Sami Zekri: Trainer of the Canon Academy

My Canon Story

Born in 1977 in Tunis, Sami “Sam” Zekri’s love for photography began with his father’s Canon reflex camera, sparking a lifelong passion for visual storytelling. His journey has been as dynamic as his multicultural background, with fluency in Tunisian, Arabic, French, Italian, and English, and even four years of Japanese studies.

Although initially pursuing pharmacy in Senegal, Sam discovered his love for photography, which he cultivated alongside other creative endeavors like music. After a stint in Italy to earn an optician diploma and several years in corporate roles, including as a Key Account Manager for a Canon distributor, Sam made the bold decision to embrace photography as his career in 2016.

With an EOS 7D and a self-taught approach, Sam founded Polypus Prod in 2017, named for his insular heritage (Polypus means "octopus" in Latin). His professional growth has been fueled by his empathy, communication skills, and dedication to excellence. From small businesses to over 100 prominent companies, Sam's client list has grown alongside his network, allowing Polypus Prod to hire up to 10 freelancers per project.

Sam’s expertise and passion for learning led him to earn certificates in design thinking (2021), a Master’s degree in Management and Culture Politics from Dauphine University of Tunis (2023), and Canon accreditation for photography training (2024).

Today, Sam’s house doubles as his studio, enabling him to continue creating and mentoring. His photography career has also allowed him to travel extensively across Asia and Africa, volunteering and immersing himself in diverse cultures. As a dedicated Canon-certified trainer, he lives by the motto: “I will always try to give as much as I receive.”