Meet Sam Hammond | Photographer

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

Hi Sam, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
This makes me happy. Putting something into the world that will be here forever. Whether I’m here or gone my art will stay. Capturing people in a moment in time that can never be recreated truly makes me happy. I think it boils down to the team around me that lifts me up and keeps me going. Pushing me to stick with this even when it isn’t working out.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
If anyone tells you that doing this is easy they are lying. With cameras now a days anyone can be a photographer, but not everyone has the passion for it. Figuring out your style is the hardest part of it all. I struggled with what can I do to make myself different in this photography world. The trick is always progressing and refining your craft whether that’s new cameras, new editing styles, or even just a different type of photography to push yourself. A huge lesson you need to learn real quick is that you need to fight for yourself. People always want free work and that will ever go away. You need to put a value on your work because a lot of people will low ball and say “we got someone else ready that can do it for the exposure not the money” when exposure doesn’t pay the bills. Finding that period where you have the work to back up the price is the most important thing, and not budging regardless of “the opportunity”. A big part of my brand is being different, pushing a medium that isn’t popular that has been around but not used to its full potential. Capturing the moments that are original and show the true raw side of the person I’m taking a picture off.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I think I could write a book about the places I love to visit in Atlanta but I will keep it brief. The botanical garden is amazing especially now that it’s warming up. Great place to clear your mind and just look around. Another place that I love to just walk around at is Olympic park. Right in the city and is a cool place to introduce Atlanta to friends. I’d be dumb to not include some great music venues that always have stuff going on. Centerstage, the Roxy, and aisle 5, on any night you can usually find a great line up of mainstream and underground atlanta artists. Finally my food choices, feel like I can’t give away all my secrets but I’ll give out a handful. My heart belongs to Asian/Japanese food so I absolutely love yebisuya. Amazing ramen and just as good boa. My other place that’s a little different is mochibees. This is a place that makes donuts you won’t find anywhere else in atlanta along with the best Korean corn dogs you will ever have.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I was trying to only think of one but I think that’s impossible, so I’ll do my top 3. I’ll start with the most stereotypical one, but probably the most true, my parents. When I had zero clue what I wanted to do with my life my parents pushed me not only to do something but to find something I loved. They were there for me at my lowest and my highest points and couldn’t have figured out what I wanted to do without them. My girlfriend Delia, this is a special one. When I felt like tapping out and not feeling like this is for me she told me she believed in me. From day one she has supported me and made me feel Ike like this is my place in life. Last but certainly not least, my boy fon. A photographer I connected with early when I first started in Atlanta and has not only lifted me up but given me opportunities. He needs his flowers, this man has captured a lot of important things and supports the people around him at the same time.

Website: www.lenticularsbysam.com

Instagram: @lenticularsbysam

Twitter: @lenticularbysam

Image Credits
Benny the Butcher, Sonny Digital, Hoodrich Keem, Dame Dash