Young woman with tattoos holding a camera on a wooden dock overlooking a serene lake surrounded by trees.
Tattooed woman sitting on grass in a park, viewing photos on a laptop with a camera beside her.
A tattooed woman crouches by a tree, smiling while holding a DSLR camera outdoors in a lush green forest setting.
Young woman with tattoo sitting on grass by a lake, smiling while using a laptop outdoors in a park.

Hello, I'm Samantha!

storytelling portrait Photographer

 

I’m 27, a wife to Kobe, and a mom to Rose. Kobe and I have been together for 9 years, so most of my life has been built right alongside him. We live in Bryson City, North Carolina, and our life is pretty simple at its core. Family, work, and just figuring things out as we go.

Outside of everything else, I’m always doing something with my hands. I like gardening, doing nails, and getting lost in a good book when I actually have the time. I love tattoos, I listen to metal, and I will absolutely stop what I’m doing if there’s a goat nearby. I’m serious about that one.

I’m not super polished or put together all the time. Life is a little messy, a little loud, and always moving, but it’s mine. And I’ve learned to appreciate that more than anything.

I care a lot about the little things. The everyday parts of life that don’t seem big in the moment but end up meaning everything later. That’s the kind of life I’m building.

 

Smiling baby wearing a party hat sits on a wooden bench outdoors in a forest setting, celebrating their first birthday.
Red-haired baby sitting in a metal tub outdoors near water, smiling and playing, in a charming rustic setting.

 

my approach

 

natural, real, and unposed photography

You don’t have to show up knowing what you’re doing.

Most people feel awkward in front of a camera, and kids are going to do their own thing no matter what. I expect that. Nothing about this has to be perfect.

I’ll guide you the whole time, but I’m not going to over-pose you or make you hold something that doesn’t feel natural. I’ll give you simple direction and then let things happen. Sometimes that looks like walking, talking, playing with your kids, or just taking a second to slow down.

I pay attention to the in-between moments more than anything. The quick looks, the way your kid reaches for you, the laughter that wasn’t planned. That’s the part that actually matters.

If things feel a little chaotic, that’s okay. Honestly, that’s usually when the best moments happen.

I’m not trying to create something overly perfect. I just want it to feel like you and your life as it really is.

Laughing young woman with tattoos wearing a white t-shirt standing near the ocean on a sunny day.

 

Let’s work together

 

Samantha Stephenson Photography logo featuring watercolor mountains and camera outline in teal and orange tones.
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Pregnant woman in pink dress cradling baby bump outdoors, with tattoos and long dark hair, green hills in background.