BEHIND THE
ARCHIVE.
SAM CHICCINO.
BUILT FROM AN IDEA AND A CAMERA.
I'm Sam Chiccino, founder and creative director of Bad Archive, an independent video production and photography studio based in Rochester, New York.
What started as an idea and a camera has grown into something much bigger than I originally imagined. Bad Archive was built out of my passion for creating, documenting, and bringing ideas to life through visual storytelling.
My work is rooted in cinematography and photography, with a focus on creating imagery that feels intentional, distinctive, and authentic. Whether I'm behind the camera, developing a concept, or working through the final stages of a project, I approach every production with the same goal: to create something that has its own identity.
I've always wanted to build something of my own. Bad Archive gives me the freedom to explore different creative disciplines without limiting myself to one medium or style. It's a place where filmmaking, photography, design, and physical production can exist together under one name.
From the initial idea to the finished product, I take a hands-on approach to the creative process. Every detail matters, and I believe the strongest work comes from having the freedom to experiment, take risks, and create without unnecessary limitations.
MORE THAN A
PRODUCTION STUDIO.
Bad Archive exists at the intersection of film, photography, clothing, and design.
While video production and photography are at the core of the studio, the brand extends beyond the camera. Through original clothing, screen printing, and other creative projects, Bad Archive has become an outlet for turning ideas into something tangible.
The name represents an ongoing collection of everything we create. Every film, photograph, garment, and project becomes part of the archive.
Rather than separating these creative disciplines, Bad Archive brings them together under one identity, allowing each project to influence the next.
THE STUDIO.
Bad Archive operates out of a 1,600-square-foot creative studio built to support the entire creative process.
The space brings together video production, photography, design, and in-house printing under one roof. It's where concepts are developed, productions take shape, and ideas become finished work.
More than just a place to shoot, the studio is the physical home of Bad Archive—a space dedicated to creating, experimenting, and continuing to build something independent.