A selection of my favorite Connection Session Images, inspired by the couples who let me in….

ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS THAT DON’T FEEL POSED.
No awkward prompts or posing here!

Connecting

Doing an engagement session is about more than just photographs; it's about the three of us connecting and meeting before your wedding day. As a Hudson Valley New York engagement photographer with a decade of experience, my approach is centered on making you feel at ease, capturing who you are when you think no one is looking, and turning awkwardness into fun experience. Through cinematic, earthy, moody, and romantic imagery, I want us to create images that show your connection. Whether it's a shared laugh, a tender glance, or a playful embrace, these moments are all real during your engagement session.

Feeling awkward in front of the camera is natural, but it's my job to help you navigate through it. Think of me not just as your photographer, but as your guide, always giving you guidance when you need it but allowing you the space to just be together. That’s where all the good stuff lives. Remember, it's not about posing; it's about being together, and that's always my intention when documenting couples.

Awkward, you say?

My role extends beyond photography; I'm here to listen, understand, and tailor the session to reflect your personalities and preferences. If you have a location that is special to you, let’s do it! But we can also make magic on a side street or in a park or at your house. Waterfalls are cool but so is your living room. We can shoot an intimate at home session or take a fun hike to a mountain overview. Let’s do what YOU want.

Location isn’t everything

The key to good images is really easy. The more you let me in and lean into the trust, the better my work becomes. It really is a collaboration between us, moments in time that we create together. Chasing light without our phones in our pockets, sipping on something and telling stories. Maybe catch a rad sunset. Trusting in the process, relaxing into your partner and just being together. Let’s chat so we can get you on the calendar!

Lean in.


My fiancé and I just finished taking our Connection Session photos...

Our hearts are literally bursting with love and appreciation for her and her work. When we were first looking for our wedding photographer we knew we wanted someone with a totally different look. Someone that was capturing real moments, someone who was creative, someone who was not just doing a job, but was sharing in the moment with you. After our first meeting with Samantha we knew she was the perfect fit. She is warm, kind, energetic, and clearly seriously cares about making you feel comfortable. Her eye for light and for capturing beautiful moments is something I’ve never seen before, especially in wedding photography. My fiancé can be very anxious and nervous, and Samantha put him completely at ease from the start. Every smile, every laugh, every look was REAL and genuine and heartfelt. I JUST CAN’T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS.
— Erica + Jared

ENGAGEMENT GALLERY

WEDDING GALLERY

LET’S CHAT!


Sam was the first vendor we booked...

Throughout the entire planning process she was a guiding light, helping us with the timeline and prioritizing how we wanted the day to feel. On the day itself, she kept everything on even ahead of schedule and worked expertly around the rain! She kept me calm, protected my space, and allowed us to be fully present with our people. There was no painful posing or forced smiles, only genuine joy and captured experience. Sam is worth her weight in GOLD. One month later, people are still telling me how much they loved her. If you can get Sam, book her and don’t look back. I truly could not have imagined our wedding day without her!
— Caroline + Sam

YOU may also LOVE:

01.

Catskills NY Wedding

JACQUI + NICK


02.

Upstate NY Wedding

LISA + ANDREW


03.

Hudson Valley Wedding

A YEAR IN REVIEW - 2022


04.

New York Wedding

ERICA + JARED