Sam Hurd

Hello! I'm Sam. Welcome to my experimental lab.

The best thing about this platform is that when you join a tier you get instant access to everything ever posted in that tier - and everything new from that moment forward.

You have 2 tiers of access to choose from: 

Do you prefer to learn at your own pace w/ small bits of information distilled over the long term? If so, then go with:

1) The Epic Patron tier includes access to my entire back catalog plus future posts

Exclusive content. Behind the scenes photo deconstructions. Technique tutorials. Gear reviews. Business and marketing insights. Everything shared with detail and clarity.
Patron only forum. Have a question about lightroom workflow, gear, a technique, or marketing? This community will help you.
1:1 Productivity Group Calendar. Access to a patron group calendar to schedule distraction-free productivity via virtual co-working to help you get things done.
Group Photo Critiques. Submit to regular group photo critiques where I markup everything in your work from composition to expression and lighting.
A place to connect with other photographers. My patreon community has grown to 1000+ photographers who all want the same thing... to discover and understand unique ideas. 
Patron only discounts. Steep discounts from Pic-Time, Narrative Publish,  DVLOP presets, and The Legacy Lab.

Do you prefer structured & condensed information all at once? If so, then go with:

2) The Epic Workshop 2020 // Online tier includes 10 hours of video (w/ translated subtitles)

Workflow & file structure, creative renewal, editing, posing, advertising, business, SEO, blogging, social media, flash, style guides, CMS templates, print sales, marketing automation, I play/pause/explain through a pre-recorded live shoot.

Session 1 - All Things Business & Client Experience
Session 2 - All Things Technical
Session 3 - Shoot Prep // Composition // Lighting // Posing
Session 4 - All Things Branding
Session 5 - The Full Client Session BTS
Session 6 - All Things Workflow & Editing

Below, you can see the results of a recent poll of my current patrons. This should help give you a sense of the career state of many that support my content here:



Additionally, the patron forum is an active place to post your own content & questions to connect with fellow photographers. 

Sam's Patreon has singlehandedly been the best investment in my career.
- Steven Neaves

#3stepclick challenges.
What is the #3stepclick? It's a challenge I invented to promote photography using creativity and improvisation using whatever you have in your immediate surroundings.

It works like this:
1) I make a new post patreon announcing a #3stepclick challenge will be happening in the next 24 hours
2) Active patrons will be randomly messaged a notification to participate in the #3stepclick by taking a photo within 3 steps of wherever they're standing in that moment
3) Patrons upload the resulting photo to a special submission folder
4) I choose the top 10 finalists and the final winner is put to a vote for the winner.

I just finished binge reading/watching your entire Patreon library. To say I'm extremely inspired would be a gross understatement. I'm absolutely pumped for this upcoming wedding season.-Nikola Janev

The Epic Podcast
I have an ongoing podcast series called The Epic Podcast that covers broad topics of discussion between me and friend Nathan Mitchell Photography.
We post episodes every few weeks, but as we are both professional wedding photographers it can be difficult to dedicate the time required for research, editing, and recording new episodes in the wedding season. Support our effort and we can get more done without the need for many sponsor reads embedded in the shows.



Exclusive Lead Referrals
I don't work with associate photographers. My business is me alone and that often means I'm unavailable for most clients that inquire with me.  I've been looking for a way to send these leads to qualified photographers and I believe this to be the best way to do that. I will make the introduction between you and the inquiring wedding couple and hand the relationship off from there for you to book them as you normally would. This is a chance to grow your own business under your own name and on your own terms. Note - most inquiries are in the DC/MD/VA areas and a portfolio review for quality control will be done for a first time supporter.

What Sam is sharing is worth way more than what he charges. In fact, it's priceless. I've learned so much, explored my own creativity, and also laughed a lot. 
-Matt Bowens

Ethics Statement
I am not hired, (or feel in any way compelled) to mention any of the company's products that are found throughout my patreon feed. I am very proud to present my opinions from a totally independent perspective, and sharing information through my personal experience is the priority here.

A random collection of more patron reviews: