My favorite moment — the big reveal! Love sharing the prints of what I’ve shot with the people I’ve photographed. I think it makes folks feel truly seen, closes the loop of our momentary collaboration, and it brings me so much joy.
Here’s a ride-along with me as I do that extremely rewarding work on my new project ‘Our Pico.’
About the project:
An arts grant from The City of Santa Monica made ‘Our Pico’ possible — the aim of my collaboration with the Pico Improvement Org was to create a portrait gallery celebrating the workers who invest their lives in the Pico neighborhood’s economy, and to reveal the humanity behind Pico’s storefronts.
The series is on view now as a gallery show in Santa Monica through the end of 2023!
OUR PICO
at the Pico Culture House
3018 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica CA
Thurs - Sat, 10am – 1pm
Or by appointment via [email protected]@cityofsantamonica@picosantamonica #artofrecovery #samcomenphotography #behindthescenes #bts #famousbtsmagazine #famousbtsmag
So excited to share UNHOUSED with you today.
“Unhoused” is a photo and audio project that invites you to meet some of the Californians coping with the state’s homelessness crisis, and hear from them in their own words.
I hope the work resonates for you — and am so thankful to all the people portrayed in the project who shared their stories and themselves with me and my collaborator, audio reporter Aaron Schrank.
I produced the multimedia project with support from the California Health Care Foundation, and it’s intended to serve as a companion piece to the UCSF Benioff Homeless and Housing Initiative’s California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness.
Visit UnhousedCA.org @ LinkInBio
#unhousedca #CAHomelessnessStudy #samcomenphotography
Powerful evening with @daylaborernetwork , who continue to lead the fight for immigrants’ constitutional rights. Honoring the life of Roberto Carlos Montoya. Please consider donating and following @daylaborernetwork to support their vital work.
Since I started shooting at 19, photography has always been a way for me to connect with others. Love how a chance encounter can lead to new ties within my community I otherwise would never have made.
#filmcommunity #filmcamera #kodakfilm #4x5film #shootfilm #artisticexpression #designinspiration #artisticjourney #creativeprocess #inspiration #artisticcommunity #creativecommunity #artcommunity #artinspiration #creativeminds #artistsoninstagram #analogphotography
#largeformatphotography #largeformat #filmisnotdead #filmphotography #4x5 #portraitphotography #portraitphotographer #samcomenphotography #samcomen#
What happens when you light a room wrong on purpose? This. Enter: a flash on the fridge. A flash on the cabinets. A flash on the mayo.
#portraitphotography #portraitphotographer #professionalphotography #artisticjourney #creativeprocess #inspiration #artisticcommunity #creativecommunity #artcommunity #artinspiration #creativeminds #artistsoninstagram #samcomenphotography
1.1M immigrants’ futures are at risk. I’m beginning a new photo essay to amplify their stories. Come with me as I document the people organizing to protect TPS.
#documentaryportrait #samcomenphotography #portraitphotography #tps1million #tpsvenezuela
Awed by the power of connection and the deep, tender humanity I witnessed in this moment.
Demonstrators against ICE raids and federal overreach stood outside the federal detention building in Downtown LA (where many scooped-up in ICE’s raids are held) and made moments of meaning with detainees peeking out of the windows above on August 12, 2025.
I had a moment to talk with Pablo Alvarado of @daylaborernetwork , who said something to me like “Police think they’re dehumanizing us as they chase us down, violate our rights. But in their violence, they dehumanize themselves.”
It’s all in the details! Did photography make me neurotic, or did I find photography because I’m so detail-driven?
#filmcommunity #filmcamera #kodakfilm #4x5film #shootfilm #artisticexpression #designinspiration #artisticjourney #creativeprocess #inspiration #artisticcommunity #creativecommunity #artcommunity #artinspiration #creativeminds #artistsoninstagram #analogphotography
#largeformatphotography #largeformat #filmisnotdead #filmphotography #4x5 #portraitphotography #portraitphotographer
If we’re focused on our screens and streams, are we missing the beauty all around us?
#filmcommunity #filmcamera #kodakfilm #4x5film #shootfilm #artisticexpression #designinspiration #artisticjourney #creativeprocess #inspiration #artisticcommunity #creativecommunity #artcommunity #artinspiration #creativeminds #artistsoninstagram #analogphotography
#largeformatphotography #largeformat #filmisnotdead #filmphotography #4x5 #portraitphotography #portraitphotographer
