Sam Youkilis

Sam Youkilis (born in 1993) is an American photographer and filmmaker. Known for his work with iPhone photography and video, particularly on Instagram, his work has been described as "a generous indexing of everyday life". Youkilis's photography captures everyday moments and universal human behaviors, with a strong focus on food and cultural traditions, predominantly in Europe, particularly Italy.

Early life and education Youkilis was born in New York City in 1993. Raised in Lower Manhattan, his father owned two restaurants while he was growing up, and he worked in them during his adolescent years. He began taking pictures as a teenager after receiving 35mm SLR camera as a gift, carrying it everywhere and capturing scenes like subway graffiti with his friends. He studied photography at Bard College under the tutelage of Stephen Shore. His short, vertical videos showcase various cultural practices, such as mochi-making in Nara, Japan and olive oil harvesting in Umbria, Italy as well as everyday scenes like the stray cats of Greece. Youkilis experienced a significant advancement in his work with the introduction of Instagram's vertical "stories" format. This format, ideal for creating "micro-videos," allowed him to capture small fragments of reality that blur the line between still and moving images. He has over 900,000 followers as of April 2026. Aperture Magazine credits him as one of the first artists to develop a visual language uniquely suited to this new medium, He is drawn to shooting the generation of Italians that he believes embodies a disappearing way of life, and has acknowledged an "obsession" with Italian food, traditions, and people, stating that much of his work is a genuine expression of appreciation for these aspects of the country. Somewhere loosely follows the arc of a day around the world, starting with dawn breaking in Mexico City, and ending with the last light in Essaouira, Morocco. The book includes essays written by David Campany, Matt Goulding, and Lou Stoppard. According to Youkilis, the title reflects the ambiguity of place in his work, which captures the world's uniqueness across borders. The Face described the photo book as being "broken down into themed chapters that read like a mixtape of the Mediterranean lifestyle’s greatest hits". Wallpaper* characterized it as a "visual exploration of the world" and noted Youkilis' attention to composition, color, chiaroscuro, and framing as "speaking to his deep affinity for the photographic medium, elevating his work beyond mere snapshots".

Personal life As of November 2023, Youkilis was based between New York and Italy, where he owns a home in a village in Umbria.

Publications