Today we’d like to introduce you to Sammi Wong.
Hi Sammi, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started photography early on and immediately gravitated to photographing people on my kit lenses. Even then, I tried to coordinate clothing and makeup with my subjects, and just had fun with it. Photography became an immediate obsession of mine to learn as much as possible. I was fortunate to have met mentors in and outside of school that exposed me to different styles of photography such as product, wedding, commercial, etc. Having tried different things, I naturally gravitated towards fashion editorial and more conceptual works which is what I focus more on today.
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?
I’d want to say yes and no. There are always that opportunity to learn but you’ll often hit plateaus and ask yourself “why am I not improving?”. I think it’s often this push within oneself especially when it comes to comparison on media and feeling like you should be doing more, so I’d say it’s often internal. However, struggles can be viewed as learning experiences. It has taught me as an individual how to adapt and pivot which I believe is important in photography because often than not, it’s about problem solving and working through conceptual or technical problems.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My main medium is photography, I view it through a fashion editorial and conceptual lens. I find it as a starting point for something larger, with the incorporation of exploration through mixed media and material. Despite photography becoming mainly digital, I innately gravitate towards working with my hands, the tactile nature of manipulating physical prints – that is much more exciting to me.
My Polaroids that are photographed in tandem with my digital works have something I have been proud of. It’s opened avenues for experimenting and working to reincorporate props from the shoot to provide more visual interest and context.
I’ve also been working and thinking more sculpturally as ceramics is my second medium. I am excited to see how these two passions of mine will further develop and eventually be integrated cohesively in the future. I think what might set me apart is my interests working with other mediums like casting or metal work that can help shape my photographic eye in a new perspective.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I would say to surround yourself with like minded people, try and go out every now and then if you’re not really a social person and try to put yourself out there even though it can be daunting. For introverts taking baby steps is helpful, maybe the goal next time is just to show up but you don’t have to necessarily talk or network, just being in that space is enough until you become more comfortable and acquainted with familiar faces.
When it comes to finding a mentor, I think what’s important is to show them that you are passionate about what it is you’re going after, that you’ll go above and beyond to learn from them. Ask multiple times, it’s not that you’re trying to be annoying, it’s because you’re genuinely eager to learn, that’s what I did and it worked out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sammicwong.format.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sammicwong/
Image Credits
In no particular order: Models Aman Gupta Brenda Saldana Sonia Figueroa Hunny Juo-an Maya Ixchel Elaine Kanto Assistants Brenda Saldana Wardrobe Mizuki Jayline Ruiz Mika Shar Hair + Makeup Artist Joyce Lin Briana DeAnda Samantha Rios Emily Laura Alina Macks
