Soaring with Sam, In The Glamour Studio

It is with great pleasure I have the opportunity to interview Sam Rambo of Kennewick, Washington. He is one of the most awe inspiring photographers in the modeling industry today. He often shares his technical expertise with models and photographers that are striving to visualize and reach the next level. Everyone always walks away feeling encouraged and personally enriched after speaking with Sam. What is equally as unique is his degree of professionalism and rapport with the team with which he works. His reputation is beyond compare. We look forward a long association with Sam Rambo, our latest valued member of the GlamModelz family!

GlamModelz Magazine: Let’s get started! Sam tell me about your background…how did you get started in Photography? Sam Rambo: Well I have been shooting for as long as I can remember, but mostly landscape…. I joined the Air Force in 1993 and I got out in 2004. I worked in Las Vegas for a top secret government contractor. I decided, that was not the life I wanted. I moved back to Washington State and took a job with the government, doing scientific research. Then in 2006 me and my wife adopted a 3 year old boy, and it changed the way I look at people. A year or two after I reached a point I figured there had to be more to life. So I started looking into glamour/model photography. I met a wonderful photographer named Evan Moodie, he offered to teach me a style of glamour lighting and had an amazing model Lynnzie Cherelle fly in for our shoot, and well ever since then it has been a super fast ride, with some wonderful people.

GlamModelz Magazine: Why Glamour /Beauty? What other genre’s and styles interest you? Sam Rambo: There is just something about lighting up a woman’s curves with creative lighting in a way that just makes people take a second look, and that’s what I enjoy doing. I mean sometime even I have to step back look at the image and just say wow, I created that? Well I have done a little this and that, but I keep coming back to edgy side of glamour, I think it’s just something I “get” and understand.

GlamModelz Magazine: What or who inspires you as a photographer? Sam Rambo: Inspiration is everywhere I look. Sometime I happen across a port that just wows me and I ask myself, how did they do that! Other times I look at stuff like my big gold reflector and think “how hot a model would look, with the right lighting in front of that!” So I call up one of my favorite models and tell them I have something I want to try…… and usually they are game to become part of my visions.

GlamModelz Magazine: What challenges do you face in this industry? What would you change about it, if you could? Sam Rambo: The biggest challenge I think most photographers face is the fact of making your work pay while still maintaining a sense of who you are. Another fact that I uses to face is, I was a man trying to shoot glamour. This is due to the fact that there a darker side of this industry. When you are starting off it’s not the easiest hurdle to over come, but like I say, treat the models as if they were your own daughter. If you keep a high level of standards about your shoots, then by the simple fact of word of mouth, your name will spread is this tight nit community!

GlamModelz Magazine: What is essential for you as a predominate studio glamour photographer, to capture your “best shot”? Sam Rambo: This is a very simple one to answer, a good open minded model! I believe that a model who is serious about what she is doing makes all the difference in the world! When I come across a good model, like Shaunna, from my shoot today, it makes my job ten times easier!

GlamModelz Magazine: Paid vs. TF* shoots – What are your views and preferences? Sam Rambo: Honestly I believe that both have there place! If a model wants me to create her vision, or wants me to recreate one of my old series of images then no doubt, it should be paid. If a model is there to create my vision, I’m open to the idea of a TF* shoot. TF* is a great way to get your port established or updated……..but lets face it, at the end of the day, I can’t going down to the local TF store pick up the rolls of paper, supplies, expensive equipment, pricey software and experience needed to produce these type of images.

GlamModelz Magazine: How would you best describe your personal style? Sam Rambo: This is one I can answer with a few words, edgy, sexy, classy, oh yeah and edgy! I like to create that image that makes peoples jaws drop, if I can pull off a image using nothing but a model and a simple paper backdrop, then make you take a second look, mission accomplished!

GlamModelz Magazine: What are your goals for your photography? Other goals? Sam Rambo: Well this where I state the obvious, I would love to end up doing paid shoots for a lot of the major magazines….. but with that being said, a better long term goal is to put out a book, a successful book, that is my life in photography, my visions, my art, and all the wonderful people I have shot. It would be nice to leave a little something behind that is 100% me.

GlamModelz Magazine: What type of person do you want to be know as? Sam Rambo: At the end of the day I want people to say, he was a good husband and dad, he was a fair and honest guy who had a true passion for everything he loved in life. Sam was Sam and it doesn’t get much better than that.

This is how I judge a successful shoot, if people walk away with a smile on there face, I did my job right! I try to be me, and I don’t change for anyone.

GlamModelz Magazine: What qualities should Models/MUA’s/Stylists, etc have to work with you? Sam Rambo: Ok this is one of my big things, I like to only work with people with good hearts, no divas allow through my door! For models I like them to be about creating cool edgy ideas, very open minded. For MUA’s/Stylists well I have been fortunate to work with some of the best here in the northwest! Honestly I think I love the good conversations and their creativity the best!

GlamModelz Magazine: Tell us about your biggest accomplishment to date or what makes you most proud. Sam Rambo: Some would say…I have done tons of things in both my photography life, and my day to day work life……but I would have to say it was serving my country in the US Air Force for 10 years. I’m one of those people who will never forget about all my brothers and sisters out there assuring we get a good nights sleep! All of the fine men and women who gave there lives so we have the choice to live ours how we want! Amen to them all!

GlamModelz Magazine: What advice do you have for new/amateur photographers who want to shoot glamour? Sam Rambo: Look for people who’s work you respect, talk to them, ask them how, when, why, heck offer to meet them for coffee, you will find that there are a lot of good people out there! Second, buy the right equipment once, don’t go for the cheapest lighting you can find, invest in your future! Third, get on some photography forums, get involved. Forth, keep your name clean, treat you models with respect! Fifth, network, network, network! Sixth and last, “the only rule in shooting is there is no rules”

GlamModelz Magazine: Any advice for models? Sam Rambo: First, 1 or 2 great images from a good photographer is worth more than 20 ok images from a average photographer. Second, invest in yourself, get a good MUA, get a good photographer, do what little travel you need to do, to shoot with the better people. Third, never get the “diva complex” that will shut the door on opportunities you never knew existed. Forth, do your home work, don’t judge a book by it’s cover, ask around find out what type of person that photographer is. Fifth, if it sounds to good to be true, more than likely it is. Treat your opportunities like you would when buying a home. do your research. Sixth and last, drive, you need the long term drive, if you think, just because you shot with someone great next week you will be famous, 99.99% of the time your wrong, the models that get ahead keep trying and going after it, your success depends on how much drive you have!

GlamModelz Magazine: In addition to photography, do you have other skills/interests/talents in which you excel? Sam Rambo: Well most people around me know that I’m sort of the jack of all trades, from remodeling my house, working on electronics, to tuning up my own car, I just do it, I figure it out and do it.

GlamModelz Magazine: What other interesting facts would you like GlamModelz readers to know about you? Sam Rambo: I truly believe we should never stop learning, I think if you stop pushing yourself to improve with your next shoot, you should just call it a day and throw in the towel. No matter what you are shooting, make the last set something different, something you have never done, push your limits!

GlamModelz Magazine: Where can we see more of your work? How can models who wish to shoot with you contact you? Sam Rambo: My Work is here : modelmayhem.com/samuelrambo www.samrambo.com or you can e-mail me directly: SLRPhotography1@gmail.com

GlamModelz Magazine: Thanks again, Sam , for taking time to share with our readers about your passion!

Best Regards
Dave
GlamModelz Magazine.