Savannah & Costa Rica Photographer - About - Samba to the Sea Photography

¡Hola holA!

Me llamo Kristen – that’s Español for “My name is Kristen.” 😉

Not too many moons ago I retired from the hustle and bustle of the NYC corporate banking world, trading in my heels for a surfboard and camera in Costa Rica. My photography work has been featured internationally in Harper’s Bazaar, Coastal Living, American Express, and Real Simple, to name a few (eek!).

I love dancing with waves, chasing sunsets, hiking with my teeny-tiny Chihuahua named Gidget, laughing my butt off, and giving you one heck of a fun photo session experience. I’m beyond blessed to call two beautiful places home, Tamarindo, Costa Rica and Savannah, Georgia.

Buttttt enough about me, let’s talk about you + what you’re looking for…photos that are 100% you! Because this isn’t gonna be like picture day at school, pinky promise! Keep on scrolling to learn more about my photo style + how I can help capture those images you’ve been dreaming about hanging in your home!

Portrait of photographer Kristen M. Brown in Tamarindo, Costa Rica

Surfer silhouette against a beautiful sunset sky in Tamarindo, Costa Rica.

Photographic Style

vibrant, candid, & 100% omg 😍

I’m not about awkward poses, but rather those perfectly-imperfect, REAL moments. The little things and those big feelings, like that look of pure joy on your face because you’re laughing so hard.

The big moments, the loud ones and the quiet ones, the in-betweens, the ones you don’t think anyone else is watching.

I’m about capturing who you really are and making this experience fun from beginning to end. Yep, even if your significant other dislikes taking photos, they’ll soon be saying how much fun they’re having — promise (and 100% vetted by over 100 5 star Google Reviews).

And if you “think” you’re horrible at getting your photo taken (because let’s be honest, who has time to spend in front of a mirror practicing poses like models do – – I’d much rather be surfing!), after our session you’re gonna want to have your photo taken with me every year (yes, my clients say this too…and come back to Costa Rica year after year for photos with me)!!!

I’m a photographer for the suNset dreamers + the Wild at heart.

So if you’re fueled by sandy toes and salt air, down to getting a ‘lil wet playing in the waves and wanna see my little Chihuahua Gidget do tricks for ya, obsessed with breathtaking sunsets, and value your experience over perfectly posed photographs, we’re gonna have one heck of a good time!

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Don’t just take my word for it…

With over one hundred 5-Star client reviews, these are just some of their ‘making me blush’ reviews…

I don’t even know where to begin with Kristen + Samba to the Sea. I found her while searching blogs on weddings in Costa Rica, and immediately knew I had to have her. I didn’t care about the venue, the music, the decor- only that we HAD to use Samba to the Sea for our photographs! Kristen has a unique, creative style and knows how to capture each and every perfect moment. My husband (I can say that, now!) and I were not the traditional bride and groom and Kristen fit our ‘off the beaten path’ needs, to the fullest. And I must add, she genuinely had fun photographing our wedding, and brought such a positive, energetic energy that was contagious. She is definitely someone you want to have around on your wedding day! I am beyond grateful to have these beautiful photos of our wedding to look back on forever! Thank you Kristen, we love you! – Rhiannon + Calvin

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Kristen really has, what they call “the whole package” – – not only does she instantly feel like a friend, she’s also extremely helpful loosening up a newbie in front of the camera. She gives the best advice when it comes to posture and posing. If you’re looking for exceptional quality and just a plain ole’ good time, Kristen is definitely your match made in Heaven.
– Sarah + Ian

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We had such a wonderful experience with Kristen. She made our session so relaxed. She is fun, energetic and easy to be with. The photos were incredible and we have used other professional photographers before with the kids. Kristen has the talent to catch truly genuine moments – nothing is super “posed” about the portraits….you will bring home the type of creative, beautiful photos you see on Pinterest and wish you could have in your home! Highly recommend!
– Casey Family

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Working with Kristen was one of the best choices we made in planning our wedding. She was able to really capture the love surrounding our wedding, and we were so happy to have found her. She was very communicative and her turnaround time was AMAZING! We had the photos to look at while on our honeymoon right after the wedding which was a big plus!! We felt like Kristen was a guest at our wedding rather than hired, she felt like a friend immediately and knew exactly how to capture our day. She knew of specific places to take us on the beach during our portraits which was so nice, and made us feel at ease the entire time. If there is one thing you do, book Kristen now, as you will not be disappointed! Gracias Kristen!!
– Gina + Mark

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Samba to the Sea Photography was exactly what my husband and I were looking for to capture our wedding day in Costa Rica. From the emails leading up, I could tell that Kristen genuinely cared about what we wanted. She was quick to respond with questions, and on the wedding day, she was professional, friendly and intuitive. This is huge when you have so many things going on, so many little decisions to make. We needed our photographer to take the reigns, creatively guiding us, effortlessly. Kristen did just that, creating some of the most beautiful photos of us. We couldn’t be happier with how they turned out, and will cherish them for the rest of our lives.
– Keeley + Steve

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published work (Holy moly!)

Some of My Favorite Things

come saMba with me!

gidget

aerial images

surfing

savannah

sunset

Nikon Film Camera

palm trees

old photographs

dreamy live oak trees

water views

yoga

the sunset shop

Oh, you want to know more?

From a very early age I can remember staring at pictures that my parents took on their worldwide travels and being mesmerized. I could not wait to get my hands on one of my parents’ SLRs. When my mom finally let me use her Nikon, I was ecstatic loading the film for the first time and even more elated seeing my first photographs come to life in front of my eyes in the dark room.

That Nikon SLR instantly became one of my best friends, coming along on every jaunt and worldwide adventure. Gone are the film days, and a digital Nikon DSLR is a welcomed addition to best friend status, but my viewpoint when I look through the camera lens is still the same. The world around me is transformed when I look through the viewfinder. I feel beyond blessed to be doing what I love and living my passions.

1,2,3...Samba!

Why Costa Rica?

I took my first surf lesson in 2011 and it was love at first wipeout. After two trips to Tamarindo, Costa Rica within a couple of months of that first surf lesson, I was sitting on my surfboard in the Pacific Ocean when my heart whispered I needed to be in Tamarindo. I hadn’t felt that alive in years. A year after my first trip to Costa Rica, in September of 2012, I took a leap of faith and left my job at a big bank in New York City. I hopped on a plane to surf in Pura-Vida-dise and to help Mr. Endless Summer, Robert August, with social media and blogging.

#SunsetChaser

Soon after landing in Costa Rica, I started chasing and photographing the oh-so-magical Costa Rican sunsets every night. After seeing one-too-many ugly postcards for sale in Tamarindo, I decided to take matters into my own hands and started selling my own of 100% recycled postcards, notecards, mini cards using my sunset photographs. Selling my photographs via my cards inspired me to finally pursue my passion for photography full-time. Sunset chasing with my oh-so-adorable Chihuahua Gidget is now a daily ritual – – every afternoon no matter where I am in the world, I close my laptop and head out with Gidget to chase sunsets. Costa Rica and Savannah so far are our two favorite spots to watch Mother Nature’s magic!

P.S. You can bring paradise home with you with my sunset and beach prints from my online print shop, The Sunset Shop!

Special Thanks

A very special thanks to Jen Hudson at Cor Signatures for the most breathtaking watercolor art used on the website background for Samba to the Sea, Lyndsey Smith of Lyndsey LaRue Photography for taking such beautiful portraits, and Lani at Lani Joy for my gorgeous logo!

Bring a piece of paradise home with you with prints, pillows, and postcards!

shop now!

Enough about me...

I wanna hear from you! I would love to know all about those photographic ideas you have cooking, whether it be playing on the beach with your family, wandering the Spanish Moss Squares in Savannah, hiking up to a beautiful waterfall, or capturing the intimate love at your wedding. I know there are countless other awesome photographers to choose from, so how about we grab a cup of delicious Costa Rican coffee and get to know each other? If the fit is right, I can’t wait to welcome you and your loved ones to the Samba to the Sea familia! Fill out the contact form or email me at hola@sambatothesea.com — you can count on me to get back to you within a day!

P.S. my clients love working with me as much as I love working with them; be sure to read their beautiful words of praise.

Let's get social!

@SambatotheSea