Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Fehling.
Hi Samantha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been behind a camera for as long as I can remember! I graduated from UMass Dartmouth in 2007 with a Bachelors in Fine Arts in Photography and Design, but my career and life definitely hasn’t followed a straight line.
I’m originally from Massachusetts, spent some time living in San Diego, and eventually landed in Virginia Beach thanks to my husband’s military career. As a military spouse, moving around and navigating deployments meant having to get a little creative with my own career. Photography was something I could take with me, and over time, it grew into a business that I’m incredibly proud of.
What started with photographing families has grown into so much more over the years. Today, I specialize in family photography, branding, and events, which has given me the opportunity to work with such a wide variety of people. I’ve photographed everything from family milestones and small business branding sessions to large corporate events for national companies. My work has also been featured on television and in magazines, which has been a really fun part of the journey. But one of my favorite things is still working with families who have trusted me to document their lives year after year, watching their kids grow up and being part of so many different milestones. I love that no two days look the same, and it’s been really rewarding to see how my business has grown and changed over time.
Along the way, I also opened and operated a rentable photography studio space in Hampton Roads, which was a whole adventure of its own! I recently sold the studio business to focus on my own photography career, spend more time with my family, and be a little more intentional about what comes next.
I’m a wife, mom of two boys, business owner, and someone who genuinely loves what I do. My business has changed a lot over the years, and so have I. I’m really proud that I’ve been able to build a career doing something creative, meeting great people, and making a living out of something I love.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh, definitely not! I think one of my biggest challenges has been figuring out how to be a business owner, military spouse, mom, and still have a little something left for myself at the end of the day.
Between deployments, unpredictable schedules, and stretches of essentially solo parenting, there have been plenty of times when I’ve had to juggle everything on my own. Running a small business doesn’t exactly come with paid time off, sick days, or someone to step in when life gets crazy!
I think one of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn is that I can’t do it all, although I’ve spent a good chunk of my life trying to prove otherwise! There’s always another email to answer, a gallery to edit, a client to follow up with, or a kid who needs to be somewhere in five minutes. Running a business while raising a family is a constant juggling act, and some days I’m definitely better at it than others. I’m still figuring out that whole work-life balance thing, but I’ve gotten a lot better at accepting that not everything needs to get done today!
As my business has grown, I’ve also had to learn when to say no, set boundaries, and recognize that being busy doesn’t necessarily mean being successful. My priorities have shifted over the years, and while I absolutely love my career, I also want to be present for my family and actually enjoy the life I’m working so hard to build.
I’m still figuring it out, and some weeks are definitely better than others, but I think that’s just part of being a small business owner!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I own Sami Roy Photography, based in Virginia Beach, where I specialize in branding, families, and events. It’s a pretty fun mix, and honestly, I love that no two days look the same!
My photography style is bright, colorful, and natural. I love capturing genuine moments, but I’m also not the photographer who’s going to leave you standing awkwardly wondering what to do with your hands! I give plenty of direction, keep things moving, and try to make the experience as relaxed and fun as possible.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with everyone from local families and small businesses to large national companies, photographing everything from family milestones to conferences, galas, and corporate events. I love the variety, and I especially love building relationships with clients who come back year after year.
I think what sets me apart is that I genuinely love people. Photography is about so much more than taking pretty pictures. It’s about making connections, helping people feel comfortable, and creating an experience they actually enjoy. I take my work seriously, but I don’t think everything needs to feel so serious!
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I think my biggest strength is my ability to connect with people. I’m naturally outgoing, love meeting new people, and can usually make just about anyone feel comfortable in front of my camera. I also think being adaptable has played a huge role in my success. Between military life, raising a family, and running a business, I’ve learned to roll with the punches, think on my feet, and figure things out as I go. A lot of my growth has also come from putting myself out there, networking, building relationships, and saying yes to opportunities that pushed me outside my comfort zone. And of course, none of it would be possible without the support of my husband, a whole lot of late nights, and probably more coffee than I’d like to admit! Not everything goes according to plan, and I’ve learned that’s okay. Sometimes you just have to figure it out as you go!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.samiroyphotography.com
- Instagram: samiroyphoto
- Facebook: samiroyphoto
