I am so thankful for this career. It has always been my dream to be an artist. From a young age, I would make lists of my future career ideas, and "artist" was always on the list. After high school, I went on to study a variety of different subjects based on what would make good money. I was unsuccessful until I had a new outlook on my future. I decided that I would choose what I love. Even if I failed, at least I would be happy. At the age of 22, I began to pursue photography and graphic design. I ended up back in college chasing my dream. While in college, I had two means of income. I worked as a nightlife photographer and as a bartender. I never imagined that these two jobs would evolve into what I have today. I loved taking photos and entertaining people and both of these jobs simultaneously took off. My bartending job evolved into bar manager and photography became a consist source of income. While working both jobs, I also earned my bachelor's degree in studio art and an additional degree in graphic design. This gave me extra confidence to finally feel like a professional photographer.
I began to consider where else I could take these careers. Like most photographers, I started out by taking photos of everything. Year after year I eliminated the types of photography that I didn't love. When I started taking wedding photos it was clear to me that this was where I wanted to be. Between my experience with large groups of people, portrait photography & events, I knew this was my niche.
Fast forward to 2020 or the few months prior. Things were going great. I had worked as a wedding photographer for years, had more weddings booked than ever, and spent every weekend as a bar manager. I would photograph a wedding all day and then head downtown right after to manage the bar. Then here we go, all bars shut down, and weddings canceled. I was sad, frustrated, and at a loss but didn't want to lose time. That's how I felt at least, that for an unpredictable amount of time, my life and career would be at a standstill. So I said screw it and took a leap to open a mobile bar. It felt like the perfect combination of both of worlds and oddly enough the right time to make this next move.
It took two years, all my money and free time but I did it, I opened a mobile bar. All while continuing to book more weddings than I ever had as a photographer. It has not been easy but what makes it possible is how much love I have for both of these careers.
Today, I am a full-time wedding photographer and owner of a Maine mobile bar & catering company.
If you're looking for a Maine mobile bar for your wedding day, consider hiring my company. You should see the hours I spent designing this bar trailer, studying the market, reading book after book on crafting new cocktails, building my website, pre-planning my marketing, and obtaining a Maine state liquor license. I promise I will always work towards being the best I can be & I hope both of my companies reflect that.
If you're interested, take a peek at my new website www.bijoumobilebar.com or follow me on Instagram @bijoumobilebar. Also, make sure to follow my photography Instagram @sammnappi where I post my photography the most.
Thanks for reading and Happy New Year!
-Sam Nappi
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