hi Sam, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I think there wasn’t really a thought to start it, it just kind of started on its own. I started working as a concert photographer for the radio stations I was working for and it transformed into crafting a business for myself. It’s been a lot of fun figuring out everything from selling prints to acquiring clients and working with people you’d dream of working with!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think the thing that sets me apart from fellow photographers is that I don’t go for the basic photo. I try and find a view point I haven’t seen on Instagram a thousand times. Sometimes it hits the mark, sometimes it doesn’t, and that’s apart of learning my style and how to make my skills better going forward. I think the thing I’m most excited about is the chance to tour with a band. Get paid to travel. Or not even get paid to tour. Who knows? I’m eager to get on the road and see the world and get to do something I love doing…taking photos of cool bands in cool places. Nothing that I’ve done to get to the point I’m at today has been easy and I know nothing I do going forward with my career will be any easier. But that’s the fun part of growing your brand and portfolio. New challenges come new lessons that you look back on and wish you had known that all at the beginning. The BIGGEST take away from my career so far has been learning to be patient. I’ve seen the slow rise in quality of work since the beginning of my time as a concert photographer to now, and it’s still hard to accept that I haven’t learnt every lesson that I’ll need to learn to be as successful as I want to be, but I’m on my way.

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?
If I’m showing a friend that hasn’t ever been to San Diego, there definitely is a list of MUST visit places to see and eat at (a lot of food for sure). Gonna go ahead and start them off with Shwarma Guys in South Park, and go eat over at Bird Park near Balboa Park. Speaking of Balboa, of course this is on every must see list you’ll ever see about San Diego but come on, all the museums, California Tower, Cabrillo Bridge, it’s all breath taking. Time for drinks? Modern Times Beer has my heart. (Can you tell I like the North/South Park area yet?)

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?
My family obviously are huge supporters! My sister has a couple of my prints and is always showing me off to her friends. My friends who all encourage to continue with what i’m doing and help me brainstorm when outside help is needed and keeping me sane through the creative process.

Website: https://samshootsshows.myportfolio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samshootsshows/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-stofko-11179376/

Image Credits
All Images owned by Sam Stofko