Hi Samantha, welcome to the Lepelclub journal! We are so excited to have you here! Let’s start stirring! Could you tell us a little more about yourself?
Hiiii! Thank you so much for having me! I am a Capricorn who never stops taking pictures. I work on all things creative for Summer Fridays: concepting, shoots, art direction, producing, OOH, product naming, campaigns, events, you name it! –– i’ve worn just about every hat under the sun. Fun fact: I am the first employee, heading into my 7th year with the company in 2025.

Where do you grow up and where are you based now? How does your location influence your work?
I grew up in Georgia –– visited Los Angeles after I graduated college at UGA, cancelled my return flight home, and I have been here in LA ever since (almost 13 years)! I do spend a lot of time back and forth home to the east coast and to visit my sister in NYC (I miss the cold weather and coat seasons,desperately!)

How do you like to start your mornings?
In a dream morning –– I go for a 30+ minute walk around my neighborhood, listen to a podcast, and grab an iced coffee before meetings start. I love to sneak in a class at Hot Pilates when I can, it’s truly the best way to start the day. The playlists are elite.

What does an average day at work look like for you?
I’ll tell you about a day on set –– I am usually the first to arrive on location with my team, as I produce all of our shoots. Check in, pin up the mood boards, organize the shot list/inspo, grab a coffee, say hi to the talent, approve model looks, outline goals for the day + then get right into it! Bringing a concept to life is my absolute favorite and best part of my job. It’s really amazing to see our team make magic! (s/o to the best team in the world) Once we wrap, and load out is complete, I head home, pick up something “fun” for dinner (like Din Tai Fung) and then review all of the BTS from the day.

What’s your favorite flavor Lip Butter Balm?
Iced Coffee !!! It’s the perfect subtle color and tastes like absolute heaven (not too sweet). There is also something so special about Birthday Cake, I love the light pink sheerness, and subtle, sparkly, shine it leaves! If you haven’t tried Lip Butter Balm yet –– run!

What does being a Creative entail?
Where do you derive your inspiration from? Being creative has always been a part of me. When I was little I was always setting up “shoots” with my sister, taking photos of mini Sephora hauls spilling out of a tiny purse, “redesigning billboards” from the backseat of the car as we drove around my hometown. Being innovative is always most important but I find inspiration in everything –– fashion, nature, history, especially when traveling, or trying something new. Sometimes it comes from the place where you least expect, and that's when the magic happens!

How do you plan on stirring things up in the future?
Shooting for the stars and beyond in 2025! And our favorite question to ask, how do you take your coffee? An iced coffee with cold foam or cream, a splash of vanilla + a sprinkle of cinnamon (if it’s seasonal, I love to add a tiny bit of extra flavor like gingerbread or peppermint mocha) x