We had the good fortune of connecting with Sammy Coyle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sammy, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have always loved photography even if it wasn’t always a plan to make it a career. I have countless photo albums from as far back as I can remember and have always loved taking photos. I got my first DSLR camera in college in 2010 and learned how to use it mostly through trial and error. After graduating and starting working, I still loved taking photos and worked as an assistant and second photographer while still living in Michigan. I got married in 2016 and moved from home to our first apartment together in 2016 and with no job and no friends and no one to hang out with and a little bit of money, I decided that was a good time to start a business. In January of 2017, Samantha Coyle Photography was officially born. I have learned a ton of “what not to do” things as I figured it out, but each of those lessons have gotten me to where I am today.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think what sets me apart from other photographers is that I create a fun experience for my couples and clients that is less focused on the photography and more about capturing them enjoying the experience. With my wedding couples, the people I vibe with the most and get the best images from are the ones that dive in head first and are not afraid to be themselves and tell their story while being unapologetically themselves. My couples are not afraid to go out and do the crazy things like climb up on a rooftop for sunset photos or hike a mile up a trail to get those stunning photos in a special and meaningful location or have a Dungeons and Dragons themed wedding at a board game bar! Most people hear those things and think “that is weird” or “that sounds silly” and my response is “HECK YES! Let’s do it!” because I know at the end of the day, these are images that I want them to love and show their authentic selves. If someone looks at an image I have created of them and says “that’s me and I love it!”, that is what brings me joy!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would start the tour with a visit to a park. For warmer seasons, a visit to the beach at Edgewater Park or a stroll around the area is always nice. For cooler seasons in the fall, a hike around some scenic points in Cuyahoga Valley National Park are all great spots to stop for a photo and enjoy some nature. The next day or two would be a visit to some Cleveland landmarks in the city. Depending on your interests, I would recommend the Science Center, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, or a trip down to Canton for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and of course we cannot forget about the downtown stadiums for a night cheering on a sports team with the Browns, Cavs, and Guardians all having downtown stadiums. These could be easily accompanied by drinks and dinner on East 4th Street. To round out the week, a visit to Ohio City is a must. Breweries, Mitchell’s Ice Cream, West Side Market, and my personal favorite: Tabletop, a boardgame bar. For a small cover fee, you can sit there all day and play board games from the library of over 1000 games plus staff that can give you recommendations based on your party size and the type of games you like and food and drink are available to enjoy while you play. No trip is complete in the Cleveland area without visiting one of the iconic script Cleveland signs and take a photo with your friends. My personal favorite is in Voinovich Park behind the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I honestly wouldn’t be here without some butt kicking from some friends as well as some amazing family and friends. At the beginning of 2022, I was in a funk and had two friends come to me and say “Girl, we see so. much potential in you, but you need to work on some stuff to get to that awesome level we know you can be at.” So a big shout out to Courtney and Cassie for giving me the motivation and help that I needed to get to where I am today. I am continuing to bring people into my circle as I begin the new year with a business/life coach to help me get closer to those goals (shout out to Sam, so excited to work with you!) And of course, I can’t end a list of shout outs without including my family. My husband has always been here to cheer me on, to spend time with our daughter while I am away chasing my dreams, and to our moms for jumping in when he wasn’t available. I should also mention countless networking groups, education courses, and each and every client that has been along the ride to help me pursue this dream.

Website: www.scoylephoto.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/scoylephoto

Facebook: www.facebook.com/scoylephotography

Other: TikTok: @ScoylePhoto

Image Credits
All Images are by Samantha Coyle Photography except the woman with brown hair in a flowy blue dress. That is a photo of me and was created by Karissa Rene Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.