Interview with Samantha Heather

I stumbled onto Samantha's blog a couple of months ago. Since then, I've fallen in love with the raw and genuine images Samantha makes. Her photos celebrate family, life, love, and the little things. I think you're going to really like Samantha’s work.  

Share a little about yourself + family + life.

Well...where to begin. I am currently 21 and living in Sydney, Australia. I am an avid adventurer, movie buff and now photographer and I aim to keep a balance of all three things in my life to keep me sane. I currently work full time and live at home with my parents, two cats and a dog. It’s comfortable and I love that. As corny as this sounds, I am a dreamer - my imagination has always been so vast that I can never seem to stop my thoughts from wandering into new and exciting places. All in all though, I am a pretty simple person. What you see is what you get.

How did you get into photography?

I have always loved taking photos. I was that girl in school who would have a little compact wrapped around her wrist at all times, documenting the events of the day, party or event. I loved freezing moments in time and going back later to relive them.
Once university came along however I was too busy to continue my love for photography and I stopped taking photos temporarily. After university I started full time work in a heavily corporate environment. I hated it. I started suffering anxiety and severe stress and I didn’t know what to do. I realised that I needed to do something that made me happy, something that relaxed me. Photography and blogging was the answer for me. I quit my job, found a more flexible role, and now I balance work with my photography and blogging on the side. Best decision I ever made.

How long have you been in the photography industry?

It’s funny to say that I am in the photography industry, let alone calling myself a photographer. This is all still very new to me. To answer your question though, I have only really been in the industry since June when I got my first DSLR camera. So it’s safe to say I’m a newbie to the industry, but I am loving every minute of it. 

What's your favourite part about being a photographer?

What I love about it is the freedom to create and discover. Photography isn’t about taking a picture of something pretty or interesting; it’s about capturing a moment in time, something worth remembering or reflecting on. Whether it is capturing the emotion a mother has for her child, or the love between man and wife. I like to think of photography as being another word for story telling and what I love is being given the opportunity to tell those stories.

What camera and lens do you use?

At the moment I have a Canon 60D coupled with a 35mm f/2 lens. To be honest with you, it’s not my ideal for where I want to be however I am currently saving up for a 5D mark III and a 35mm f/1.4 lens.

Who inspires you?

 There are many photographers out there who inspire me, from the likes of Jonas Peterson, Tim Coulson, Julian Beattie, etc. But the most important people that inspire me are the subjects I take photos of. They are the people that help make me a better photographer and they are the people that inspire me to keep pushing through and to keep trying. I love witnessing love. It makes me happy, and seeing people in love in front of my lens motivates me to be the best photographer I can be.

What are your tips for saving up for a camera + lens?

This is a good question considering I am currently saving up for some rather pricey equipment. I guess my piece of advice would be to stay dedicated to a saving system. Personally, I put anything that I earn from my photography into a “camera fund” which goes towards my future camera purchases. On top of that I put a little bit of money each week into this fund. It’s all about baby steps, but also about remaining motivated.

What is your advice for teens who want to be a photographer?

Don’t be afraid. It is so easy to not pursue your dreams because of fear; fear of beginnings, fear of failure, and fear of competition. I overcome this fear by reminding myself of why I started this venture in the first place. I am doing this for me and for the people I take photos of. I am not doing this to be the number 1 photographer in the world; rather I am doing this to keep me and my clients happy. That is all that matters in the end.

How do you make people feel confident and comfortable when taking their photos?

The first step to making people feel confident and comfortable is being confident and comfortable yourself. Being a photographer that is friendly, warm and stress-free will help your subjects relax and start to be themselves. Secondly, I put my subjects in natural situations. I let them be them. I don’t pose them a certain way and make them force a smile. Everything they do is natural and candid which makes for very comfortable and relaxed shots. 

What time of day is your favourite time to shoot?

You will probably hear most people say this, but my favourite times to shoot are early morning or late afternoon - dawn and dusk. The light falls perfectly on the earth at these times and makes for such wonderful shots.

 

Sam is pretty awesome, right? You can check out Sams images on her blog and website, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Instagram, @sambam.