Shine Media

Recently I met Sam on Instagram, we connected because of our mutual goal to empower women. Sam is a creative soul that loves to work with women who have dreams that make their heart sing. She’s the owner of Shine Media, a digital design agency, based in Capetown. She helps ambitious women to present the best version of their ideas to the world. Women who are inspired and talented but feel overwhelmed and stuck. You should really check out her visual identities and her photography.

Tell Us About Yourself?

I live on the tip of Africa in Cape Town. I studied History of Art at University and love creativity and visual images. My passion is photography. I love to travel (I’m currently writing this in Vietnam) cats and being in nature. I love second hand book shops, vintage children’s books and getting lost reading.

I’m Pisces and that makes me compassionate, sensitive, prone to nostalgia, melancholy and daydreaming. I admire people who are very courageous and challenge themselves.

In another life I would like to be a Zen Buddhist monk, a professional footballer, a famous social documentary photographer and (just for one day) a Victoria Secret runway model ha ha. ☺

What Do You Do for Work?

I have a digital design studio with my husband and a pop up brand called Shine Media that works exclusively with women entrepreneurs. I do digital design and writing and photography and help women present the best version of their ideas to the world.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

There isn’t one monumental thing. I guess I have 100% record of getting through the hardest days of my life, so probably that.

What are you Most Proud Of?

I wish I felt proud of myself more often, but if I think about it:

1. Becoming (and sticking to) being vegan when I was addicted to cheese. ☺

2. Starting a life in a new country with nothing.

3. Travelling by myself for the first time – to India!!

4. Being in a TV commercial whilst suffering from and hiding a terrible rash on my body.

5. Surviving in and then quitting a toxic, corporate job.

6. Paying my own way in life.

What Do you Regret Most?

Not feeling the fear and doing it anyway.

If You Had a Warning Label, What Would It Be?

Prone to moodiness. Keep well fed!

What’s the Biggest Risk You’ve Ever Taken?

Hmm, that’s a tough one. Moving several times to new countries and cities and starting over from scratch probably. And bizarrely to some, recently getting married!

What’s on your nightstand?

The books I’m reading, framed photographs of my parents, a scented candle I fell in love with in San Francisco (Honey Tobacco) meaningful objects such as crystals, a hand made glass angel from my mother, an antique rose quartz mala (necklace) from Turkey and love letters.

If you could tweet something to your younger self, what would you say?

It goes by fast. Don’t drift through life. Savour it, be kind, be present, because this isn’t going to happen again.