Tell us about you and how you got into photography.
More than 10 years ago I photographed my first wedding. I was only 16, and it was for a friend of mine, but that first wedding was the start of nearly 100 that I photographed since. My high school photography teacher supported me in my learning and growth. She even sent clients my way!
For a long time, I couldn’t imagine being anything BUT a wedding photographer…until I had my wedding, and with it came a new set of dreams and priorities. Now I am a full-time content creator and I love working with entrepreneurs and businesses alike!
What is your favorite subject to capture? Why does it inspire you?
I love branding sessions for small businesses the most!
My strength really lies in connecting with people. I’ve been referred to more than once as a “professional hype woman.” Supporting and encouraging entrepreneurs brings me so much joy! It is such an electrifying feeling that images and content I create for them help support their dreams.
Anytime a photograph I’ve taken is used to sell a product, promote a business, or tell a story I’m excited. I feel so grateful that my job helps other people pursue their dreams. If you couldn’t guess I’m an enneagram type 2…
What has been your favorite Haute Stock collection to shoot so far?
This is such a hard question! The collections have been so fun and have pushed me creatively!
I will say I loved the holiday collection! It was such a fun mix of traditional colors and a soft blue color palette. But I think the collection I love the absolute most is the Flower Shop collection. The florist featured in that collection was actually my wedding florist so it felt incredibly nostalgic! The colors are so dreamy and of course who doesn’t love plants??
If you could do a photoshoot anywhere in the world, where would you go? What would you capture?
We’re dreaming big, right? Anywhere in the world and anything to capture? I’m heading to London to photograph Taylor Swift’s wedding!
Do you have any advice for aspiring photographers?
My biggest advice is to keep going. I struggled the most with imposter syndrome because I started my business when I was so young. I’ve encountered people who definitely belittled the work I was doing. It would’ve been really easy to stop, but I’m so glad that I didn’t. Even now, I still struggle with imposter syndrome. So don’t let self-doubt stop you from doing something amazing!
Fill your space with people who support you and keep a compliments folder. Anytime someone sends a nice email or text I take a screenshot and put it into the compliments folder. When I’m feeling down I’ll look through it for encouragement. That exact solution may not work for you, but I’d really encourage you to find something that does boost your spirits!
What are your biggest business lessons learned?
I have two lessons that I think learning early is really important. The first is that the way you treat people is key. When a situation arises that I don’t know how to handle I ask myself “what would a world-class photographer with excellent relationships with her clients do?” And then I do that.
The second lesson takes a lot more work, but it is so extremely important. Set work boundaries. This will look different to everyone and in different seasons. But at the very least set work/office hours. If a client emails or texts you after hours don’t respond until your set hours. I’m definitely guilty of responding to an email after midnight. But that’s just not sustainable long term. It’s easy for me as a very small business to forget that I’m a business. But having boundaries in place (and written down somewhere) guarantees I’m living a full life outside of my job.
POPULAR COLLECTIONS CREATED BY SAM:
Sam Lynn…
began her career as a photographer more than 10 years ago, when she photographed her first wedding at only 16 years old.
Now her photography love affair lies with branding sessions for entrepreneurs and businesses. She also keeps busy as a content creator, lifestyle blogger, and plant lover!
stay connected: @samlynnbrooks_
