headshot portrait of escanaba photographer Samantha couvillion, newborn photographer, family photographer. she is wearing a green shirt against a green backdrop.

Hi, I’m Sam

I love animals, and light, and life itself.  I’m a dreamer.  I thrive on variety and if I had to choose only one thing to photograph, I’d probably have to stop altogether.

My kids are hilarious and kind have become teenagers entirely too fast.  My husband loves Legos, hates the sun, and is my biggest supporter.  I read as many books as I can get my hands on, dance in the kitchen, and sing – loudly, and terribly – in my car.  Because I’m a nice person, I sing much quieter everywhere else.  

 We’re a little geeky, and we’re OK with it.



I think all of our stories are beautiful but sometimes we can forget that about ourselves.  I’m here to help you remember.

Storyteller,
Photographer,
Fine Artist

I never really thought I’d be a photographer.  I dreamed of it as a child, but when it came down to choosing a career I went safe and reasonable and became a nurse.  This gave me a strong foundation with people, forced me out of my shell, and taught me so many life lessons – but I still had that creative burn. Then my husband surprised me with a camera when our son was born. I thought, ooh, I can take some great pictures of him!

Um, I couldn’t.  At all.  Newborns are hard, he was colicky, and I had no idea what I was doing.

It sparked an unknown passion, though, and I was determined, in between shifts at the hospital, to figure it all out.  

I studied, and mentored with other photographers, and practiced – a lot.  I’ve held and soothed and snuggled so many babies over the years, and proudly earned the title of “baby whisperer.” 

portrait of escanaba newborn photographer Samantha couvillion, smiling at camera against a green backdrop.

I figured out what stories I want to tell.  I sought the light, and the special moments it illuminated.

portrait of escanaba family photographer Samantha couvillion against a green backdrop, leaning on hand, looking at camera and smiling.

And finally, after 15 years of nursing and 8 years of multitasking, I made the terrifying, rewarding leap to being a full time photographer.

One morning I was washing all the little pieces to my breast pump. I hated the task of washing those pieces every day, but seeing how pretty they looked in the sunlight streaming through the kitchen window, I could see that they were also part of a really beautiful story.  One where I was lucky enough to cuddle my baby boy every day, to nourish him with my own body.  A phase that felt like forever at the time, but was really only a few short months out of my entire life.

Taking in all the little moments of my life, figuring out how they tell a story, helps me see and show the magic in yours.

And I’ve been chasing that light, and those stories, ever since.

Love Notes

“Sam is so easy to work with. She makes me feel confident while getting my picture taken.”

Brittany

“Sam puts everyone at ease. She knows what she is doing and it shows, that makes it easier on us.”

Alyssa

She captured beautiful,  truthful moments with our family. She created precious keepsakes of our boys.

Kelsey
5 kids hold hands and dance together against a fall backdrop in Michigan's upper peninsula
boy in green shirt lifting black eyed Susan flowers to his nose to smell them, during an outdoor family photo session in escanaba michigan

Capturing your LIFE in its best light.

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a great grandmother holds her new great grand baby close to her face for a kiss.
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