𝗦𝗮𝗺 𝗧. 𝗟𝗮𝗺 | 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀 + 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹

Thanks to @myranelifabian_photography for these snaps of me in action at the Whittier Blvd / East LA Christmas cruise on 2025-12-21. The bearer of light in the last slide is @benhanson.photos . I’ve had many people tell me that I look like I’m having the time of my life at these events. I AM. Like many people in these spaces, I’ve had some tough times over the years—and rough aspects of my life now, especially being a caregiver (alongside my sister) for our mom. All that makes the moments I’m outside in my community and on the streets even more special. Capturing what we humans have been doing since time immemorial: creating, crafting, connecting, communing, and celebrating one another (and with one another). “Photography” comes from Greek roots meaning “drawing / writing with light.” A lot of our craft comes from literally manipulating and using light to tell a story. But symbolically for me, photography is also—to quote the homie @bigosc.62 who recently told me this—about me finding light where others see only darkness. Much love to everyone as we enter the New Year! Special shout-out to local Arleta / Pacoima homeboy and fellow creator @blastostwear , whose brand I’m repping in these pics. #losangeles #carphotography #motophotography #canonphotography

Had a blast on this photo shoot for my homie Ozzy’s @vatoscanijos masterpiece, this Softail vicla “Purple Haze”. This is a meaningful motorcycle for me to shoot because it is the second ever vicla I captured when I got on the automotive scene last year (the first and third were Ozzy’s homies @scarlet.hd and @vicla_republic ). That was the catalyst for me to do more motorcycle—especially vicla—photography, which I’ve been refining ever since. The folks I’ve met on the bike scene have been some of my biggest supporters and hype-people. Although I love snapping flicks at meets and cruises, there’s a unique opportunity that a private shoot offers me and the owners to take advantage of all my gear and skills. I can take my time to set up any lighting and to give each ride proper attention—to compose each frame, to manipulate light / shadow, and to emphasize key details and tell a fuller story. For this shoot I used an off-camera strobe and octagonal softbox with honeycomb grid to serve as fill light and in a few cases a subtle rim light, controlled by a remote trigger on my camera. Our awesome sun was the key light. Ozzy picked this location and he nailed it because the dark green foliage and grey concrete, which were in the shade, made the perfect backdrop to show off the chrome, high-key purple paint, and micro-shadows within the engine block (i.e., high-contrast elements of the bike against the mid-tone background for maximum “pop”). Main lens for the full-body shots was my trusty 50mm. Wide angle shots with my 15-35mm f2.8. Detail shots with my 85mm f1.4. Thanks, Ozzy, for the privilege of letting me capture this artwork on wheels. 🤙🏼✊🏼📸 — DM me if you’re interested in a private shoot like this. I also have a contact form on my website (see my bio @samtlamphoto ). Peeeeace. ✌🏼 — 🔑: @vatoscanijos Rosary by @beautifulblessingsrosaries 🫡: @losangelesgrammers @fishtailzmagazine @viclas_n_mexicas @canonusa 📸: @samtlamphoto #motophoto #softail #vicla #chicano #losangeles

2026-01-31 Proud Origins Walk + 5k in Compton, organized by Color Compton with Compton Run Club and the Compton Art & History Museum. These are some of my captures. Big props to the runners today. My brother is an ultra and trail runner and it is a community that I have deep respect for. It was a beautiful day in Compton for Angelenos to come together in community, solidarity, and celebration of our shared and diverse heritages. All proceeds went to CHIRLA @chirla_org , The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, which has a location in my hometown of Pacoima and is one of the primary non-profit organizations on which I focus my charitable giving. I spent a big chunk of my law school years, and more pro bono hours throughout my legal career, working on immigration legal matters, and one thing I can say is that it is thankless and sacred work. I’ve included a link in my bio to CHIRLA’s donation page. Special shout-out to @markbyrd_ , co-founder of the Compton Art & History Museum and Color Compton. I actually found out about this walk + 5k after hearing Mark speak passionately about his journey and faith on a panel at @zaymonae ’s Photo Walk Exhibition in which one of my images exhibited. It is a blessing to be in a space with creators and makers and world-shapers. More than ever we need ART and all that it offers to us and our imaginations, our aspirations, and our hope. 🙏 Much love to the people. ✌️ El pueblo unido jamás será vencido. The people united will never be defeated. I have high-res versions of these photos, along with other photos that didn’t make this set, in a Google Drive link in my (@samtlamphoto ) bio! @comptonmuseum @colorcompton @comptonrunclub 📸: @samtlamphoto #compton #losangeles #running #optoutside

2026-05-12. Dodgers vs. Giants. #losangeles #dodgerstadium #baseballgame

Party @ The Pink Motel ✨💞🌴🦩 Another great one! Thank you @genocidecc ✨✨✨ 📸: @samtlamphoto 🛞: @cooldudechillen - - #pinkmotel #explore #70sstyle #chicana #lowridergirl

2026-05-02. Genocide CC’s annual Pink Motel party. One of the coolest things to go down on the planet, and it happens to take place in my neighborhood (I went to middle school two blocks away, to give a sense). Here are a few of my quick snaps from the end of the night. I only got to stop by for a couple of hours because I was at an all-day photoshoot, but I ran into a lot of friends while I was here—including @papa_duey , whose car is in the first few slides of this post, and @ladygalaxie @letscruisewithlady from @tangierscarclub . That’s on that community tip. Also, big apologies to the photographer whom I accidentally stepped in front of while cars were dragging on the street at the end of the night. That’s my bad, I didn’t see you in the dark and I promise I didn’t mean to block you! Thanks @genocidecc for bringing the community together for this again, the vibes are off the chain. — Cameos by @theehomiemikey with his magic business card, @_jaimeink dragging through, and @booboosicecreamtruck at the very right of the final image. 📸: @samtlamphoto 🫡: @lowriders_of_la @losangelesgrammers @valleyviewssfv @happeningin818 #pinkmotel #losangeles #sfv #lowriderlifestyle #carphotograpy

Here’s a short #behindthescenes🎬 reel from yesterday’s shoot for @chicanoelegance @yolimagazine What an amazing day shooting with so many creative talented people. Thank you everyone who was part of this photoshoot. Photographers: @samtlamphoto @alteredmolecules In frame: @ashvltne @vivianayvonnetv @oldskool_funktionz Studio @soulterachicana MUA @melissa__anchondo_mua Stylist @theglovedartist Creative Directors @thrifs_ @elidet.smiles

2026-04-26. It was another great time this past Sunday at @walters_oneofakind ‘s Poetry in Motion event here in the 818. In addition to the sick rides and amazing performers that Walter brought together, he invited my friend @lilahrodrigz and me to conduct an on-location portrait shoot with his clean blue VW bus. Here are some of my favorite captures from that shoot. Thanks for letting me snap, guys 📸, and to Delilah once again for collaborating with me to make some cool images! For gear nerds, my lighting setup: - Ad600 with 12x36 stripbox - Golden circular reflector for warm fill - Godox V1 Speedlite inside the bus to create the rim and background glow light on Delilah - The sun was behind Delilah and was a paid actor Event Organizer: @walters_oneofakind Model: @lilahrodrigz 📸: @samtlamphoto with @tre_berto as PA / co-director / moral support #carphotography #portraitphotography #losangeles #sfv #818

𝔸𝕨𝕖𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕘𝕦𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕊𝕒𝕞 𝕃𝕒𝕞, 𝕝𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕄𝕠𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝕒𝕥 𝟟 ℙ𝕄 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕠𝕟 𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝔻𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕞 ℙ𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕖, 𝕖𝕩𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕪 𝕠𝕟 𝕊𝕡𝕠𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕪. 𝕋𝕦𝕟𝕖 𝕚𝕟! • •• ••• #therealitydreamperspective #spotify #podcaster #podcastshow #photography

Great to snap this dope lowrider bike from @animaniacs_carclub , in front of @cookiezproductionz818cp @mz_cookie_818 ‘s Impala. At the @photorebel82 @calaveracolores photo meet on Sunday 4/19/26. 🤙🏼✊🏼 Also, I believe that this beaded calavera is for sale! Reach out to @photorebel82 for info! 🫡: @lowriders_of_la 📸: @samtlamphoto #lowrider #lowriderlifestyle #chicano #losangeles #sfv

Posted with permission from mom. Love this shot I got of @cookiezproductionz818cp and @mz_cookie_818 ‘s son Angel in front of Cookie’s glowing Impala, at @photorebel82 ’s photo meet (if you look closely you’ll see a Rebel photo bomb lol). Love this family and everything they do for the culture and lowrider scene, especially in the San Fernando Valley. 💙🙏🏼 #lowriders #lowriderlifestyle #carphotography #sfv #losangeles

2026-04-19 more SFV vibing at @photorebel82 ’s Calavera Photo Meet at Brand Park. Thanks to the models for letting me shoot 📸. Creative direction credit goes to the homie @chicano_chicana_state_of_mind . Thanks as always to the amazing @cookiezproductionz818cp and @mz_cookie_818 for showing up and letting us shoot in front of the low. And to @animaniacs_carclub for letting us shoot with the lowrider bike. 📸: @samtlamphoto 🫡: @lowriders_of_la @losangelesgrammers @valleyviewssfv #chicano #lowriders #portraitphotography #losangeles #sfv