We recently had the chance to connect with SAMANTHA Pestiano and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning SAMANTHA, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Outside of photography and working with animals, something that’s been bringing me a lot of joy lately is the Miata my boyfriend surprised me with. I’ve wanted another one for a long time, and finally having one again has been such a fun experience. It’s an easy car to fall in love with, and I’m really excited to start working on it and making it my own.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Samantha, and I’m a photographer specializing in automotive and motorsports media. I’ve been shooting for about ten years, starting in weddings before finding my passion in the car world, where I get to capture motion, personality, and the energy that makes this community so unique. Over the years I’ve focused on drifting, track events, and creative automotive storytelling. Lately, I’ve also been expanding into short-form video and more experimental media projects, always looking for new ways to bring cars and their stories to life.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that has most shaped how I see myself is the one I have with my mom. She’s always been the person who pushed me to be independent, creative, and confident in what I do. Watching how she handled life, her work ethic, her resilience, and the way she supports the people she loves has set the standard for the kind of person I want to be. A lot of who I am today, especially in how I approach my work and challenges, comes from her influence.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self that she can do it! She is stronger than she realizes. Other people’s opinions don’t define her or her future, and they can’t stop her from becoming who she wants to be. She’s a woman, she’s powerful, and she deserves to trust that power.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
For the most part, the public version of me is the real me. I think the only thing I hide well is my social anxiety, but everything else is genuinely who I am. The opinionated, caring, funny, witty, and sometimes downright silly person people see online is the same person you get in real life. I try to show up authentically wherever I am, and I think that honesty is a big part of what keeps me grounded.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace at a drift event right before everything officially begins. I’ll make sure to share a photo that represents this feeling, because it’s truly special. There’s this calm-before-the-storm moment during practice runs when the air starts to fill with tire smoke, the crowds haven’t arrived yet, and the sunrise spills over the hills. I’m there doing some early shooting, and everything feels quiet, warm, and grounding. It’s one of the few places where I feel completely calm and completely myself.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Samsmodernlife
