the long version
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I'd (Samantha) spent years convincing myself that creativity wasn't practical, that I needed to choose stability over passion, that responsible adults don't chase dreams about things like photography careers.
But sometimes life has other plans for you.
I found myself in intensive outpatient therapy during the pandemic, setting daily goals just to stay alive. One of those goals was picking up my camera again, something I hadn't done in years because I'd convinced myself it would never amount to anything. Starting the photography business wasn't just about changing careers; it was about choosing to live authentically for the first time in my adult life.
My journey to wedding photography started in a therapist's office in early 2021
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Every wedding I photograph is me getting to witness other people choosing love over fear, authenticity over approval, creativity over conformity. I get to create space for couples to be genuinely themselves on the most important day of their lives, and I get to turn those authentic moments into cinematic art.
The mental health journey that brought me here isn't something I hide from, it's something I’m proud of. It gives me the ability to create safe space for vulnerability, to understand what it means to fight for your authentic self, and to recognize the incredible courage it takes to choose happiness even when it looks different from what everyone else expects.
Four years later, this business has become so much more than I ever imagined.
