SBC Hive Spotlight Series: Lucas Sigurdson

In this month’s installment of SBC’s hive spotlight, we chatted with Photographer & Social Media Strategist, Lucas Sigurdson!  Lucas brings a ton of talent to the hive and has been able to share his passion for photography, and hopes to contribute more in 2021!  Please read on to learn more about his professional background and personal interests.

Tell us about your professional background. How long have you been in your line of work? What is your current role/position?

I have had a pretty diverse career path, full of twists and turns — from social media marketing, to food service, to banking, to who knows what’s next. Ha! That’s all part of the fun! I currently work for Signature Bank, N.A., in Sylvania. I spent 18 months as a Transaction Coordinator (essentially a Teller), but in November, I accepted a promotion. Working as an Electronic Banking Coordinator, I am able to assist our clients with virtually any troubleshooting associated with their online banking. I look forward to celebrating my 2-year anniversary with Signature this coming May.

What attracted you to joining the SBC network?

Definitely the opportunity to work closely with Emily (Rippe Desmond) once again. Emily approached me about SBC very early on in the launching process; we met at SIP for coffee, talked through some ideas and visions, and away it went. The SBC network is filled with such talented people; it’s been great to see the momentum growing. I look forward to seeing what the future has in store for SBC. I hope to be able to contribute on a more consistent basis in the coming months; 2020 ended up being quite the whirlwind year for me (and obviously for many of us!), and so I definitely overwhelmed myself between my full-time work schedule and my “side hustle” freelancing projects. Here’s to a much smoother — and much more enjoyable — 2021!

What inspires your photography?

Early on when I was first getting into photography, I was inspired by nature. I fell in love with our Metroparks — namely Oak Openings and Side Cut — and spent many hours walking the trails, multiple times each week. I couldn’t wait to get outdoors with my iPhone and capture the beauty that I saw. I eventually found my way to the conceptual side of photography — a drastic change from the idea of the “beautiful photograph” — through both portraiture and live music. I received my BFA in Digital & Photographic Art from the University of Toledo in May 2018. My thesis photographic work explored the ideas of lyric, sound, energy, and movement found in music.

What are some of your hobbies outside of photography?

Well, my first passion was actually music. My grandfather was a prominent musician around town from the early 1960s through the late 1990s.  From a very early age, I wanted to follow in his footsteps as a singer and guitarist. It was at Toledo School for the Arts where that passion really came to life — I started playing guitar in 7th grade, and haven’t stopped since. I am also very passionate about sports, traveling, reading, and politics. Oh, and craft beer. Ha! In a non-pandemic world, I am on the road heading somewhere just about every weekend. I love taking in live sporting events, I’m an avid concert-goer, and I’m always looking for a new brewery.

What is your favorite color, and why?

Blue, definitely blue. I love a deep navy blue — it’s so strong, so clean, and it looks good with just about anything.

Check out Lucas’s work portfolio here!