Starting as a political news and celebrity portrait photographer in DC, Sam was instantly drawn to wedding photography as a space to promote more inventive ideas. Sam’s focus is on photographic techniques that are deceptively simple but have the potential to transform difficult or uninspiring shooting environments into one-of-a-kind opportunities for every photo made.
2025
A Year in Frames
Two hundred seventy-three thousand frames. Each one a fraction of a second, frozen. This year pushed the boundaries of what I thought possible behind the lens. From the quiet intimacy of engagement sessions to the electric chaos of wedding days, 2025 was defined by light, love, and an obsessive pursuit of the decisive moment. Here's how it unfolded, season by season.
Winter
January — March 22 frames
22
The quiet season. Indoor ceremonies at historic venues, intimate elopements, and soft diffused light.
39,652
DC Area
98,952
Weddings
23,455
Engagements
Spring
April — June 48 frames
48
Cherry blossoms in DC. Engagement season in full swing. The 50mm f/1.2 dominated these months.
Banff
Canada
Ireland
& Denmark
Brazil
& UK
Summer
July — September 40 frames
40
Peak season. Golden hour light that seemed to last forever, and couples drunk on summer love.
83,604
RF 50mm f/1.2
38,917
EF 24mm f/1.4
22,535
85mm f/1.4
Fall
October — December 40 frames
12K
October hit different. The busiest month of my career. October 18th alone: nearly 12,000 images.
France
Jul 13–22
Thailand
& South Korea
Australia
Oct 19–26
53%
Canon R1
27%
Nikon Zf
12%
Canon R3
Camera Usage
Behind the Lens
A deeper look at the numbers that shaped 2025
748
Photos per day
33.6%
Golden hour shots
67.2%
Weekend shooting
f/1.2
Most used aperture
Focal Length
Portrait range dominates my work
When I Shoot
Golden hour is my prime time
33.6%
Golden Hour
Golden Evening
Night
Afternoon
Morning
Aperture Preference
Chasing that shallow depth of field
f/1.2
Most Used
70%
Shot at f/1.8 or wider
112K
Photos at f/1.0-1.2
Day of Week
Saturday is my busiest day
Top Lenses
The RF 50mm f/1.2 is my workhorse
1
RF 50mm F1.2 L USM
30.6%
2
RF 28-70mm F2 L USM
23.0%
3
RF 85mm F1.2 L USM
13.8%
4
RF 35mm F1.4 L VCM
9.2%
Flash Usage
Mostly natural light, flash when needed
90.5%
Natural Light
9.5%
Flash Used
~26,000 flash photos this year
Monthly Distribution
October was my peak month (fall wedding season)
Jan
18,267
Feb
19,748
Mar
6,643
Apr
20,004
May
32,345
Jun
26,656
Jul
14,663
Aug
28,328
Sep
30,375
Oct
43,083
Nov
26,469
Dec
6,750
273,342
Frames Captured
160
Events
10.3%
Pick Rate
113
Five Stars
99.4%
Shot RAW
150
Selected
By the Months
Jan
8
Feb
9
Mar
5
Apr
7
May
21
Jun
20
Jul
11
Aug
8
Sep
21
Oct
30
Nov
8
Dec
2
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