Today we’d like to introduce you to Sham Abdo.
Sham, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Five years ago, my brother was murdered in front of me at my family’s liquor store in Oakland, CA over a camera. I picked up a camera three years ago. Within One year of having the camera in my hand & seeing my future through the lens, I sacrificed it all. I left my Girlfriend, my lil dog & apartment behind. God, me, my camera bag & suitcase of free clothes I was gifted from brands that I built relationships with. I put my life in God’s hands & took a lap around the country. Starting in LA & ending back in LA.
Nomad lifestyle. I was “homeless” in a sense where I had no place to call home. I simply flowed like the wind. Staying in shared Airbnb’s for $30 a night & traveling to which ever city would book me.
I wanted to call LA my home, so I came up with this plan. $100 Photoshoot special. If I book 50 specials within 30 days, I’ll have enough for first/last & deposit. “With bad credit” LOL God blessed me with finding a roommate & now only half of my goal was needed & I had a place in DTLA called HOME. I do unlimited amounts for FREE/TRADE work as long as I made my $2000 quota for rent, utilities, food, & Uber.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
LA is FULL of opportunists. The way I see it, everybody is an opportunist, the only difference is if you provide VALUE or Not! I do a lot of free work, but don’t mistake my kindness for weakness, I’m very religious, humble & spiritual. I will cut you off & block your existence from my journey/legacy entirely. They simply don’t exist.
Please tell us about business.
I’m a fashion, beauty, & celebrity photographer. I rebranded a few times. I originally started shooting glamour & swimwear. I transitioned into fashion & celebs & had to make a choice of what I wanted to be known for. My style of lighting is unique as I mix my glamour lighting with my fashion shadows & my swimwear posing matched with my energy for event photography. Putting me in position to be one of Hollywood’s Favorite Photographers!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Nothing. Everything happens for a reason. I have to put in the 10,000 hours 10,000 times!
Pricing:
- Powershoot $300 per person. 5-10 models for a powershoot.
- 1/2 day rate. $1500
- Full day rate. $2500
Contact Info:
- Website: Shotbysham.com
- Phone: 3238773444
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Shotbysham
- Other: YouTube- ShotBySham
Image Credit:
B2K
Omarion, JBoog, Lil Fizz, RazB
Winnie Stackz, Nichole Ray
Don Benjamin
Carmen Solomon, Michael Costello
Sham Abdo
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