Scott Soens, a photographer for Patagonia among others, has been a long time friend and is a talented cinematographer, photographer & director for the surf industry. In 2000, I met Scott Soens while surfing in San Diego and a few weeks ago we convinced him to finally come by our Los Angeles office to talk about a surf day. This Thursday, May 26th, we are looking forward to releasing a photostory of the beginning of California’s summer with the Apolis office, Scott and long time friend Will Adler.

Scott is a Jersey boy, who grew up, along with his two brother, in Avalon, a beach town on the Atlantic coast. He held down jobs as a busboy and surf shop employee among others and spent seven summers on the tower as a lifeguard. He spent his high school years in Philadelphia where he was enrolled in a charter school which offered the photography and film classes that would shape his career. Specifically he considers the advice and guidance of one teacher, Randy Granger, as paramount to his education and, eventually, his career choice. Scott headed south to the University of Miami where he continued playing water polo and taking photos, studying film and photography.

After college he began assisting professional photographers in earnest, an education which he considers to have been more useful than what he learned in college. As we’ve also learned, nothing compares to real world experience. On any given day of shooting he’s up by 5:45am, if not earlier, and is down on the beach. If he’s shooting surf he is in the water for 4 to 5 hours, until the conditions get too poor. His work ethic and incredible eye have had him sought after by quite a few high level people, and he’s always able to keep the mood light. It’s an important lesson, he says, that influences every aspect of his life.

He’s making plans to stay closer to home in California for a while and we’re not complaining. We’re looking forward to spending time with him and soaking up some sun this week.

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