Either way, Samu Plus You is the perfect mix of a little bit of me and a lot of YOU! I am equal parts photo documentarian and artist with an honest love for connecting with people and quietly capturing life as it unfolds. I believe we all have a story to tell and every story deserves special attention. I can’t wait to tell yours! (PLUS)
I began my career as a graphic artist after graduating from
the University of California at Davis with a bachelor of science in Visual Communications. Always passionate about people and photography, I left for Paraguay as a Peace Corps Volunteer where I worked with rural farmers and co-founded a youth photography project, “Ahecha Paraguay” ("I see" in the native Guarani language). My work in the Peace Corps helped me secure a position in Guatemala City deepening my passion for development work in the arts. After, I was accepted into a competitive Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows program and the Masters of Fine Art program at the University of Arizona. I served as an AmeriCorps Volunteer for two years mentoring youth in a local non-profit documentary arts program— Voices Inc. Community Stories, Past and Present. In May 2012, I received a Masters in Fine Art from the University of Arizona where I specialized in photography and video. I have an eclectic Polynesian soul that LOVES the water, which is why some of my favorite portrait sessions happen underwater. I am an active trail runner and CrossFit enthusiast—I