He began sharing his work as a hobby, but following features from Weather.com and Travel Nevada, he began pursuing his passion for photography professionally. Sam grew up in the small mountain town of Chester, California, where he spent his childhood roaming the forest and exploring Lassen National Park. He earned a B.S. in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Barbara, and attended the University of Washington for graduate work in Public Administration and Marine and Environmental Affairs. His lifelong personal and academic respect for wilderness is evident in his authentic depictions of people engaging with the outdoors. Through his growing social media presence, Sam has been able to work with a number of large outdoor gear and apparel companies.