Hello,
I'm Sammy, the photographer behind the lens of Sage Imagery LLC. These "about me" pages are pretty intimidating to write; teetering between spilling out what you'll read on every other photographer page and making sure you don't overshare needless information. So alas.. here it goes!
I've always been obsessed with light, color theory, and composition, so I find absolute beauty in the unassuming places overlooked on a daily basis. Trust me to capture a unique story of you and yours, preserving it for years to come. My mission is to bring your vision to life, and keep it fun.
Don't have a fully-formed idea? I know the right questions to ask to form a vision together! Between location, style, and overall theme guidance, I've got you!
What am I like to work with?
PATIENT & GENTLE
I do not put harsh time limits on my packages because good things take time. And let's be real, no one likes to feel rushed. Sometimes we all need a little time to collect ourselves; I'll be there to encourage with both a gentle voice and patient stance.
Encouraging
You'll learn real fast that I'm pretty excitable about photography, especially when it impacts a person's confidence. When I click that perfect shot, I'll bounce up and down before running to show you the back of my camera. My hope in doing that is to boost your morale about what we're working toward at the photoshoot.
Model Experience
Before I was a photographer, I worked as a model. And watched twenty seasons of America's Next Top Model. I learned how to pose my body in a flattering way, find the light with my face, and add movement to shots photogenically. Now I use that knowledge to position and teach my clients! This comes in handy for boudoir, senior, and maternity photoshoots every time.
What people are saying about their experience with Sage Imagery
Amber
Frequently Asked Questions
What's it like to work with you?
I'm excitable and when I click a really good shot you can bet I'll run over to you and show you the back of my camera so you can see, too! I will be your hype girl, your calm and collected observer, and your patient storyteller. My favorite interaction with people is getting them to open up and learn more about them - about what drives them - what makes them smile. Fun fact? I end up befriending a lot of my clients. They come back to me year after year <3 and I love watching their life's journey and being invited to document it all.
Do we have to take photos at your venue?
While I offer a private venue and studio, we are not bound to these as your choice of location! I have a handful locations in my back pocket that I long to venture to at any opportunity to switch things up. We can go to the beach, the forest, the creek, the grassy meadows alongside large ponds, and so many other places. We'll work that into your color palette for what to wear based on what location/coloring we're looking at doing photos. I service a large area and am happy to come to your private property.
What if there's bad weather?
I will call for a reschedule if there are bad storms on the horizon during your desired photoshoot time. However, I've found some of the most epic skies and lighting to be just before or just after a storm, so if we can hold off on making the call, there's a chance we can squeeze in just around it and get some gorgeous, one of a kind photos! I reserve certain days each month for emergency reschedules. Don't worry - we'll try to get you back on the calendar ASAP.
What if my family isn't cooperative?
Not everyone enjoys being in front of a camera. And that's okay! We'll try to nail those solid frame-worthy poses, but can otherwise focus on a more action-based lifestyle shoot. I recommend having an activity or two in mind they like doing to help distract them from the lens. For example: ring around the rosie, dancing, chasing bubbles, tickle fights, etc. I've learned that a lot of how you speak of the photoshoot ahead of time has a large impact on moods the day of. I can guide you through it in our pre-photoshoot consultation, but please understand that uncooperative family members doesn't warrant a reshoot.
What am I supposed to wear?
I will help you coordinate a plan for attire. We'll take into account how many people are in your shoot, what time of day you want it, and what time of year to formulate the best color choices for your photoshoot. At Sage Imagery, we offer a client closet full of size inclusive designer dresses for ladies and a few for little girls as well, if you'd like to include those in your photos.
When will we receive our photos?
After every session I should be able to give you an estimate based on my current queue at the time. It's most often about 2 weeks from the date of your session. Weddings have a sneak peek window of within 48 hours of the ceremony. Weddings and Boudoir have a 4-6 week turnaround time for completion.
What's the payment schedule?
For standard portrait sessions, it's 50% of a desired collection upfront via venmo. The remaining balance is due the day of the photoshoot via venmo or cash. Boudoir and Weddings are different, and can be inquired about to set up a pre-payment plan that works best for you.
What kind of retouching and editing is included?
Temporary blemishes are removed with skin retouching and smoothing. Color and light corrections are done to every portrait, stylized in my token editing style. I do my best to tame stray hairs and remove obnoxious backgrounds, but face swapping, excessive background removal, or higher edit jobs like (re)moving a person is not included.
The Studio & Venue
Sage Imagery LLC offers a unique opportunity to use our private venue on 10 acres, as well as our newly remodeled studio. This brings the option to have a photoshoot both indoor and outdoor all in one session.
Studio usage is most commonly used for, but not limited to Boudoir, Maternity, Seniors, and Newborn photoshoots. It has a dual tone paint theme with 3 walls that are cream for a dreamy natural boho feel and one that is black for a more moody look. The second room is still in need of remodel (currently a rustic cabin feel to it) and is used for getting ready and final image selection for my IPS clients. The studio sets change one month ahead of the season to allow photo turnaround time, so you can expect Christmas décor to be up in late October, Spring blossoms to go up in February, etc.
The venue is the most common outdoor location for our sessions since Spring of 2022, offering prairie, wild flowers, river's edge, country road, spring blossoms, and a small forest. So if you'd like examples of what it looks like, please check out our client galleries.
