If you haven't heard of Spencer Smith, you should scold yourself. He's a talented photographer and has had his work featured on the cover of every wake magazine out there (wait, that's like, two, WakeboardingMag and Alliance). But nonetheless, his photos tell it all. Check out the interview below and make sure you clue yourself in with who he is and what he does at: http://blog.sgsphotography.com/

Well...let's begin with a little intro:

Who are you?

Spencer G. Smith

Can I have your middle name please?

Graham

Where ya from?

Loomis, CA (Just outside of Sacramento)

Where ya living?

I'm splitting the year between Orlando and Sacramento. It's the best way for me to work in this industry.

Have you always been into photography?

No, actually it hit me right after I graduated high school.

What is your weapon of choice in the photography realm?

Nikon 100%. Live by the Nikon, Die by the Nikon.

How did you end up getting into wake photography?

I had a couple of close friends who knew a few people in the industry (Al Gartamaker&Danny; Turner). I went out in the boat with them and a couple riders a few times just to see these guys ride. I brought my Mother's point and shoot camera out with me to take some photos of the action. I thought the photos were really cool and decided to dig a little deeper in photography. I purchased a semi-professional camera and just kept with it. That led me to new people; people who actually made seeing my photos in the magazines a reality.

Now that you're recognized for your talent, it seems like you get to travel a bit. Where are some of the raddest places you've been?

Yeah, this past summer was really my first summer traveling. I totaled up all of the miles and it turned out to be more than 120,000 miles. As weird as it may sound, I like the traveling part sometimes more than the destination, haha. The coolest place I have been is to the Philippines. I visited the Camsur Watersports Complex for a week. Absolute awesome set up and a great place to relax and experience a different way of life.

What was your biggest accomplishment/payback in photography yet?

Getting my first two covers in the same month with two different publications. It had been something I have been working towards for a while. To finally see something I had visualized in my head translated to a cover of a magazine was unreal.

What would be your perfect/dream shot?

Well, I guess I don't really have a dream shot in mind but there are certain conditions that would make a dream shot for me. Glassy water, clear skies, and an evening sun would make a shot look great.

What rider do you think you have dialed to shoot well?

Honestly, it's not just one rider, it's all. I pay a lot of attention to one's style. I basically study my subjects as weird as that sounds. That way when I shoot with them I know somewhat to expect. An example of this would be a rider grabbing a trick late or early. By knowing their riding style I can base my decisions off of them.

What is your biggest issue/challenge in photography?

Keeping up with all of this expensive equipment! Haha. Actually, it's always challenging for me, if it wasn't I probably wouldn't be doing it. I love the challenge of trying to make a shot look unique.

Any advice for a weekend warrior that wants to snap some photos of their buds?

Trial and error. In this digital era it's so easy to change settings and see instantly how it affects the shot. Mess around with your settings, see what does what. Eventually you'll get better and know more about the different variables that are present when shooting.

Do you dabble in photography outside of wakeboarding?

Not too much. I've been into aviation my whole life, so I have been shooting some air-to-air photos of other aircraft on the side. It presents a new challenge to me that I enjoy.

Where can we look for you photos in 2009? Any special trips or events?

I'll be doing a lot of work this summer with Wakeboard Mag, Alliance Wakeboard Magazine,&SBC; Wakeboard Magazine. I'll be all over covering some cool events and new areas.

At the Acworth PWT stop you are basically a legend (and many other places as well). Do you believe your "legend" status can be attributed to your parking lot parties?

Haha. The parking lot parties have been great, usually a high lite for me every year in Atlanta. I don't know if I've been doing them long enough to be a legend! Haha.

To close it out, what would you like people to recognize your shots for?

Everyone will perceive my shots in there own way, I'm just happy to be recognized! Haha.

Any other points you need to tell that I didn't cover?

Not really, but I would like to thank all of the people out there who buy/subscribe to any wakeboard related publication. It allows me to do what I love for a living. It's also an honor to be able to share my vision with all of the readers out there.