Serena & Andrew :: Engaged

Not too often do I get to shoot for friends. These guys actually attend the same church as my family and I, (First Church in the houuuuuse). Serena & Andrew will be marrying in just about a month.

Had a great time with you two. Wedding looks to be grand! Did their session in downtown San Jose and to our surprise, (mine anyway) we ran right into a Sharks tailgate. Being the only ones NOT in teal and black we had to get a shot. ;) Congrats again. Friends and family, feel free to leave your well wishes to the couple. Happy Thursday!

~Sam






Our love is like....an...airplane! Okay so that quote didn't work but the shot is still cool.

I love this 1,000 times.


You guys are great sports. Thanks for putting up with me. ;)

HELP THE ORPHANS at TUPELO!

To bring everyone up to speed, I was invited to Tupelo Children's Mansion (an orphanage in Mississippi) for a photo shoot a couple weeks ago. (To catch yourself up, read my post and view the images from the day here: TCP).
Upon leaving there, I decided to help them with an endeavor to raise $100,000 in the next several weeks. If I could help with just .01% I'd be very glad.

Meet the Mansion Champions

Chris and Christina are twin orphans that live at the Tupelo Childrens mansion. Their story is incredible. They are enrolled in a 5K run in Florida with the sole purpose of raising awareness and funds for the place they call home. The cause is noble, and I want to do EVERYTHING I can to help. These shots are from a session we had with the champs during my stay at Tupelo. Their web page and story can be read here: Mansion Champions

BUY MY RANDOM PHOTOS

For the next 7 days ALL proceeds from prints sold through my proofing site will go DIRECTLY to the Mansion. I'm not holding back a dime. If you are a client and you choose to buy prints from your wedding, engagement portrait, senior, music, commercial or ANY other shoot, you may do so. ALL proceeds will go straight to Tupelo Children's Mansion. I realize that many of you are not clients and have not had a session from me so for you I've uploaded some of my random photo art that I've taken through the years. It's a real mixed bag. I'll be first to say that I'm a people shooter first. These random shots were chosen so that folks of all interest could participate. I've also made the prints from the session at Tupelo available for purchase. I know of no better cause.

Buy these photos:
where to buy.

Sam's Random Shots & Tupelo images

For those who want to just give directly to the mansion without buying anything you can do so here: Mansion Champions

SPREAD THE WORD

If you're on Facebook, POST IT.
If you have a blog, LINK IT.
If you have a megaphone, YELL IT.
If you have a phone, CALL SOMEONE.

Lets help the orphans folks. You'll be a better human for it. For the next 7 days this post will remain at the front page of my blog. I'd love for you to help!

Blessings.

~Sam


My Random shots :P

"FORK"
"COLORS OF SPRING"

"SEDONA"
"SENDONA 2"
"CLOTHLINE"
"FREEDOM OVER S.F."
"GOLF"
"SMALL FIGHT"

Tupelo Children's Mansion :: Mississippi

Never in my journeys as a photographer have I been moved so much by the subjects of my lens then this. Many times during my stay at Tupelo I was moved to tears. While editing these photo the last couple of days I've shed tears. Why?

Tupelo Childrens Mansion is an orphanage in Tupelo Mississippi. It has a history now of 55+ years since its humble beginnings in 1951. Their mission: to offer hope to orphaned or disadvantaged children by providing their physical, spiritual, emotional, social, and educational needs.

Why was I there?
They actually have a on site photography team. Though the blogsphere someone from the campus made it to my site. Contact was made, and the idea of me coming down to Mississippi to do some shooting/training was established. the rest is history.

As I toured the 40+ acre campus I was moved over and over again. My thoughts were, "what an AWESOME place!". So many faces. Each with a past. Some good, others not so pleasant. The conditions some of the children arrive to The Mansion in would squeeze even the most callus of hearts. It was a tremendous experience. I look forward to going back. Thank you TCM for having me! Thanks to Burton Garr for being the tour guide and the photography team for being awesome hosts.

What can I do?
In a couple days I will have a link available to those wanting to help. My service to the Mansion was done completely pro bono. In way of paying it forward I'm establishing a means to help the mansion. If EVER there was a cause to give of your abundance THIS is it. It's completely worthwhile. You see a link and some other images from the shoot on Monday. Till then, I leave you with this, my take on Tupelo Children's Mansion via picture. Be blessed.

Children are our most valuable natural resource.

~Herbert Hoover















WE ARE TUPELO.


Campus President and his wife Stephan & Erma Judd
To help kids you have to be kids yourself. ;)
I was welcomed to this. Awwwwwwww. Before I go, I have to say this. Southern Hospitality is REAL!!!!!! You folks know how to make a guest welcome. Love you all.

Rebecca & Jeff :: San Luis Obispo Wedding

San Luis Obispo
One of my most favorite places in all the world. I have fond memories of you. I was fortunate enough to shoot Rebecca & Jeffs wedding there. Beautiful setting. They were married The Gardens at Peacock Farms located in Arroyo Grande, (just south of SLO by about 20 minutes. Whats crazy is that I shot a 12 hour wedding in Monterey CA. and then drove to this one that same night. (4 hours). Sam has indeed lost all marbles. Totally worth it though. I'd do it again. :P

Saw some friends I knew and met new ones. Great choice all around guys for location & decor. Really shined. I wish you 2 the BEST in life. Big thanks to my very good friend Dolores for coming out as assistant on this one. You were a great help. Congrats again guys.

Should have a couple more sessions up real soon for those waiting. Thanks for the love everyone. HAPPY FRIDAY!!














We came, we saw, we ate melon.






Fin.....enjoy your new lives guys.
THIS was my other motivation for shooting a wedding 5 hours from me driving. Splash Cafe' in Pismo Beach has THEE best clam chowder...wait for it...in the WORLD. All other clam chowders quiver in fear. Slice of heaven in a bread-bowl.