Hi, I’m Sami Laughlin

I'm the person behind S Laughlin Co., and if we're going to spend a few hours together creating something for your business, documenting your people, or bringing an idea you've had in your head to life, you should probably know a little bit about the human holding the camera.

I'm a creative at heart, but I've never been particularly good at doing just one creative thing. Photography is my specialty, but I'm also the person my friends call when they need help planning a party, figuring out social media, making something for their house, or turning a completely random idea into an actual plan.

I started my first business when I was 15, and a series of creative experiments eventually grew into S Laughlin Co. More than a decade later, I'm still doing what I've always loved most: taking an idea, finding the story behind it, and turning it into something people can see and feel.

These days, that means a lot of photography, video, content creation, and social media strategy for businesses. But underneath all of those services is the same thing I've always been obsessed with:

The big picture, the tiny details and the story of how the two work together.

A few things about me…

I'm a Disney World enthusiast, obsessive trip planner, and I will always say yes to a visit to Mickey’s house.
Mickey Money is imaginary anyway.
And yes, I genuinely think Disney has taught me a lot about photography, customer experience, storytelling, branding, and business.
We always have time to stop for coffee.
And you can get me to do almost anything if you say we can get Mexican food for lunch on the way.
TJ Maxx. HomeGoods. Thrifting. If there's a clearance section, I'm going in. "Just looking" has never been a particularly reliable promise.
I call it piddling. Some people call it side-quests. I prefer to think of it as collecting experiences.
Trip itinerary? Color coded. Wedding timeline? My expertise. Business strategy? Let’s talk. I love knowing where we're going, what we're trying to accomplish, and how we're going to get there.
And side note, I literally used to teach time management at a collegiate level.
That’s not click bait. One of the things people are usually surprised to learn about me is that I'm a black belt and martial arts instructor, alongside my husband, which is also how we met. I teach a self-defense class specifically for women.

One of the nicest things clients tell me is that I make them feel comfortable in front of the camera. I'll gladly take that compliment, even if I still haven't completely figured out how I do it.

But if I had to name my photography superpower, it's this:

I can see the finished product while I'm still in the middle of the photoshoot.

When I'm photographing a family, I'm already picturing the images hanging in their home.

When I'm photographing a headshot, I'm thinking about the book cover, website, business card, or profile where that image might eventually live.

And when I'm photographing a brand, I'm thinking about the website banner, the Instagram post, the Reel cover, the launch campaign, the email, the ad, and all of the other places those images can work for the business.

That's why I care so much about the details.

The goal isn't just to create beautiful photographs. It's to create photographs that have somewhere to go.

My Super Power Is Visualizing The End Result While I’m In The Middle Of A Photoshoot.

Come with your own vision board, or we can build one together. I genuinely love when a client sends me a mood board, a Pinterest board, a screenshot folder, or a collection of images they've been saving for six months. It’s not that I NEED it, because I’m going to build one for you anyway, but I believe their is so much value in how you visualize your own project.

It gives me a glimpse into how you see yourself, your business, your family, or the project we're creating together.

And then there are the clients who say the magic words, "I trust you." and that's when I get really excited.

Once I understand what we're creating and what you need the final images to accomplish, the freedom to take that vision and run with it always produces the most impactful and unique visual products.

Sometimes that means pushing you a little outside your comfort zone. Sometimes it means finding something you never would have thought to try. Sometimes it means taking the idea you brought me and turning it into something even better than what you originally imagined.

My ideal client experience is pretty simple:

You should feel like you're working with an expert who has a plan, so your stress level goes down.

You should feel comfortable enough that it doesn't feel like a formal photoshoot and more like
hanging out with a friend who happens to have a camera.

And when we're finished, you should walk away thinking:

"That was actually fun."

Then the gallery arrives and you realize we also made some seriously incredible stuff along the way!

Client Experience

I THINK BIG.

I believe successful business ownership is possible for a lot more people than they realize. But I also believe it requires a mental shift.

At some point, you have to stop thinking of your business as "my little business" and start thinking like the CEO of the company you're trying to build.

That mindset shapes how you show up, how you market, how you serve your customers, and how seriously you take the things that make your business visible.

And yes, I'm going to say it: I will die on the hill that social media matters.

You don't have to love social media. You don't have to spend your entire life making Reels. But in today's business landscape, your online presence is one of the most powerful ways to build trust, stay visible, communicate your value, and give people a reason to choose you.

That's why my work has grown beyond the camera, because I believe that’s how I can help your business move forward.

I'm Ready To Work With You

WANT TO SEE WHAT I’VE BEEN CREATING?

My portfolio is always growing, and my social media is where you'll find the most recent work from S Laughlin Co.

Follow along for recent brand photography, content creation, video, behind-the-scenes moments, and a peek at what we're creating with local and growing businesses.

You can find me at these profiles:
@s.laughlin.co, @s.l.c.media @main.street.dreamin, @sami.laughlin (TT)
On Instagram, Facebook, & TikTok

Follow Me

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING SPECIFIC?

If you're considering working together, send me an email and tell me what you're looking for. I'll send you a sample gallery featuring work that's relevant to your session or project.

Request Portfolio

"Sami was amazing to work with! She fully understood my vision for this branding shoot and the entire process from start to end was seamless. Sami offered wonderful advice and helpful tips throughout the photoshoot to help achieve the results I wanted. Sami has a way of making you feel comfortable while having your picture taken which results in incredibly authentic photos. I would hands down work with Sami again, it was well worth the investment!"

Casey S - 5 Stars
Branding
"We could not have asked for a more perfect photographer than Sami. From the very beginning, she was warm, communicative, and professional. She took the time to truly understand the vibe and vision we had for our wedding, and then exceeded every expectation with the way she brought it to life. Sami didn’t just capture our day—she enhanced it. She blended seamlessly into the wedding party, making everyone feel comfortable, supported, and seen. Looking back, we honestly can’t imagine our wedding without her talent, her heart, and her calming presence. My husband and I are beyond grateful, and we already know we’ll be turning to Sami to photograph every milestone our family celebrates in the future. She is an absolute dream to work with and we cannot recommend her enough."

Julia B - 5 Stars
Wedding
“Sami exceeded my expectations with this shoot. Her energy, expertise, and strategy made it this process easy! I loved that she was open to working with another creative mind (brand director) to make this happen! I’m in the process of booking another shoot with her right now!!”

Symone W - 5 Stars
Branding
"Sami was extremely well organized (which helped my anxiety for the wedding day SO much), very helpful with posing, and the photos turned out more than perfect! We are so incredibly happy with everything ❤️ Thank you, Sami, for helping make our big day perfect and capturing all of our special moments! We will absolutely be using you again in the future!"

Liz L - 5 Stars
Wedding
"I had a fantastic experience working with Sami! Right from the beginning, she made choosing my clothing options—often the most overwhelming part of photoshoots—much easier. Communication with her was a breeze, and I truly appreciated her professionalism in planning our meeting and coordinating the shoot. One of the key reasons I chose Sami was her ability to create a mood board that perfectly captured my vision for my brand. Her attention to detail was impressive, and I can’t wait to showcase these photos across all my platforms as I launch my business!"

Emily O - 5 Stars
Branding
"My daughter requested a bit of an unconventional photo shoot for her graduation photos. I sent multiple examples of what we were wanting and she hit the nail right on the head. The photos were beyond my expectation and we are very pleased with the results. Thank you, Sami for understanding the assignment and for making my daughter feel absolutely beautiful."

2025 Senior Parent - 5 Stars
"Sami was great from start to finish! We had so much fun taking the pictures & they came out so beautiful!! Thank you again, Sami! We love them so much!"

Olivia H - 5 Stars
Family
"What a fun shoot! Sami is easygoing, easy to work with, communicates promptly and efficiently, and her work is amazing! She made our photoshoot memorable and fun!"

Sandra A - 5 Stars
Cake Smash