Today we’d like to introduce you to Samuel Richmann.
Hi Samuel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I moved here from out of state, and I knew I didn’t stand much of a chance breaking into a creative market as someone young, new, and without a single connection. I understood early on that skill alone wasn’t going to open any doors. Relationships would. So instead of trying to compete my way in, I invited the top filmmakers and photographers in the area out to lunch. No agenda. No pitch. I just wanted to meet them, learn from them, and treat them like peers even before I had any proof I belonged at the table. That moment ended up becoming the unofficial start of the “Collective.”
From there, things unfolded naturally. I kept showing up with clarity, structure, and a deeper way of thinking about what creative work could actually accomplish for a brand. The early projects made something obvious. Most companies didn’t have a content problem. They had a translation problem. They had raw material, but no narrative architecture to hold it all together. I was already operating in the space between vision and execution, helping clients articulate what they believed and then turning that into something their audience could actually feel.
Lightbox Collective formed when I finally formalized that approach. Strategy first. Story next. Production as the tool, not the point. Once that system was in place, the client work followed.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. We started as a group of creatives in our twenties trying to build something real with almost no margin for error. There were months where keeping the lights on felt like an accomplishment in itself. We took on whatever work paid the bills, but underneath it we were filmmakers, directors, producers. We were trying to define who our ideal client actually was while saying yes to anything that kept the company alive.
Another challenge was the size and structure of the team in the early days. A lot of partners were involved, each talented, each ambitious, but all at different stages of life. Some were newly married. Some needed immediate income. Eventually many of them peeled off to pursue their own paths, not out of conflict but out of necessity. Lightbox wasn’t producing enough at the time to support everyone. What looked like loss ended up being the jumpstart the company needed. Too many voices in the room had created stagnation. Operations were slow. Decisions crawled. The company felt directionless.
When the dust settled, the structure became leaner, clearer, and more focused. That season forced me to define what Lightbox actually is, what we stand for, and who we serve. It was difficult, but it set the foundation for everything that came after.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Lightbox Collective is a creative agency at its core. Everything we do is built on the belief that brands don’t need more noise; they need clarity, direction, and story with purpose. Our work starts long before a camera turns on. We run deep-dive Immersion Sessions that break a brand open, define its identity, understand its audience, and build a clear narrative framework. That strategic groundwork drives every decision that follows.
From there, we move into content and production. We build commercials, brand films, long-form storytelling, and full content systems designed to create momentum, not just assets. We specialize in translating a brand’s vision into something people can actually feel and understand.
Lightbox is also a creative rental studio, and state of the art podcasting studio. Our studio is fully equipped and available for rental, giving creators, founders, and companies a space to record a professional-level show without needing a production team of their own. It’s become a hub for people who want to use their voice, build a platform, or create consistent content!
What sets us apart is the way strategy and execution operate together. We don’t treat strategy as an add-on. It’s the foundation. When you enter a project with clarity, the creative becomes sharper, the messaging becomes stronger, and the brand becomes unified. That combination is what I’m most proud of.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I grew up with ADHD and dyslexia, so reading and anything “traditional learning” was tough. Books, podcasts, even audiobooks took a lot out of me. For a long time it felt like a disadvantage. Once I learned how to turn that into my superpower, everything shifted. I finally made it through books that became foundational for me. Never Split the Difference, Profit First, and anything from Tolkien shaped how I think, how I negotiate, how I build systems, and how I approach story. Those early challenges ended up shaping the way I work and how Lightbox operates today.
Pricing:
- Podcast rental time starts at $149
- Immersion sessions range from $2500-$5000
- Commercials, ads etc are completely custom
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lightboxcollective.co www.lightboxcollective.co/podcast
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightboxcollective
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightboxcollective
- Other: https://www.lightboxmissions.co
