my BLOG
rainbow baby
Oh, darling Hattie. You were so worth the wait.
(Mamiya 645 ProTL and Canon eos3 with Portra 400 and Tri-x film)
waiting
Krysta and Philip. Some of my closest friends.
I could tell you how they are both professional, working architects. Or how Krysta made that floral crown from the trunk of her car just minutes before we started shooting. Or how no couple is more deserving of all the joy and love that comes with a new baby.
But, instead, I'll just stop writing and let the images convince you of these guys' sparkle and shine.
Canon eos3, Portra 400 film
my kind of math
4 kids, 5 and under. 2 rolls of 35mm film. 1 studio. Probably...30 minutes flat
equals
a whole lotta chaos, a little bit of crying, plenty of giggles, a couple of very patient parents, and more love than you can imagine.
(Canon eos3, Portra800)
hammer time
"You guys get SO lovey when you're in front of the camera!"
And it's true. Steph and Nick Hammer are good, good friends of mine and I've been photographing them for years. Without fail, as soon as the camera starts clickin, they start giggling, and flirting, and tickling, and whispering, and stealing kisses- on full blast. But not in a ummm-this-is-awkward-for-both-me-and-you-guys-actually, kind of way- more of a wow-their-relationship-is-freakin-adorable-and-how-do-I-get-more-of-THAT-in-my-own-marriage kind of way. Truly, these two are the real deal and getting to see them love on that little Beckham of theirs is just the very best icing on top of the ultimate love cake.
And can I just say that I adore in-home sessions like these? Because I do. Getting to document a family as they are, in their own places and spaces...there's nothing that tops it for me.
(Mamiya 645 ProTL and Canon eos3 with Portra 400 and Tri-x film)
at home with theo archer
When clients, over the years, start to feel like family. Welcome to the club, sweet baby boy.
(Mamiya 645 ProTL, Canon eos3 with Portra 400 and Tri-x film.)
pretty city
This may be something that will only resonate with my fellow photographers but here it is:
This family. I do some of my very best work when I'm with them and it's not because they are super adorable (which they are, obviously!), or because I just get lucky with them during our sessions (which, honestly may be part of it)...but I really think, at the core of my relationship with the Tew family is trust and THAT'S the magic-maker. That's the key. They tell me that they trust me, I believe them, they let me do whatever I want, we hug at the end of the session, and that's it. I don't ever have to feel anxious or like I have to try and be a photographer that I'm just not when I'm shooting them. They love me for me and, because of that, I feel SO free and calm and happy during our sessions.
In the end, it's not even about the resulting images that I love most. It's the experience of getting to be just 100% Sam Kelly the photographer and nothing more- even if it's just for that one hour or so during my time with the Tew family. And that's truly enough for me.
I guess what I'm trying to say is if you're a photographer, trust YOURSELF and if you're hiring a photographer, trust THEM. Good things happen.
(Mamiya 645 ProTL, Canon eos3, Fuji 400h)
sweet moves
My favorite part of this session was when I asked Dav what he likes to do in his spare time. His answer? "Hip hop dance."
These three were easy breezy to photograph and, when we were done, Dav showed me some of his sweet moves. I call that a win win.
(Mamiya 645 ProTL and Canon eos3 with Kodak Portra 400, Portra 800, and Tri-x film)
best friends
Is it just me or are preteen brother and sisters supposed to irritate each other and not love hanging out together, holding hands, and definitely NOT voluntarily hug and cuddle?? I mean, never, ever refer to one another as "best friend." Right!? (Cue my sobbing.)
I have literally never witnessed a more genuinely loving sibling relationship. And get this- they treated their PARENTS with the exact same level of adoration and respect. Whatever it is these four are doing, they are doing it right.
(Mamiya 645 ProTL and Canon eos3 with Fuji 400h and Tri-x film.)
our side of the mountain
There are some people who have been unnecessarily kind and supportive and encouraging of me and my work for a while now. Karen is one of those people. So when she asked me to come capture her family at their home, the pressure was on because I just so badly wanted to knock it out of the park for HER. As if giving her amazing images could, in some way, repay her for all the kindness she's so generously thrown my way.
But that's just the funny thing- getting to spend a summer evening playing with her sweet and spirited girls, observe the stalwart and gentle love between a mom and a dad, and, of course, finally get to meet Karen herself in person...no matter what the images I shot ended up looking like, I knew that I was the one who got the very most out of our time together.
Lately I've been considering that's this is all actually not so much about the photographs as it is about the tangible human relationships and connections we have the opportunity to create with one another. Thank you, Karen, for being another reminder of that for me.
(Mamiya 645 ProTL and Canon eos3 with Fuji 400h and Tri-x film)
patten girls
I've been wanting to get this dream team in front of my camera for about a year now. So when Erica responded to my model call for a mentoring session, I was so happy to finally work with such a lovely (inside and out!) mama and her little lady crew!
I shot just one roll of 120 film (15 frames) and love how they came out! I was feeling pretty proud of myself until I realized that it would actually be pretty dang difficult to take a BAD shot of these guys. I mean. ;)
Mamiya 645 ProTL, Portra 800
