Meet Sam Tooker of Tookerv

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Tooker.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Sam. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started messing around with cameras pretty early on. I was always intrigued by films and photography when I was younger. The first camera that I ever used was a DSLR camera that my mom had and I would mess around with taking photos. When I got to high school, I was already fairly interested in photography and video. At the time, I would film videos on go pro and edit them in Final Cut. I took a photography class both my sophomore and junior years, and here we learned basic film techniques as well as processing and darkroom technique. I think that was about the time there was a spark in my interest and when I really thought about taking photography more seriously.

After I graduated from high school, I went to college in northern Michigan for a semester but decided to move back home to Phoenix shortly after. I was working at a local restaurant called Flower Child and through this, I landed a job with Fox Concepts taking photos for their social media accounts. That was my first real paid photography job. About a year later, I was introduced to my now very good friend Ben Dorman, who is a touring DJ and house music producer. I was twenty at the time and had never shot for an artist, but he gave me the opportunity to shoot one of his shows at a music venue in downtown Phoenix called Bar Smith. I fell in love with the nightlife scene after that. I started to shoot as many shows as I possibly could, meeting people along the way.

Now, almost three years later, I am a full-time photographer and videographer. Though I mainly work in the entertainment industry as a touring photographer/videographer, I also work with brands and ad agencies developing content for ads and social marketing.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think smooth roads are rare, especially as a creative. I think that the struggles of getting shut down, not getting the reaction you wanted, or even not liking your own work can push you to work harder. Run it back, and do it again better.

Tookerv – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a freelance photographer and videographer. I would say I am most known for my music and lifestyle photography and videography. I typically shoot shows, artists, and festivals. Although this type of content is what fills my social media feed, I also shoot for brands, ad agencies, and businesses. I have shot everything from product photography and fashion to business and brand videos.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Although I can think of a thousand moments in the past few years that were incredible, I don’t think there is a specific moment that I can pinpoint as the proudest. I feel that my proudest moment thus far is right now. I worked hard to get here and I am proud to be here, but I want to keep moving forward and keep grinding. Maybe my next proudest moment will be next week.

Contact Info:

• Website: tookerv.co
• Email: tookervco@gmail.com
• Instagram: @tookerv
• Twitter: @tookface

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