Today we’d like to introduce you to Samuel Cloward.
Hi Samuel, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Welcome to Sam José! is a vlog series showcasing the world through the lens of a happily married gay couple living and loving life in the heart of Central Florida. José and I first met when we both worked in different departments at Universal Orlando but our relationship didn’t start there. Both José and I were in relationships with other people.
A year later, after both of our relationships had crashed and burned, we reconnected again online during Hurricane Matthew in 2016. We decided to meet up to swap relationship war stories after the hurricane curfew was lifted and have been inseparable ever since.
In 2018, we started our YouTube channel, Welcome to Sam José! to showcase our relationship and promote the idea that loving couples should feel comfortable getting out and enjoying the world together. I also used this channel as a guise to be able to film me proposing to José, a project I started about a month after we began dating. I knew he was the one from day one. I took these clips from over two years and edited them together. I presented this video to José when I proposed and it can now be found on our channel.
At the beginning of 2021, we started our own photography and videography business under the name J. Cabranes Photography. This would be the framework that we could promote our channel under, our growing expertise in the fields of video creation, photography, and travel. We’re working to develop and expand this business over time. I’m also a writer and have independently published two books and am working on my third.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Our relationship has always been a pretty smooth road but the world has gotten crazy around us at times. Starting a business is a lot of work so much of the bumps that we experience are coming from that process. Photography is competitive so we’re working on creating a niche of our own that will stand out once we get all the pieces in place. We’re using the Welcome to Sam José! Channel as our brand to help promote our business, José’s photography, and my writing.
The strength of our relationship was solidified when we worked together at Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards for close to 2 1/2 years. José was hired first and I was hired on as his manager more than a year later. We used to oversee all their festivals and events up until we decided to start our own business. We loved working together during this time and found that we can accomplish amazing things when we’re together.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Welcome to Sam José! is a channel to promote the beauty of the human experience and the importance of exploring the world around you with the people you love. We showcase Florida living and experiences in our backyard, from tourist attractions to cultural experiences like museums and more.
Additionally, we’re out to show the world what a happily married gay couple can look like in an ever-changing and dynamic world. The LGBTQ+ community is our community. Currently, we specialize in photography and video creation. We believe our niche is that we capture the world in a more candid and accessible way than many other photography studios. In a time where everyone is looking at the world through filters, we want to illustrate the point that the world and its people are beautiful on their own. Our long-term life goal is to create a small media empire of our own based on our own creative stories and processes. We’re extremely proud of the steps we’ve been taking to create a foundation for us to do that on.
What were you like growing up?
José and I had much different upbringings. Sam – I was born in Salt Lake City and am one of the illusive gay Mormons you hear about. (I’m no longer connected to the church). I’ve always been a creative soul with regard to storytelling in all its forms. I performed in regional theatre in both Utah and in Texas after my family moved there prior to my high school years. My time in Texas helped shape much of who I am today. I went from being bullied as a kid in Salt Lake (kids would chase me home from school poking me with sticks and such) to being my senior class president. I don’t know how that happened. I wrote for my high school paper, did regional theater, and upon graduating high school, moved to Florida to work for Disney.
José – José was born in Puerto Rico and his family moved here when he was still young. After having challenges at home when he was younger, he moved out on his own when he was 17 and created a life that was his own. José has always loved photography, but it was only in the past several years that he’s been able to really focus on developing his skills and style. Even through his hardships, José has always been one to show compassion to others in need and been an advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Contact Info:
- Email: jose@jcabranesphotography.com;
- Website: https://www.welcometosamjose.com; https://www.jcabranesphotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/welcometosamjose/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/welcometosamjose
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/welcometosamjose
