my BLOG

Samantha Kelly 9/28/15 Samantha Kelly 9/28/15

film with sam (part 1: the layton family)

The two biggest goals of the FILM WITH SAM workshop are to show people how to shoot film with consistent success and to be able to push yourself outside your own "imagery comfort zone" and find ways to be more intentional and creative in your shooting. The fact that we work with family models, right from the get-go, is important because I believe if you can shoot film with kids, then you can shoot film with anyone.

For almost all the workshop attendees, this was their very first time shooting film. Ever. And I could NOT be more proud of these images. Not only was everyone able to transition incredibly well to a whole new medium, but they took huge leaps outside their own, personal comfort zones with every single frame. These guys totally and completely blew me away. Film will set you free!

See images from the workshop's outdoor family shoot HERE.

Read what attendees are saying about their FILM WITH SAM experience HERE.

Ready to take your work to the next level? Get all the information about the workshop HERE and sign up for April's workshop HERE.

(All images shot at the FILM WITH SAM workshop developed and scanned by Alpine Film Lab.)

Samantha Kelly 9/28/15 Samantha Kelly 9/28/15

film with sam (part 2: the smith family)

This was our second and final shoot at the workshop. I honestly shot just over 20 frames because I didn't want to take any time away from my amazing friends who were SO confidently working their own magic with our amazing model family.

During this shoot, not only was everyone metering and shooting like total pros, but they were also branching out and experimenting with the huge range of amazing cameras supplied by the guys at Alpine Film Lab. Getting to play around with such fun and unique cameras (for free!) was a huge added bonus for everyone! Thanks again, Alpine!

See images from the workshop's indoor studio family shoot HERE.

Read what attendees are saying about their FILM WITH SAM experience HERE.

Ready to take your work to the next level? Get all the information about the workshop HERE and sign up for April's workshop HERE.

(All images shot at the FILM WITH SAM workshop developed and scanned by Alpine Film Lab.)

Samantha Kelly 9/22/15 Samantha Kelly 9/22/15

our greatest adventure

"You are my sun, my moon, and all of my stars." -E. E. Cummings

(Mamiya 645 ProTL & Canon eos3 with Portra 800 and Tri-x film)

Samantha Kelly 9/5/15 Samantha Kelly 9/5/15

I made a picture for you.

I know a lot of photographers look down on mini sessions and/or refuse to offer them. I get it. There are plenty of drawbacks to mini sessions and I used to have a love/hate relationship with them. But lately, I've gotta tell ya, it's becoming alllll nothin but LOVE for these fall mini sessions.

I've got ONE ROLL of film- 36 exposures- to get it right. 36 shots to capture the unique dynamic of a family, to get the traditional "everyone look at the camera and smile" shot, to get the creative stuff, the candid images, the authentic connection, and the details. Of course, after a mini I ALWAYS feel like I wish I could shoot more but there's something so fun in the challenge and limitation of working within that one roll and it's done.

The Miller family's mini session began with Melese handing me a drawing her daughter had done of me taking pictures of her family- before I had even met them. That's when I knew our 36 shots together were gonna be a real good time.

(Canon eos3, Fuji 400h)

Samantha Kelly 8/7/15 Samantha Kelly 8/7/15

short and sweet

Sometimes all you need is a gorgeous dress, some heavenly light, and just two rolls of film. Thanks for bringing the magic, Hobbs family. (But really- that. dress.)

(Canon eos3 with Fuji 400h and Kodak tri-x film.)

Samantha Kelly 7/27/15 Samantha Kelly 7/27/15

bottles and airplanes

"Beautiful things don't ask for attention." -James Thurber

(All images shot on a Mamiya 645 ProTL and Canon eos3 with Fuji 400h and Kodak Tri-x film.)

Samantha Kelly 7/11/15 Samantha Kelly 7/11/15

four doors down

I had the wonderful opportunity to co-shoot this session with the talented Tracy Layne of Tracy Layne Portraits. We wanted this to be different than the usual "at-home lifestyle" family session. You know- where everyone is gorgeous and the light is magical and the house is immaculate. I love those sessions (who doesn't!?) but we were after something else. We wanted spilled milk, dirty dishes, messy hair, kids dressing themselves, and toys on the floor. Just a normal day in a fairly normal home.

There's immense grace and love in the everyday- in the average- that, far too often, goes unsung. So you're sweeping up Cheerios off the floor for the gazillionth time, putting food in baby's mouths seemingly non-stop, and side-stepping toys that were supposedly put away yesterday- I'm not sure there's a greater love than that of a hard working, patient, selfless mother caring for her family (or, if you're like me, it's more like working hard to be patient and selfless). That quiet, diligent, often unnoticed beauty is what Tracy and I set out to capture.

This is Kylee and her three cuties. I love Kylee. I live four doors down from Kylee. I hope these images will help show her how beautiful her mess and love truly is everyday.

Mamiya 645 ProTL, Canon eos3 with Portra 800 and Tri-x film.

(See Tracy's images from our session here!)

Samantha Kelly 7/8/15 Samantha Kelly 7/8/15

poetic

A grandma, grandpa, and their daughter's little family visiting from Baltimore. Meet a few members of the Poet family.

Loved photographing this crew in the studio. Can you even believe the light and life and shine that exudes from ALL of them!? There's really no faking that kind of joy and pure goodness. There's also no faking how delicious baby Julia's rolls are. Clearly, she stole the show. Such a fun twist on the usual "mommy session"- a "grandma/mommy session!"

Thanks, Poet family for a wonderful morning together and letting me glimpse a peek of your love.

Samantha Kelly 6/30/15 Samantha Kelly 6/30/15

peace, love, and mountains

This is the second time I've been lucky enough to photograph Jostlyn and Carson. We have fun together.

(First session was in their amazing St. George studio here.)

Shot on a Mamiya 645 & Canon eos 3 with Fuji 400h and Kodak Tri-x.

Samantha Kelly 6/19/15 Samantha Kelly 6/19/15

ries's pieces

This is my little sister, Sarah's, family. These boys have a wildness that shouldn't ever be tamed and two amazing parents as examples of how to live life with fullness and adventure. And baby WInnie's hair deserves a trophy.

All shot in my studio on 35mm film (Kodak Portra 800 & Tri-x).