Ab Sesay: How an Aspiring Computer Scientist Became an Editorial Photographer

In this episode of Showing Off, Brian and Angie sit down with world-class photographer, creative director, and producer Ab Sesay for a lively conversation about creativity, career pivots, and building a life in the arts. Ab talks about his unexpected journey from studying computer science to becoming a professional photographer, sharing how picking up a camera in college completely changed his path. He reflects on learning photography on film, developing a love for portrait and street photography, and the mentors who helped shape his creative vision. The conversation is filled with hilarious stories and behind-the-scenes insights from Ab’s life and career—including photographing a chaotic family marriage proposal and documenting everyday life with a camera always in hand. If you’re interested in photography, creative careers, and the real journey behind artistic success, this episode is packed with inspiration and humor. This episode covers topic like: Handling rejection in the entertainment industry Building a creative career in photography Transitioning from computer science to art Learning photography on film cameras Street photography and portrait work Creative mentorship and artistic growth Funny behind-the-scenes stories from a working photographer Showing Off with Brian Newman & Angie Pontani is a backstage pass into the lives of musicians, performers, and creative professionals. Each episode explores the highs, the failures, and the real stories behind building a career in entertainment. Want to submit a question? Email us at [email protected]! FOLLOW THE PODCASTShowingOffPod.comYouTubeInstagramTikTokFacebook FOLLOW ANGIEAngiePontani.comInstagramTikTokFacebook FOLLOW BRIANBrianNewman.comYouTubeInstagramTikTokFacebook Credits Hosted by Brian Newman and Angie Pontani Produced by BASE Creatives, Scott Frederick, Ellis Frederick, and Samantha Fong Recorded at Brooklyn Podcasting Studios Sound Engineering by Josh Wilcox Production Coordination by Samantha Cunha Set Design by Steven Hammel Editing by Ricky Fernandez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices