Ask a New Yorker: How was your day and what’s going on?
Marc: I had a wonderful day. I started off the day with a couple from England.
I met them for three hours. We had a fabulous tour. I took them around through
Time Square, Central Park, Grand Central, and the Brooklyn Bridge. I always
think it’s important to show people the neighborhoods in New York so I
also shared with them Soho and Greenwich Village areas, specifically the West
Village which is a favorite of mine. The Village has a lot of restaurants, live
music venues. I always notice people’s eyes light up round the West Village…
Ask a New Yorker: Woah, woah, woah…I’m loving the tours and we’ll
talk more about them but in the meantime who is Marc Samuels?
Marc: I’m a native New Yorker born right here at NYU Medical Center which
is over on 34th Street and 1rst Ave. I lived on the Lower East side until I
was five. Then we moved up to the Bronx which were my more formative years,
the North Bronx, Co-op City. I’ve always really had a passion about New
York City. Even as a kid I loved showing people around. I probably got a camera
as a gift for my sixteenth birthday. I love taking photos. Even when I was younger
I would always take a lot of pictures at birthday parties, everywhere. I was
always the one giving photos to people. Let’s fast forward a little bit.
In more recent times I got this idea of starting a business where I thought
it would be nice to capture people in New York City as a personal photographer
tour guide. So that’s what I did.
Ask a New Yorker: Very entrepreneurial…..
Marc: Well I was always encouraged by my family to pursue my dreams. My parents
always encouraged me to do the things I love to do. My cousin Scott was very
helpful in building my website. He took a lot of his personal time to help me.
Once my business was going for a couple of years my parents, specifically my
father and my sister Kari were instrumental in helping me take my business to
the next level marketing-wise. At times it wasn’t always easy starting
my own business. There was a time in 1989 I started an import export business
where I tried to mostly export used jeans to Europe after the Berlin Wall went
down to Eastern Europe. I didn’t really go very well. However I’ve
always had that entrepreneurial spirit and kept it alive. In about 2003 I started
my business PhotoTrek Tours. I thought it would be great to be a personal photographer
for people coming to New York while offering them a private tour. I would capture
them around New York City with New York City landmarks as the back drops; Central
Park, Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central Station, Soho, Greenwich Village area,
and supply them with a CD. They always loved it, and so did I. It’s the
greatest feeling being able to give people lieftime memories and help make their
trip here so special.
Ask a New Yorker: With Police officers?
Marc: When I can! I can’t promise a police officer but it is a big deal
for people to have New York police officers in photos. I will sometimes be able
to do that. It’s not a promise.
Ask a New Yorker: We’re on a roll…
Marc: All tours are private, often couples, but sometimes families or groups
of friends. Again the photos I capture are clearly in front of New York City
Landmarks.
Ask a New Yorker: Top of the Empire State Building?
Marc: No I don’t go to the top of the Empire State building. Your time
with me is spent walking around New York City. There are two places that you’re
almost guaranteed to have long lines. One is waiting to go up The Empire State
Building and the other is waiting to go over to the Statue of Liberty. While
I won’t take you to those places I will definitely direct you there. You
will have much better knowledge about how to get those places.
Ask a New Yorker: New York can be a little intimidating. How do you help a visitor
get acclimated?
Marc: Showing people how to navigate the subway system,is really helpful. I
break it down for them and show them how to get around the subways and how easy
it can be. I think this helps make for a better trip because often people are
intimidated by the subway. They’ll say: A. I won’t go on it. Or
B. We’ll take cabs everywhere. I show them how easy it is, so by the end
of my tour they’re very well versed. They know how to get around and I
find that to be very important. It’s funny, they always write about that
in the reviews.
Ask a New Yorker: I love your vibe. You’re a quintessential New Yorker
Marc. Where shall we go from here?
Marc: I’m very blessed. I have a wonderful wife, Joanna and a beautiful
daughter Maya. My wife has been very supportive of my business. She’s
been there virtually from the beginning and she understands my passion for New
York City and photography. She was always very supportive. You need to have
a support network to do what you do and I’m very fortunate to have a great
family.
Ask a New Yorker: Mets or Yankee fan?
Marc: Mets, grew up in the Bronx, however a Tom Seaver fan, thus, the Mets.
Ask a New Yorker: If I have my facts right Co-op
City is the largest cooperative housing development in the world. What was
it living there as a kid? Can you give us some childhood memories?
Marc: Co-op
City was a wonderful place to grow up. I was just having a conversation
last night with a friend of my sister (not Kari, another sister) who is staying
with her for a week. We were talking about the lifelong memories and lasting
friendships. Basically you had hundreds of potential friends who were your classmates.
You would go outside, feel safe, play ball, explore, etc. There were many laughs
and a many memories. There is actually a co-op city blog where people share
their memories so don’t just take my word. It was a great place to grow up.
Ask a New Yorker: So what will be the first words from your daughter? Let me
guess…PhotoTrek?
Marc: Correct.
