Hi, I’m Sam.

San Diego

is my hometown.

It’s the community that’s embraced me ever since my family immigrated to the United States from New Zealand when I was just three years old.

It’s the community that took a chance on me as I cut my teeth as a photojournalist.

My early assignments were covering communities for Voice of San Diego.

By 2016, I was flying aboard Hillary Clinton’s campaign jet, covering the historic election for The New York Times.

As everyone aboard that plane can tell you: life comes at you fast.

In 2018, I joined the staff

at my hometown paper,

The San Diego Union-Tribune

In 2019 and 2020, we produced an Emmy-award winning documentary about the campaign finance scandal that upended the political career and family dynasty of Congressman Duncan D. Hunter.

After the documentary was released, I took the helm of the newspaper’s photo and video staff, where I served as Director of Photography and Video before launching Uptown 11 Studios in 2024.

So, why Uptown 11?

Well, back when our neighborhood, Normal Heights, was originally developed, the number 11 trolley line is what connected residents by bringing them from downtown San Diego up to Adams Avenue.

In that spirit, we’re proud to connect San Diegans by helping local businesses and brands tell their own authentic stories.

What should the world know about you?

Are there people in your organization who go above and beyond to achieve your mission?

Have you seen your company’s impact truly change someone’s life in ways big or small?

Do you have a big event coming up that should be covered in a way that lets viewers feel like they were there themselves?

Tell us a bit about your story, and we’ll work together to plan the best way to bring it to life.