Samantha Baker

When we first discovered Samantha’s work, we were blown away by her use of color and the intimacy she achieves in her portraiture. If you aren’t already, be sure to follow Samantha on Glass.

Describe your journey with photography.

Originally, I went into college for film and video production ten years ago, and throughout my time there, I picked up photography more so for fun! As the years went by, I found that I really enjoyed playing with photography, especially because video can sometimes take up a lot of time in comparison. From portraits to events and editorial work, it's been such a wonderful journey. The people I’ve met in the photography industry have made it even better than I could've imagined.

What have you learned along the way that you wish you knew earlier?

I wish I'd invested in better equipment earlier on in my journey, just so I could've created stronger work. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been able to shoot and edit some beautiful stuff over the years. I'm very lucky that I've been able to get the things I need in order to fulfill my passion. But if I had the chance, I would’ve just gone for the better camera bodies and lenses.

But hey, we all start somewhere. Whatever camera you have, make it work, and just learn more about post-production. To me, that’s where you can create the real magic.

As a photographer and filmmaker, I think a lot of creatives out there can relate to where booking shoots and being on set is super fun and easy to do, but when post production comes into play, it can be an overwhelming process. It really is all about balance, and making sure to not overwhelm myself with a variety of projects at a time. I love production and post equally. During shoots is where you get to know and meet the people you work with, and with post, that's where the real magic can happen.

Your portrait work is so intimate. How do you connect with folks?

Over the years, I've always connected with every person I meet very easily. When I do meet someone new, I try my best to find some common ground, or just be a nice person in general.

For my portrait sessions, my top priority is making sure the client or model feels super comfortable in front of the camera. Especially if they aren't sure how to pose or move in front of the camera. The main goal is to give people photos that they'll love and look back at for a long time.