Samantha Grant Photography

Golden hour with Roan. Also, with a bit of "glitter," and by that I mean bugs. This location definitely has its fair share of glitter, but honestly I'm here for it. I could easily edit them out but they are part of the natural ambiance, am I right?

I went to Alden Lane Nursery this weekend in Livermore which, if you haven't been, is basically the Disneyland of plants.

Distracted by the displays straight ahead I walked right past all the stuff at the start, but then immediately turned around because of the overwhelming smell of apples.

Why the stacks of apples at the supermarket don't smell like this, I have no idea, but their bins of heirloom apples came off as rich, spicy, tangy, and somehow juicy? I couldn't resist.

Now there's a bowl of them on my kitchen counter to snack on for the next week. And it just reminds me how much I love fall.

Cheers to everyone who loves a crispness in the air!

Alert! 🚨 Alert! 🚨 The golden hour jumps an hour sooner after Nov 5. What does that mean *for you*? Well, any shoot booked between now and the winter solstice starts in the afternoon.

This will likely mean that you'll have to duck out of your classes after lunch to prep for your shoot. So it's best to pick a day when you won't miss anything crucial.

I've got a limited number of shoot dates left for 2023. Get in touch today to snag an Express or a full Luxe shoot, or else wait until I open up my 2024 calendar in March.

“Hang on for a sec, let me just check my settings before we get started,” I said, while taking a quick test shot.

Aaaaannnnddds we got this.

When having my own picture taken I absolutely do not fall in this category, but some people don’t need any direction whosoever to look good in pictures.

Crazy, right?!

Don’t worry if you need direction. Most people do. I just thought I’d throw this out there since it’s a pretty rare for me! 😅

I hope everyone has a great time at HoCo tonight!

I'm thinking about re-landscaping my backyard, and a row of olive trees is on my wish list for this project.

I just love their silvery leaves and how they glitter when the sun shines through them.

Maybe with some white iceberg landscape roses in front of the trees.

If you could change your yard, what would you add?

Speaking of olive trees: pictured here is Erin, class of 2024. Photographed nearby, but not (unfortunately) in my back yard!

If you would love a portrait in an olive orchard, hit me up. I've got a beautiful spot in Livermore for us.

"Basically, be the next Elle Woods," Liv laughed, jokingly, when I asked about her future plans.

Or maybe not so jokingly.

Liv, I think you're going to make a fantastic attorney down the line. In the meantime, have a fabulous senior year.

"Nobody puts baby in a corner!" But I might put your baby in a box! 😅 This is one of my favorite locations for pictures because we've got so much to work with in such a small walkable area. But,

and this is a big but: it's only going to look good for pictures through around Thanksgiving. Because, leaves.

If you're interested in booking a session at this location and would like to see more, just PM m

"I bet he's a wrestler," I thought to myself. "I'm a wrestler," he said. Ha! I'm not always that good. But I have a good story about wrestling.

Back in college, I shot sports.

And I loved covering wrestling because you can get so close to the action; most of time I was right on the edge of the mat.

One day in February I was checking my mailbox at the student union and a pink cut-out heart fell out. It said: "Happy Valentine's Day! -the Grapplers."

At the time I had no idea what who the Grapplers were. A secret admirer! But it was plural. Puzzling.

I had to look it up. But ever since then I've always thought of them as a nice group of guys.

At any rate, good luck on your season, Ryan, and also with all your college apps this fall!

Selena Gomez is a fan of statement wall portraits, and so 👏🏼 am 👏🏼 I 👏🏼 ! If you'd like to re-create the shot she's got on her wall, but featuring your crew, hit me up!

I call this a "squish" because we'll get you together really tight. 😆

There's still time to book a fall family shoot, but get in touch soon to set it up!

"I'm reading 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy, in my Dystopian Lit class," Kira explained when I asked what she was enjoying in her classes.

Which led down a *deep* rabbit hole because dystopian lit is one of my favorite genres. I couldn't help myself.

"Is 1984 on the reading list?" I asked, "How about Station Eleven!"

Is anyone else a fan of the genre? If so, drop your favorite title in the comments!

I've still got a few October dates for shoots left. Message me if you want to snag one and if you'd like to go to this same spot at Kira's shoot!

For a hot minute I worried that posting a shot like this might come off as influencer-y. Because isn’t that what they all do? Gaze off into the distance, trying to make you wish you were in Santorini/Iceland/Bora Bora?

While wearing a couture dress, listed conveniently under their ltk, right?

So here I am to say that you too can get a cute white dress from Princess Polly and enjoy the lovely sunsets of the trivalley.

It’s imminently achievable. 🙌

And if you’d like stunning pictures while you are at it, hmu.

Because I’m all about creating beautiful, authentic portraits of you right here, in this lovely place that we live.

Class of 2024, I’ve got 2 October dates left for senior pictures. Get in touch today to snag one!

First there was the machine learning internship that knocked out most of the summer. Then swim team started up shortly thereafter.

We had a narrow date window for Hunter’s senior pictures but thankfully the weather complied and it wasn’t 1000 degrees.

If you also have a tight schedule, and wonder if senior pictures are even possible for you- DM me and let’s see what we can do! 🙌

When I’m quiet here it’s because I’m busy, so here’s a quick update:

Full Luxe shoots are booked out through September but I have spots for a few Express shoots late in the month.

I have a few dates for both in Oct and 2 in early Nov.

Then we are out of fall!

So if you’d like fall senior pictures, it’s still possible, but get in touch ASAP to snag one of the last remaining dates.

Can’t wait to meet you, and create some beautiful pictures for you. 💞

I am an absolute sucker for classic styling. Can you see how Dean's outfits will look every bit as good in 20 years, when he shows his senior pictures to his kids, as they do right now? Love. It.

I realize that *he* isn't thinking about this. But while designing his album, I consider who will be flipping through this in the future.

Let's think about your senior's future! I'd love to talk with you about how we can create a lovely piece of artwork to help document this important milestone.

Message me to start the conversation.

Why albums? Because speed-scrolling backward through 30,000 random pictures on your phone sucks!

By the time you find what you want you’re frustrated, and the moment to enjoy them is gone.

Instead, with albums you can pick them up and feel the silky matte cover under your fingertips and enjoy those moments of being together all over again.

It will be right there on your coffee table waiting for you.

Let’s talk about how I can help you create your own family album.

Now booking fall family sessions. Link in bio for info.

Oh seniors! Did you have a great last-first day? Last first week?

Don’t be mad if your mom starts tearing up, ok?

Because she’s remembering your first-first day. And for her it doesn’t seem like that long ago. Which is super weird.

Time passing at different rates for different people.

Anyways, I hope you are off to a great start for the fall semester!

And I’m here for when you are ready to book senior pictures. Because this is a special time in your life to document. ❤️

Get in touch so we can talk about planning your perfect shoot.

Link in bio for details

School starts in two days and you realize a) none of your kids have real shoes that fit them anymore and b) ditto with pants. 🤦‍♀️

The pants problem can wait- it’s too hot for them anyways. (And if I buy pants now, they might not fit when it’s cold enough to wear them anyways.)

But shoes is an issue. You probably can’t run the mile in PE in flip flops.

Am I the only one in this boat? Is everyone else better organized? 🫠

It’s a little weird that school starts in 3 days and we don’t have schedules yet.

But whatever.

I’m curious: where do you fall when it comes to school starting?

Are you full of:

A. Excitement!
B. Dread.

I’m an even 50/50 mix. 🫠

“I’m thinking an outside shoot, during the golden hour, in a field.” — Is this YOU?

If so, you have come to the right place!

Shooting in golden grasses is one of my favorites and I have some perfect spots ready for you.

Class of 2024: now is the time to book your fall senior shoot!

PM me for details.

“That looks like AirBnB wall art,” said my son when we were trying to redecorate his bedroom.

And he was right.

The posters we were considering had a sort of generic look to them.

But you know what *doesn’t* look like AirBnB wall art?

Family portraits.

A custom canvas of your family instantly personalizes your space, transforming a house into a home.

And I love helping families design their perfect portraits.

The most popular spots to hang family portraits are above mantles and sofas. But I also have designed artwork collections for dining rooms, ascending staircases, and foyers.

Visit www.samanthagrantphotography.com to find out how easy it is to plan your family portrait session. 🙌

When your outfits match the sunset 🌅 😍

DM me if you want to shoot at this beautiful spot. I have a permit to shoot here but need to apply for each individual date, so advanced notice is 🔑

Florals + stripes? 🧐 Yes! Satin + nubby sweaters? Yes!

I know it seems easier to pick a unifying color, or have everyone wear solids. But mixing things up provides beautiful *depth* to your portraits.

Also, to all my families planning fall shoots: now is not too soon to start thinking about outfits.

And if you’d like guidance or even just a second set of eyes on what you’ve got so far, hmu!

These two are getting married 💍 and contacted me for an engagement shoot. How fun!

Jackie already knew she wanted to use slate blue as one of her wedding colors and really loved the idea of a more formal backdrop for the portraits.

I love how everything pulled together for them. 🩵

If you need pictures for your Save the Dates, wedding website, and possibly to display at your wedding- get in touch! We can work together to help create couples portraits that are perfectly on-theme. 🙌

Did you know 👀 that I provide hair and makeup artist referrals to all of my clients?

These local professionals are fantastic ⭐️at what they do, and can not only help you look your best, but also *feel* your best going into your shoot.

Who wants to get pampered on their photoshoot day? 🙋‍♀️

As social media reach drops to new lows 📉, my small business relies more and more on word of mouth. Can you lend a hand?

Got a friend with a rising high school senior? Or who needs family pictures this fall? Send them my way!

I promise to provide them with beautiful pictures and a wonderful experience.

Thank YOU! 💗

P.S. In case you were wondering: that's the moon.

Can we all take a moment to appreciate how the Sulzberg family *nailed it* for their shoot outfits?

OK, now I'll spill the tea.

When in doubt for family pictures: dress everyone in a variety of light colors with a correlating bold pattern or two thrown in the mix (that's one bold check/stripe and one bold floral, max).

The idea is to avoid "family-owned small business since 1998" type of matchy-matchy, and more "we're all headed to the same party."

If you are stressed out about figuring this out for your own family: don't be. I'm here to guide you to make the very best choices for your shoot 🙌

“We’re thinking ‘Bollywood’ in terms of styling, and shooting in a field,” explained this family. ✅✅

If you have a vision for your shoot, let me help you bring it to life.

And if you have no idea what you want (apart from beautiful pictures) let me show you options to pick what you like best.

Now booking August/September - with overflow dates to October if it’s too hot on your scheduled date.☺️

It’s been my pleasure to get Katrina & Jayson back in front of my lens: this time in an olive orchard!

I just love how the silvery green leaves complement their outfits. 💚

Also, if your home features neutral colors (grey/beige/creme) this location is a great spot for creating artwork that will look beautiful with your decor.

Get in touch today so we can start planning your shoot!

Celebrating 🎉 the rare moment that happens when your high school senior 🎓 hasn’t yet left, and your college sophomore is home ✈️ for a visit.

Families with older kids: this might be the last chance to get family pictures before someone brings home a fiancée.

Let’s create one last portrait for you!

I realize that the scheduling can be really tight- all the more reason to start the planning now. Give me a call today and I'll let you know if I'm available during the time window when all your kids are home.

"My husband is a huge Elvis fan, so we were thinking about possibly doing a 1950s theme for our photoshoot," explained Eileen.

Say. No. More.

She and Matt and their two fur babies rocked it on their first family photoshoot (they got married just last year) at this vintage gas station in Niles.

Fun fact: they met in 8th grade at Harvest Park where Eileen was on the cheer team and Matt played basketball. Which is a very serious hint about the direction for next year's shoot.

If you have a specific idea for your pictures (and even if you don't): hit me up! I love helping families bring their artwork dreams to life.

We are approaching the summer solstice-- the longest day of the year, which is interesting because I never think of June as peak summer.

But here we are with sunset around 8:30pm.

I think in my mind peak summer is in August. But that's also during school now, which is weird.

It must be a hold-over from when I was a kid and school started back up after Labor Day.

How about you: what feels like peak summer to you?

"I'd really like flowers for my senior pictures," explained Mia. I suggested this spot and she arrived in the perfect dress. Love!

When you book a shoot with me we'll work together to nail your exact aesthetic.

And if you aren't sure what you want, I'll give you ideas to help you find it!

Now booking class of 2024 seniors and summer family sessions.

"I wear a lot of black in my everyday life, and never would have considered the magenta color if you hadn't brought it up, but it honestly looks amazing," Dhwani explained.

She knew she wanted pictures in her white graduation dress, but was open to suggestions for the last part of her shoot, when I texted over a screenshot of this maxi dress from Lulu.

I really wanted to play with the wind and create contrast with the yellow flowers and with the sky so shades in the red/pink/purple space were in my mind when suggesting outfits.

If you aren't quite sure about what to wear for your shoot: that's what I'm here for! I'm considering the colors at your shoot location and what will look great on *you* to create the best possible portrait.

I've been having so much fun celebrating graduation and college plans with the class of 2024 this spring.

Which means, of course, that Class of 2024, it's almost your turn!

Parents are always asking me: when is the best time to book senior pictures?

There are a lot of factors at play, but I think the summer before senior year is a great time for two main reasons:

1. You have more free time and can really enjoy planning your shoot.

2. You'll have your pictures to use throughout senior year (banquet slideshows, scholarship announcements, newspaper features- you'll get asked to submit a photo for all sorts of things.)

Get in touch today to find out about shoot details and summer booking availability!

It's a time of transition. Golden hour to blue. High school to college. Am I the only person who starts feeling nostalgic this time of year?

Ephemeral! Yet another spot that looks completely different a week later. But no worries; nature is constantly surprising and delighting me with new and beautiful backdrops for photoshoots around here.

Speaking of which: if you'd like to shoot in the golden grasses, get in touch for a summer/fall date.

"They remind me of the bluebonnets," said Lisa. She was talking about the lupins, which showed up for a celebrity guest appearance for her family pictures and made her think of Texas, where they used to live.

There's so much to love about this our beautiful valley, and these spring wildflowers are just the icing on the cake. 💐

Not two days after this shoot was this entire field mowed down to dirt. 😭 Thank goodness we made it in time! Until next February, yellow flowers. And don't worry- if you want a summer or fall photoshoot, I have plenty of other beautiful local locations that will create a lovely backdrop for your pictures!

Extended family pictures are not the easiest thing to organize. But if you can pull it off, these multigenerational portraits are really special to have in the long run.