Biography
Samm Blake is an Australian photographer currently based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
With over a decade of professional experience, Samm’s photographic journey has assumed a rich and varied path. Having studied Photomedia and Journalism at Edith Cowan University, her career began with documentary work exploring issues pertaining to isolation and Australian culture. Combining a fine arts background with a skilled and sensitive eye for portraiture, her images garnered acclaim for their honesty, vulnerability, and unfeigned connection to its subjects—qualities that translated exceptionally well to her next creative endeavor: documenting weddings.
Since launching her full-time wedding photography business in 2007, Samm’s work has received global recognition. She was named as one of Australia’s Top Ten Wedding Photographers by Capture Magazine two years in a row, and among the Top Ten Wedding Photographers in the World by American Photo Magazine in 2013. In her nine years, she’s photographed celebrations across the world, from Iceland to Indonesia, the UK to the UAE and beyond, bringing unique editorial and artistic sensibilities to the wedding world.
Education
Bachelor of Communications with a double major in Photomedia & Journalism | Edith Cowan University, Australia (2003)
Speaking Events
2019 Arc Conference. Vancouver, Canada. Keynote Speaker.
2019 Art & The Heart Workshop. Perth, Australia. Educator.
2019 Rebelution Resurge. New York. Speaker.
2019 Photo Native. Palm Springs, USA. Teacher.
2018 Way Up North. Cologne, Germany. Speaker.
2018 WRKSHP - Brooklyn, USA. Speaker.
2018 Art & The Heart Workshop. New York, USA. Educator.
2018 Art & The Heart Workshop. Sydney, AUS. Educator.
2017 WRKSHP - Brooklyn, USA. Speaker.
2017 Art & The Heart Workshop. San Francisco, USA. Educator.
2017 BODAF Photo Conference. Barcelona, Spain. Speaker.
2016 WRKSHP - Brooklyn, USA. Speaker.
2016 Ostuni Workshop - Puglia, Italy. Speaker.
2016 Photo Field Trip. Santa Barbara, USA. Speaker / Educator.
2016 Photo Farm. Surrey, UK. Educator.
2015 UnConvention. Brooklyn, USA. Speaker.
2015 Way Up North. Stockholm, Sweden. Speaker.
2015 Photo Field Trip. Santa Barbara, USA. Speaker.
2015 WPPI Masterclass. Las Vegas, USA. Speaker.
2015 Photo Farm. Surrey, UK. Educator.
2015 Samm Blake Workshop. Melbourne, AUS. Educator.
2014 Photo Field Trip. Santa Barbara, USA. Speaker.
2013 Canada Photo Convention. Vancouver, CAN. Speaker.
2013 Musea Gathering Event. New York City, USA. Speaker.
2013 Art & The Heart Workshop. New York, USA. Educator.
2013 Art & The Heart Workshop. Brisbane, AUS.. Educator.
2012 AIPP Tasmania Breakaway. Hobart, AUS. Speaker.
2012 Art & The Heart. Southern Highlands, Australia. Educator.
2012 Art & The Heart Workshop. London, UK. Educator.
2012 Art & The Heart Workshop. Cork, Ireland. Educator.
2012 Art & The Heart Workshop. New York, USA. Educator.
2012 Art & The Heart Workshop. Melbourne, AUS. Educator.
2012 What If Conference. Portland, USA. Speaker.
2011 Jonas Peterson & Sean Flanigan Workshop. Brisbane. Guest Speaker.
2011 Beloved Collective Conference. Los Angeles, USA. Speaker.
2011 Winter Wonderland. Hunter Valley, AUS. Guest Speaker.
2011 Professional Photo Seminar. Melbourne, AUS Speaker.
2010 Voice Workshop. Canberra, AUS. Guest Speaker.
2010 Samm Blake Workshop. Albany, AUS. Educator.
2009 AIPP Event. Perth, AUS. Speaker.
2009 Samm Blake Workshop. Albany, AUS. Educator.
Awards
2013 Named one of the Top Ten Wedding Photographers in the World - American Photo Magazine)
2012 The New York Photo Awards – Top 5 Finalist (multimedia)
2012 Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize – Finalist
2012 Qantas SOYA Photography Award – Top 10 Finalist
2011 Monster Children Photo Competition – Top 5 Finalist (action)
2011 Monster Children Photo Competition – Short-listed Finalist (travel)
2011 Head On Portrait Prize – Short-listed Finalist
2010 Named Top Ten Wedding Photographers in Australia – Capture Magazine
2009 Named Top Ten Wedding Photographers in Australia – Capture Magazine
2008 Wedding Photojournalist Association – First Prize