Conversations with Roui Kamienowicz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Roui Kamienowicz.

Hi Roui, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I studied environmental policy at UCLA and then received my Juris Doctorate from Harvard and practiced law for several years. After having a couple of children and taking time off to raise them, I was offered a position in the education department at Samy’s Camera. My father, Samy and my mother, Hedy, opened the first Samy’s Camera 50 years ago in September 1976. The job at Samy’s Camera ended up being an absolute dream job- much better than being a lawyer! Over the years I gradually took on more and more responsibility at the company; I am now the Chief Operating Officer of Samy’s Camera.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a wonderful, adventurous journey.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have many responsibilities at Samy’s Camera including marketing, video production, operations and education. The work I do in education for the company is definitely the most fulfilling aspect of what I do. I organize photography workshops and events and take people all over the world to photograph beautiful places and amazing things like how to capture photos of the night sky in Fairbanks Alaska and snowy owls in Calgary, Canada.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think photography is heading into a very interesting and actually quite healthy period. The biggest change over the next 5–10 years won’t be that people stop taking photographs. It will be that ordinary images become less valuable because of AI while authentic, difficult-to-create experiences and images become more valuable.

While AI can take over the parts of photography that are easiest to automate: retouching, background removal, compositing, color correction, image generation, ideation, and even some image creation, a photographer who can actually take someone to the beach, experience something extraordinary with them, and capture it authentically becomes much more valuable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.samys.com
• Instagram: samys_camera
• Facebook: @Samy’sOfficial
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/samy-s-camera
• Youtube: @samyscameraofficial
• Other: https://www.samysphotoschool.com

Image Credits
Roui Kamienowicz