We are a group of enthusiasts with a common passion: Samsung Photography
Over the years we have met at various photo meetings, seminars and courses around the world.
Our Story
How did it all start?
One day my best friend wrote to me and asked me to help him with the camera settings of his Samsung, as he wanted to photograph a trip to the French Riviera with his wife. Up until that point, I had never thought of the Samsung as a “camera” and had completely underestimated its qualities as such. I took my assignment to heart and began looking at the various settings and modes on his camera, as I had promised my friend that I would explain the basic shooting modes and their capabilities to him in the remaining days before their departure.
I was shocked at what an infinite world of possibilities I had stumbled into. I was shocked at the power and vast possibilities that the Samsung offers to anyone willing to acquire the skills to shoot with it.
After I explained to my friend how to take pictures with his Samsung, about two weeks passed and he and his family came home from their trip. He showed me the pictures he had taken, and I was very impressed with the capabilities of such a small device.
How did the idea come up?
This got me thinking: how can I make my greatest passion, photography, more accessible and understandable to people who want to take good photos but aren’t very interested in investing in expensive equipment and time to learn all the details of the art of photography?
The answer was very clear.
The little mobile device in his hand was called - the Samsung.
I turned to my former colleagues, students and friends who are passionate about photography and told them about my idea to make photography universally accessible to all who want to take beautiful and high quality photos but do not want to invest too much time and money for it, and they all received my proposal with great enthusiasm and positive attitude.
The very next day we met and started searching for all available information on the subject. It took us more than a year to collect, process, and filter the most important information and to communicate it in a way that is easy to understand for anyone embarking on the adventure of photography with the Samsung.
The most difficult lesson in my life...
I also want to share my personal story as a photographer, because I’m sure some of you need to read this to know that failure doesn’t always mean the end of your dreams.
When I started photography over 12 years ago, I wanted to change the world around me – I wanted to show people through my photos what a wonderful world we live in – a world where every day, every moment, there are countless opportunities to capture a moment that we can hold on to forever and pass on to the next generations.
One day, over 10 years ago, I had an assignment for a large wedding – 200 people. I was extremely nervous, and I don’t know if it was stage fright or just a lack of experience, but the whole event was a memorable and severe failure for me. The bride and groom were so disappointed that they even threatened to sue me for ruining their wedding day with clumsily shot footage and depriving them of the opportunity to have wonderful memories in the form of wedding photos. I was devastated and couldn’t believe it.
I thought my dream was slipping out of my hands and there was nothing I could do about it. I had no money to pay my studio rent and my landlords kicked me out after 2 months. I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror anymore. It was the hardest time of my life.
Luck is never random.
I found the strength to continue, and with the support of friends and my remaining reserves of willpower, I began taking private photography classes, learning the art of light, and shooting around the clock.
I slept 5-6 hours a day, ate once a day, and the rest of the time I photographed. I was just taking pictures. A year has now passed since my wedding debacle, and after a long internal struggle, I mustered the strength to try again.
To my great fortune, my best friend (the one with the trip to the Côte d’Azur – no chance acquaintances of mine, you know) got married in less than a month. He trusted me completely and asked me to be their wedding photographer.
Courage and hard work always pay off!
Time passed quickly and imperceptibly, and I found myself in front of about 60 people, DSLR camera in hand, holding my breath, hands shaking, and a strong desire to prove to everyone that I would not fail.
I pressed the shutter button on the camera. The flash went off and my heart stopped for a split second.
I didn’t even look at the result on the small screen of my brand new camera. I kept shooting all evening, constantly going over in my head all the rules and details I had learned through hard training over the past year.
When I got home, I sat down at my battered old computer and edited the photos. I sent them to the bride and groom and they were thrilled, they even wanted to pay me for them! That was the moment I knew I had succeeded! (The previous deal was that I would not take their money, after all I had not dared after the last incident). But they insisted, and with the money they made, I was able to afford a new studio that was slightly larger than the previous one! I paid the rent for the first month and, with my newfound confidence, started looking for new clients.
Our success and what's next?
Through word of mouth, exhausting promotional attempts on my part, and my endless persistence, more than 10 years later I can say: never give up, even after the biggest failure. They say that it is darkest just before dawn, and that is true. Never stop fighting, and believe me: you can achieve anything you want as long as you don’t give up!
This attitude has helped me gain an extremely loyal following over time, and for 2 years now, me and my team have been able to help thousands of people achieve their photographic goals! Our book course has managed to teach more than 50 thousand people to take the photos they want, using only their Samsung!
Since the first book was such a huge success, we decided it was time to take the next step. We will do our best to share our years of experience and knowledge with anyone who wants to get into the world of photography. Our long-term goal is to create the largest and most affordable Samsung photography academy in the world, and it will be a road full of thorns and obstacles, but we will never give up – just like I didn’t give up 12 years ago.
