Conversations with Samson Tran

Today we’d like to introduce you to Samson Tran.

Hi Samson, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I have always been doing photography as a hobby. I shot everything from concerts to family events and portraits. One day I realized I’d never done product photography, so as a challenge, I started an Instagram account and started doing product photography of things I use daily. This was my start in the EDC (everyday carry) community.

I started to gain traction pretty quickly to the point where people wanted to work with me and hire me to shoot their campaigns. Fast forward a couple of years and what started as a hobby evolved exponentially to the point where it is now my full-time job and I can support my family with it.

Never in my wildest dreams had I thought this is where life would take me – but I wouldn’t have it any other way now.

Alright, 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?
Everything comes with pros and cons. I have always been in an employer-employee relationship for my entire working career, so this being the first time being self-employed comes with a whole truckload of challenges that are completely new to me.

The mindset of my work is directly related to my income is scary! It took a while to get used to that and to the thought of the possibility that it could be over any day. But at the same time, it motivates me to give it my absolute all.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a professional photographer and videographer, mainly focused on product photography in the everyday carry world. Whether it’s watches, wallets, pocket knives, jewelry, or other tools to help you get through the day, chances are they have been in front of my lens.

My specialty is knives in all their variety. I am a huge fan and collector of pocket knives myself, so to highlight them and showcase all the minute details and hard work that goes into this tool brings me joy.

I’d say I am known for the creative spin I put on traditional product photography. I’ll create surreal worlds and compositions, make things fly, and put them in scenes and environments that would otherwise only exist in your imagination.

This is what separates me from classical, more commercial product photography and helped me gain an audience.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and are any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
There is a German phrase that loosely translates to “The world is a village“, which means that as big and scary as the world may seem, in the end, we’re all closer together than we think.

During the Covid crisis, I have been forced to work from home, but that has also shown me that it’s super easy to reach out to someone at the other end of the world and have a (virtual) face-to-face conversation for an hour. I have connected with so many people, brands, and companies all over the world, from the comfort of my living room.

It’s amazing to think about it and to see the possibilities we have at our fingertips.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ravenartworx.com
• Instagram: @raven_the_pirate