Meet Max Sassaman | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Max Sassaman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Max, why did you pursue a creative career?
I pursued an artistic career, frankly, because it speaks to my soul. I am a firm believer that everyone has artistic tendencies – it is just a matter of getting in tune with them. Whether it’s photography, music, filmmaking, pottery, painting, glass work, culinary arts, etc. there are so many outlets for an individual’s creative intuition to be revealed.

I began my journey on to a creative path my sophomore year of college when I switched my major to journalism and media production after starting my freshman year off as a pre-med student. Coming out of high school I was not entirely sure what I wanted to do but medicine seemed like the right thing at the time. However, as time passed and life happened, I did not feel connected to the work and sought after subject matter that better aligned with my hidden yet intrinsic desire to express myself. This transition worried me some but after a month or so into my new major, I knew I had made the right decision.

I found a love for telling stories whether it be in written or visual form. I was in the print journalism group of students and found an interest in writing stories that involved connecting with people or the community, at large. Although writing has always been a creative outlet for me, I began developing an interest for photography in my free time.

Ever since picking up my first camera roughly eight years ago, I knew this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. A lot of people in this field preach that being a specialist is the way to go where I have always preferred being a generalist because it keeps the creative possibilities open. An artistic pursuit such as photography has kept me fulfilled because art, in general, is never finished. As an artist, I don’t believe there is a point in time where I would say “I have completed all that is possible” but rather “how can I make this more interesting or build on my previous skills and inspirations”. Someone may say that there are rules or limits within photography but I don’t necessarily subscribe to that. Sure, there are some techniques that work better for certain situations but, ultimately, photography is limitless and for that, I am constantly striving to create new work that speaks to myself and hopefully larger audiences.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art revolves primarily around photography although I do some videography and writing, as well. My photographic journey has changed and evolved a lot over the years. At this point, I have shot landscapes, portraits, sports, architecture/real estate, events, and lifestyle concepts.

I have worn plenty of hats within this field such as production assistant, lead photographer, creative assistant, videographer and more.

Working with different genres helps my brain adapt to different situations whether that is in a technical or conceptual sense. Each subject requires its own planning and creative process to yield the best results.

It has been a very long, arduous, yet incredibly fulfilling path. Like with anything, learning and developing photographic instincts and skills takes lots of time and there is still so much to learn. To me, the most difficult part of this process is learning to truly trust yourself and your capabilities. Nothing comes overnight and it is critical to put in the work and trust that, through effort and consistency, the right opportunities will come.

A very understated part of this career, at least to me early on, is the ability to network. A photographer’s skills could be the best there are but if he/she does not know how to get in the right rooms with the right people, jobs and future opportunities will be difficult to come by. This is still something I am still trying to improve on because putting myself out there and advocating/”bragging” for myself does not come natural but it is imperative.

When it is all said and done, I want the world to know me as a versatile creative mind who used his skills and inspirations to tell stories and find true purpose through visual expression.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Being a Colorado native, I have an inclination to go to the mountains where there are plenty of outdoor vistas to admire and hikes to do. If it worked out time-wise I would want to show them the southwest part of Colorado that is home to places like Ridgway, Telluride, Silverton, and Ouray. These are some of the most beautiful areas in the entire country, in my biased opinion. I’d also like to give Crested Butte, Estes Park, and Breckenridge honorable mentions.

Getting back to more of the city of Denver itself, I would likely take this person to a sporting event – preferably a Nuggets or Broncos game. Denver has 4 major sports teams and each has a unique atmosphere to immerse yourself in. Or, if a more relaxing day was desired, I would recommend the Santa Fe arts district which has plenty of galleries to see or checking out one of Denver’s major parks like Washington Park or City Park – both have nice open walkways and free spaces if volleyball, picnics, cornhole, or various yard games float your boat.

Colorado is also home to the coolest concert venue in the country, Red Rocks Amphitheater. Located in Morrison, CO, this is an accessible attraction and is not too far from downtown. Catching a concert here or getting a workout in on the stairs during the morning are always 10/10 experiences.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are plenty of people I’d like to thank for this portion of interview. First, Dr. Deanna Zarei for nominating me to be a part of Shoutout Colorado and this incredible group of entrepreneurs and dream-chasers.

Secondly, my family has always been a tremendous source of support. This path I have chosen is not clear cut or easy to navigate at times and their patience and encouragement make me feel much better about my choice to pursue artistic endeavors. There are plenty of times where I have contemplated pivoting away from being a photographer but they ground me. Whenever I need a pep-talk, they are always there with a listening ear and perspective that benefits me in the short and long term scheme of things.

Lastly, I truly appreciate all of those that may support my work from afar – whether that is distant family, friends, other creatives, or people I may have only had a few interactions with. I think supportive energy and cheering for people to succeed can be felt from all over. So to those other folks, thank you!

Website: https://www.maxsassaman.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mxsssmn/

Image Credits
All images taken by Max Sassaman – maxsassaman.com