With over 140 5-Star client reviews on Google,
these are their ‘making me blush’ reviews.
When it comes time to decide on a photographer for your wedding, yes of course look at their whole body of work and style but I can’t recommend hiring someone you genuinely enjoy and find to be pleasant and lovely. Kristen is not only EXTREMELY talented at capturing beautiful candid shots, her eye for detail is unmatched, but she also is a genuinely wonderful person to be around. Some moments in a wedding are intimate and vulnerable (getting ready, getting in your dress, crying multiple times!) but Kristen was almost like a second wedding planner right there helping to put my veil on, helping me reach my dress that was hanging on the window, helping me fix my veil…. I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else but Kristen with me in those intimate moments. The photos themselves are perfect, she did not miss a single moment and my family and friends have remarked several times how beautiful they are. Kristen provides a massive amount of value for her services and talent, we received our wedding photos back one week after our wedding!!!!
Not even sure where to begin, but Kristen was an absolute joy to work with! She is very reliable and communicated/coordinated with me for any question or request I had throughout the entire process. I was trying to plan my proposal in a country I had never even been to, so you can imagine how clueless I was, but that was no problem for Kristen! She guided me through everything and even provided me with multiple videos explaining/showing the exact location of my proposal set up. Thanks to her trusty sidekick dog, Gidget, I was easily able to spot Kristen as she was in position and ready to capture one of the most important moments in my life. During our session, she had a perfect variety of ideas for our pictures which helped our awkward selves. My favorite part of our session was how nice and personable Kristen is, there was an instant connection like she was just one of your friends taking pictures of you. The only difference was, Kristen’s photos are above and beyond! We were very pleasantly surprised with the photo quality and editing. Within an hour or so, Kristen already had gone home and gotten a few sneak peak photos ready for us to make our announcement. Getting to review such great pictures of a very special moment made for a memory in itself. I am incredibly blessed to have found such a great person/photographer for this memory of a lifetime! Thank you so much again, Kristen.
Let me begin by saying that I’m a wedding photographer myself so my standards are a little unusual and Kristen is AMAZING! My boyfriend (now fiance!) hired Kristen to capture his surprise proposal to me in Costa Rica and with her help, it was perfect.
Personality – Finding a photographer you feel comfortable with is SO important, no matter what the session is. Kristen is a 1000% for fun, friendly, and being a genuine human being – which in turn makes for an exceptional photographic experience in front of the camera. Seriously – this is super important and not easy to find!
Session – Kristen is more movement based which makes for natural, real emotions and reactions in the photos. She guided us through movements, constantly talking the whole time (so we were comfortable!) and caught the genuine moments and expressions rather than guiding us into stiff poses. Love!!!
Previews – Seeing your pictures is SO exciting and Kristen delivered ASAP – as in, sent over 3 gorgeous previews 2 hours later, and then edited the entire session in a record less than 24 hours!! Ummm man was my mom stoked!!
Images – Gorgeous, and speak for themselves!! Also, I love sun flare and she nailed it! On top of that, she provides the edited, digital files for download (high resolution and web size). Different photographers work in different ways, and I personally always recommend a photographer that provides the digital files and print rights to the images. It’s what I do as a photographer, and what I would look for!
Bonus! Not only did she do an amazing job as our photographer, but she helped my fiance lay out the plan. We aren’t from Costa Rica so her suggestions were immensely helpful to him – AND she assisted in making the restaurant reservation for him (since it would have been tough for him to do with me present!)
Summary: Kristen is a talented photographer with an A+ personality – she goes above and beyond for her clients and I would not hesitate to hire her again for any type of wedding or session! Loved everything about our experience and can’t recommend her enough!!
Kristen is profoundly talented at her craft. Not only did she provide Conde Nast level photography from our session but she was an absolute joy and pleasure to work with, would highly recommend for any work both personal and professional.
My husband and I recently celebrated our wedding in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Being from the US, trying to find the right photographer to capture the special moments during the big day can be a bit stressful. For us, thanks to Kristen, this was the easiest and most stress free part of our wedding.
Kristen’s fun and energetic attitude made working with her before, during and after such a pleasure!
We absolutely LOVE all of our wedding photographs. My husband and I wanted our photos to have a care free, fun beachy vibe to match our personalities. Kristen did not disappoint and captured this perfectly!!
I would HIGHLY recommend Kristen to anyone and everyone. I can not say enough positive things about her. We will forever be grateful to her for being a part of our special day.
I’m not a review writer, but Kristen’s work compelled to me to make an exception. I’m accustomed to leaving photography sessions hoping to have a photo or two that I love. With Kristen, our challenge was to pick out which of the dozens of photos that we loved to print and frame.
She did a fantastic job of keeping our kids engaged, and of changing up the setting, look, and feel of the photos so that they felt fresh and unique. I highly recommend Kristen to anyone looking for fantastic photos in Tamarindo!
– Holmes Family
I wish I could have used Kristen for our wedding! We seriously have never loved photos of us as much as the ones Kristen took! We wanted to capture our first pregnancy while In Costa Rica and my husband miraculously agreed to hire a photographer. Kristin made the whole process so easy and my husband actually enjoyed the photo shoot! The photos came out better than we could have imagined and have no idea how we will choose which ones to display! We’ve received so many compliments saying the photos look like they belong in a magazine! We can’t wait to return to Costa Rica with our little girl and hire Kristen for a family session!
– Jamie + Peter
My fiancé and I had Kristen shoot our engagement pictures while we were in Costa Rica and they turned out amazing! She was super helpful and responsive during the planning process and was even willing to work around the weather the day of. She had a “sneak peak” ready for us later that night, and the rest of the pictures done in two weeks or so, a pretty fast turnaround. I love how intimate and candid they are, and get compliments on them every time I share!
Kristen was phenomenal to work with, from the first time we spoke until the delivery of our incredible photos. I feel like we won the lottery in finding her! I was looking for a photographer who could truly bring to life the essence and spirit of both my business and my family, which was no easy task, and I knew this! Kristen far exceeded my expectations, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. For anyone looking for a photographer who will take the time to truly understand who you are and bring your vision to life, Kristen is you lady! I would recommend her to anyone and cannot wait to work with her again in the future!
I can’t say enough great things about our experience with Kristen! We spent a lot of time searching for photographers in Costa Rica for our wedding pictures and as soon as I came across Kristen’s work I knew my search was over. We were obsessed with her dreamy sunset beach photos and the way she was able to capture natural moments between couples. We were nervous about having to come up with poses and having to think about little details that we couldn’t see, but Kristen really just directed the whole thing so we didn’t have to think about anything but connecting and having fun – We SO appreciated that and it really took all the stress away. She was very relaxed, easy to talk to, and a pleasure to work with from start to finish. When we initially booked, we were debating between a couple of dates and she made suggestions based on what the tide was doing so we could have more beach space, we wouldn’t have even thought of that. We also wanted to have some pictures in the jungle setting and some on the beach and she knew the spots for both and was able to make both happen within our hour session. After the shoot we were eager to see our pictures and expected to have to wait a few weeks to get them back, but she got them done so fast and we got to enjoy them while we were still on our honeymoon! Our family and friends reaction to our pictures was “good luck picking!” There wasn’t a picture we didn’t like and she really captured the love between us. We are so grateful to have these pictures to treasure for a lifetime! Thank you Kristen!!!
– Megan + Toby
Kristen is so so lovey to work with. My fiancé and I aren’t used to taking photos and were nervous, but she made us feel very comfortable and helped direct our poses. We are so thrilled with our photos!! Thanks again Kristen!
– Caroline + Luke
I found Samba to the Sea/Kristen online while searching for a photographer in Tamarindo for some anniversary photos and I immediately fell in love with her work! I reached out and she was super quick to respond and was very flexible with dates and timing and seemed to know the perfect time for a beautiful shoot. She was so great to work with! Hands down the best photo session my husband and I have had. She took us to some breathtaking spots in Tamarindo and my husband and I could not be happier with the way the photos turned out. It was a very quick turnaround on the photos as well. Thank you so much, Kristen!
I used Kristen for branding photos for my business. Let me start by saying that I really don’t like doing photoshoots. I’m super uncomfortable in front of the camera and I have no clue when it comes to poses. This is where Kristen’s expertise really shows. She had me create a pinterest board of all of the branding photos I loved to get an idea of my style. This sounds like a small detail, but honestly this was such a HUGE help when it came to the photoshoot day because she knew exactly what I was looking for. Working with Kristen was effortless, comfortable and so much fun!! Legit, I had such a great time! Which is a big deal for me. She was able to direct me easily and captured the best angles. She had an incredibly quick turn around with photos and honestly, I loved EVERY one. It was SO hard to pick all of my final images because she is just so incredibly talented. I would 100000% reco her and work with her again.
– Christi, Christi the Clairvoyant
As photographers ourselves, it was important for us to have beautiful photos taken of our family. Kristen delivered on that and so much more! We couldn’t be happier with the final selection of images we received, and we can’t wait to frame many of them in our house!
Kristen did an anniversary shoot for my husband and I, and I could not recommend her more! I found her online and when I saw how fun and colorful her pictures looked, I knew I had to hire her as our photographer. Some pictures from photoshoots look awkward or staged, but Kristen’s somehow always looked so natural. After working with her, I totally understand how she gets such amazing shots. I usually feel awkward having my picture taken – but not with Kristen! She made us feel so natural getting our photos taken, had us laughing the whole time, and was overall a pleasure to work with. It rained unexpectedly and she knew exactly where to take us to make the most of the weather. I’ve gotten a ton of compliments on our pictures from family and friends, and would definitely work with Kristen again in the future. Seriously, if I could give her more than 5 stars I would – she is truly the best!!
I just got our photo gallery (<48 hrs after our session!!) and the pictures are stunning! I cannot stop staring at them! I’ve wanted professional, outdoor photos for years and have never found the right time or person to book with. My dream was to have beach pictures and this session met every wish I had!
Kristen was amazing and made us all feel at ease. She picked the perfect location and time of day.
One reason I chose her was the fact her prices were reasonable and we would own the digital copies enabling us to print as many as wanted. I am SO GLAD we have this option because there is no way I could narrow it down to just a few!!
You will not regret scheduling a session with Kristen!
– Welken Family
Photos to last a lifetime. Kristen was so easy to work with, very responsive and professional but also super playful with our young girls. She is truly a talented photographer and she captured our special family moment in such a natural and beautiful way.
As a wedding photographer myself, my photos were the most important part of my wedding. After looking at different vendors I quickly chose Samba To The Sea. I loved her style and her brand. She does a fantastic job of promoting herself and her brand so that she doesn’t feel like a stranger on your wedding day. One thing many couples don’t realize is that your wedding photographer spends the entire day with you. Having a connection with your photographer really makes a difference. It makes you feel comfortable in front of the camera (which as a person who’s always behind the lens is difficult to do). When we got to our location the for the rehearsal, Kristen was doing a shoot out on the beach with a family. I knew it was her even though we never met in person. I waved at her and she waved us over. She actually took some quick pictures of us with the most beautiful sunset behind us (just incase we didn’t have that beautiful of a sunset the next day for our wedding). I totally wasn’t expecting that, and we got some of the most beautiful photos from it. When it came to the wedding day Kristen arrived on time and ready to conquer the day. I knew I wanted pictures of my dress on a surfboard and she even offered up her own for pictures! She shared in our joy and laughter all day and was everything I ever wanted and more for my wedding photos! Kristen captured more emotion, love, and laughter than I thought was possible in pictures. Her style is clean, but still colorful. My guests just keep saying how she nailed the colors. She made it magical! She was organized, fun, and up for anything! And let’s not forget how was able to wrangle 20 (drunk) people for one huge picture on the beach (which is a lot harder than it sounds). A day after the wedding I had two pictures already as a preview. I got the rest of the photos in under a week after my wedding. That was unexpected and A TON OF WORK! I couldn’t love them more. I now have so many beautiful photos to share with family and friends that couldn’t make it. Kristen’s photos tell a story. There’s no need for a videographer when you have her as a wedding photographer. I couldn’t recommend her more. She is AHH-mazing.
We set up a photography session with Kristen during our Christmas vacation to Costa Rica last year (2018-19) and were so glad we did! She asked that we set up the session super early (5:30am) so we could be the only ones on the beach at our busy Guanacaste resort (we were!). The sand was untouched for the morning and we got some amazing pictures of the moon and the sunrise. We also have incredible family photos, including some of the best shots of the kids surrounded by the beautiful Costa Rican scenery. Kristen is very kind, accomodating, and great to work with, and the pictures were wonderful!
– Bissember Family
Kristen captured our family beautifully in Costa Rica and she made the whole thing SO easy. From scheduling around our crazy travel dates, to getting genuine smiles out of our two small daughters,, to the amazingly fast delivery of the photos, start to finish, Kristen was incredible to work with. These are photos I will cherish for a lifetime, thank you so much Kristen!
– Pribenno Family
Trying to hire a photographer in a different country for your wedding day, is really the most stressful part, even when you’re eloping and making things as simple as possible. It is just so important to get exactly what you want.
Kristen was such a pleasure to work with before, during, and even after our photoshoot! She was easy to communicate with, even though we are in Canada and she is in Costa Rica. She always answered emails in a timely manner. Kristen really knows the area well, and knows where the best shots are going to be. She had many suggestions for us, which was helpful having never been there before.
The day of our wedding/photoshoot, Kristen was incredible. I felt very comfortable in front of her camera. She was VERY efficient and in our 90 minutes, I am confident she got every shot possible. There were no overly cheesy poses or anything insincere about it – everything was very organic and very “us.” Kristen was also just super fun to hang out with! Not to mention, her helper Gidget was adorable and full of personality. Just what us dog lovers wanted on our wedding day!
I am just in love with the pictures Kristen did for us. I have gotten SO many compliments on our photos. Seriously – every single person asks us who our photographer was, and where/how we found her. The vibe in the pictures is exactly what I imagined for my wedding day – chill, beachy, and full of real love. She captured every moment just perfectly.
I would highly, HIGHLY recommend Kristen for any sort of photoshoot if you are in Costa Rica.
Kristen, I wish I could give you more than 5 stars in this review. Thank you!!
From the moment we arrived for our session, Kristen welcomed us as if we were family! Our daughter was immediately drawn to Kristen’s puppy, too. We decided to work with Kristen and Samba to the Sea because after extensive research, we preferred Kristen’s style…and after reading more about Kristen personally, we found that our family was very much like her; laid back, looking for adventure, and in love with CR. We enjoyed every moment of our session and we could not believe how much she (and her puppy) got our daughter to smile. We have received so many compliments about how beautiful our photos are. We highly recommend Kristen and Samba to the Sea. If we’re in the Guanacaste area again in the future, we will be seeking Kristen out for even more family photos!
My husband and I recently visited Costa Rica to celebrate 10 years of marriage. We wanted to do a private vow renewal and photos on the beach. After searching options Google we decided that we really liked the emotion and photographic authenticity that we saw in Kristen’s gallery. Since my husband and I also photograph weddings we tent to be a bit picky, but Kristen seemed perfect, both the finished image and how she described her method of working with couples.
She did not disappoint, before, during or after. Before, she helped me connect with the florist of my choice. During the session, Kristen was totally laid back. We were definitely in sync. She listened to what we wanted and she made sure that we were posed to downplay our imperfections. She was super personable. She joked around with us so that she could capture REAL smiles. As a photographer I am comfortable behind the camera but often hate what I see when I am photographed by others. The finished photos exceeded my expectations. I loved the realness so much that I was not concerned with my imperfections. I was surprised by a sitting pose that she suggested, as I realized it was the perfect mixture of showcasing us naturally while hiding my 43 yr old tummy. Beyond that, this is the first photo session where I could see my smile showing real joy. I will love these photos (and the experience) for my whole life!
We have already received tons of compliments on our photos, but most importantly to me, when I look at the photos I remember how special the vow renewals were, I see how completely in love my husband and I are after ten years, AND at a time when I feel very self conscious about my aging body I feel beautiful when I see myself in Kristen’s photos.
Kristen, you were 100% the right choice! Thank you so much! ❤️
Kristen is wonderful to work with. She was very responsive to my inquiries during the planning phase. She did my daughter’s senior pictures as well as our family pictures. She had great recommendations on the photo backgrounds. We are delighted with the results of the pictures and received many compliments from our friends and family. I highly recommend Kristen and will definitely hire her again to do my other daughter’s senior pictures. Thank you Kristen for capturing our memories that will stay with us forever!
Kristen was WONDERFUL. We did a photo shoot on the beach to celebrate our 10th anniversary, and it was everything we could have wanted. She made us feel immediately comfortable, found beautiful and quiet spots to take the photos, and just made the whole experience fun. The experience was just as enjoyable as the photos we now get to keep forever! We are very picky about photography (not everyone with a camera has photography skills!) but Kristen is seriously talented. I could not recommend her more highly.
– Laura + Etan
I needed photos for my life and health coaching website that I have been slowly putting together for the last many months. My business is busy and growing fast so the process has been overwhelming at times – I am simultaneously wanting to be finished but also truly wanting to take my time and build results I love. Kristen was so supportive from the start. Her work is beautiful, no doubt about it, and that is probably the main reason I chose her to do the job – but she is also deeply capable in the realms of design and support around the entire creative vision. I am so grateful for her incredible photos! AND, I also cannot believe how smooth the entire process was. It was such a supported experience and the results are fantastic. I deeply appreciate her talents and her generosity. It is great to work with a very capable creative who is also a caring professional.
– Sae
Our experience with Kristen was amazing! She captured our engagement moment and the moments after! Cant thank her enough for all her attention to detail and allowing us to look back at such a special moment!
– Emily
We could not be happier with our experience with Kristen! From the first inquiry email she was prompt, detailed and helpful. We decided to elope in Costa Rica without ever visiting, so it was a daunting task. I am so glad I reached out to Kristen, she recommended a stunning ceremony location, an amazing shuttle driver and the perfect reception dinner location. She went above and beyond being our wedding photographer. The day of our elopement Kristen immediately made us comfortable with her calm demeanor. My husband and I are not picture people whatsoever and we were shocked about how easy she made the whole picture process. Her coaching and tips made our poses so effortless and natural, we were amazed. She sent over our gallery so quickly and we are absolutely in love with every picture she took! Our family and friends were in awe about how well the pictures came out. I highly recommend Kristen and her services, I know we will be forever grateful we chose her for our special day 😊
– Jessica & Ryan
Working with Kristen for our elopement photos was such a wonderful experience!! We had great communication leading up to our big day and she made us feel so comfortable and relaxed throughout the shoot! She got our photos to us within two days and they were so beautiful!! We are beyond pleased with the quality and variety of photos she provided us with! Highly recommend for all your photography needs!
– Kyle
Kristen did such a wonderful job with our family photos. There was a large group of us and she did a lovely job organizing us and making it fun for the children. The weather was spotty all week and she had excellent communication skills and was flexible so we were able to get out family photos done when there were breaks in the rain. Plus, the photos cam out GORGEOUS! Thank you so much!
– Meg
Kristen captured our family beautifully in Costa Rica and she made the whole thing SO easy. From scheduling around our crazy travel dates, to getting genuine smiles out of our two small daughters,, to the amazingly fast delivery of the photos, start to finish, Kristen was incredible to work with. These are photos I will cherish for a lifetime, thank you so much Kristen!
– Pribenno Family
Kristen was AMAZING! We LOVE our photos. She was adventurous in what she was willing to do for us. It was pouring on our wedding day and she stood in the rain for us to make sure she got the shots that would make us happy and remember the event forever. We are so thankful to have found her and would recommend her to anyone looking for a fun, easy going, thoughtful, and talented photographer. You cannot go wrong hiring her. Thank you Kristen for beautifully and skillfully capturing our day!
– Brittany + Joy
Kristen was so lovely to work with. Her communication was always timely, and she really worked to accomodate our big family group! She was able to capture some beautiful and natural photos, including lots of full smiles from our not so easy to snap kiddos. We chose Samba to the Sea because we wanted something that really captured the energy of our vacation and she absolutely delivered!
– Woods Family
Kristen is AMAZING! We had the greatest experience eloping in Costa Rica, and a lot of it was thanks to Kristen! Not only did we get incredible shots from her the day of, she also gave us recommendations for where to stay, contacts to a hair stylist, makeup artist, and an amazing videographer and officiant. She is very talented with the camera and so nice and easy to work with. She makes you feel very comfortable and natural while being photographed. Thank you Kristen and we would 100% recommend you to anyone looking for a photographer in the Costa Rica area!
We had a great session with Kristen! My friends and I were documenting a birthday celebration and she managed to capture us in so many fun ways! I’m getting so many compliments on the shoot she did at our pool. And she brought her dog!
– Elizabeth King
We absolutely LOVED working with Kristen!! We chose Samba to the Sea because of the Her beachy vibes, beautiful colors, and her overall style of photography. She was so lovely to communicate with and responded very quickly via email. We had a blast during the session as she gave good directions and knew exactly how to pose us. The photos turned out incredible. We have received SOOO many compliments on our wedding photos…I truly can’t stop looking at them!!! Highly recommend Kristen & Samba to the Sea!
Such a wonderful experience working with Kristen. This was my first time hiring a photographer to take pictures of me…and a very 8 months pregnant me! I chose Kristen because of her innate ability to capture the essence of her subjects. For me, this shoot wasn’t about getting shots of my belly…it was about capturing the special relationship that my best friend/spouse and I share. And, boy, did Kristen deliver! Some of the feedback from friends and family… “You look radiant. She captured everything about you.” “Stunning images.” “The photos are perfect. You all couldn’t look any better.” “Goddess!” “She not only captured you and Felipe’s excitement for your first child, the photos show the love and passion you two share together in your favorite places.” Before the shoot, she answered my gazillion questions and provided all of the guidance the we requested. She helped me secure a last minute makeup artist (the day before). Although I was a ball of nerves when we started, Kristen made it such a relaxing experience. I was blown away by how “easy” the whole shoot was and how comfortable she made us feel. She helped us pose, told me what to do with my hands, and then let me and my spouse be ourselves. She was able to capture stunning images of us with and our two dogs with ZERO STRESS! I almost didn’t bring the dogs because I thought it would be a stressful experience trying to “get the shot” with them…but, again, Kristen blew us away. As if I wasn’t already super pleased and impressed with the whole experience, while we were eating lunch on the beach the following day, Kristen sent me our finished gallery! BLOWN AWAY! I’m excited to tap Kristen to take photos of our growing family down the road. Many photographers can make great images but it takes a special eye to capture the essence and personality of a family…and to make a pregnant woman feel beautiful! Thank you so, so much Kristen!
– Maria + Felipe
Kristen was absolutely amazing!!!!! She shot my wedding in Manuel Antonio Costa Rica and her photography skills are PHENOMENAL! Besides her being so incredibly talented and professional, she made us feel so comfortable! I couldn’t recommend a better photographer for any special event in your life!!!! SHE’S THE BEST!!!!
Working with Kristen was wonderful. She was very organized and detailed, on top of being very personable at the shoot and during our communication before. I had been following Kristen’s work for a few years in hopes of eventually doing a shoot with her next time our family was in Costa Rica. Timing worked out and we were able to plan a shoot that was exactly what I wanted!! She also handled the meltdowns that our 3 kids had like a pro! I am so thankful to have such beautiful memories of our family captured in one of our favorite places.
– Meier Family
We chose Kristen for our son’s Senior pics as she came highly recommended from a friend. I’m so glad we reached out to Kristen! She worked with us on the right location and she picked the perfect time of day. The lighting was great and we were thrilled with the outcome! The session was super easy and my son was relaxed and enjoyed having his picture made for once! 😂 We had lots of great photos when it was over and we have gotten many, many compliments from friends! We will definitely be using Kristen again for family photos.
Kristen + Samba to the Sea was amazing to work with! She was always quick to respond, answered all of my questions, and made the process easy! Kristen suggested the location of our shoot, and the pictures turned out fabulous! On the day of the shoot, Kristen was on-time and made us feel comfortable during our family photo shoot! We highly recommend Samba to the Sea!!!
– Ryan Family
We couldn’t of asked for a better experience! My fiancé and I had never had our photos professionally done so we had no idea what to expect. Kristen gave us enough direction to make us feel confident in front of the camera, while still allowing plenty of room for us to show our personalities so the photos to not seem staged or stiff. You could tell she definitely knows what she’s doing and has a ton of experience with couples. We could not be happier with our engagement photos. Everyone we show them to loves them as well. We would 100% recommend Kristen to anyone looking to get profesional pictures taken of them. Bonus points for bringing her furry assistant, Gidget, to the shoot as well!
– Andrea + Chris
Kristen is amazing!! My Husband and I took couples photos with her and we could not have been happier. Kristen is super friendly, and makes you feel so comfortable while she is taking pictures. During our session, we had so much fun! We got our photos back (quick turnaround) and they are absolutely gorgeous! We’re very glad that we went with Kristen for the photos that we will hold onto forever! 100% recommend! Great experience, we also loved her ‘assistant’ Gidget!!! Pura Vida!
My husband and I got married in Nosara last week and when Kristen sent me my photos I cried. I got to relive the most magical day of my life through her beautiful photos. Kristen is professional, fun to work with, has an eye for light and setting, gets the shots and does not waste time. I would highly recommend Kristen for your photography needs. I am so in love with my photos!! Thank you again Kristen!
– Keegan + Brian
For my 50th celebration, I wanted to do a special photoshoot. I literally googled “best photographer in Guanacaste” and Kristen’s website pulled up. If you want to work with someone responsive, timely, fun and who does everything to make you feel comfortable, you will not go wrong hiring her. When my family and I first saw the photos, we were in awe. Trust me, you won’t have any regrets.
– Dedra
Working with Kristen + Samba to the Sea was one of the easiest parts of the wedding planning process. She promptly answered all my questions (before, during, and after the wedding) and even went out of her way to chat with me in Savannah before our Costa Rica wedding. Kristen is an incredible and talented natural-light photographer which immediately drew us to her style. My husband and I aren’t very comfortable in front of a camera, but Kristen made us feel at ease and confident with her direction and professionalism. She was adaptable with less than ideal weather, captured candid and portrait moments, and the photos turned out better than we could have imagined. We are so thankful to have had Kristen document our wedding day and highly recommend her service.
I came across Kristen’s work searching for family photographers in Tamarindo on Instagram. Check out her insta, if you’re on the fence! Over a few months I fell in love with the candid look of her shots, and her ability to capture all the beautiful colours of the sun, sand and sky. When we finally met she was prompt, professional and friendly. With a tonne of patience, Kristen was able to direct my 3 year-old and 8 year-old (who wanted to do nothing but play!). The resulting photos were more amazing than I could have imagined. Kristen captured the sentiment and beauty of our family vacay. I highly recommend Samba to the Sea Photography.
My husband and I recently went to Costa Rica for our one year anniversary. We wanted to have some beautiful pictures of our trip and found Kristen’s page online. We thought her work was so beautiful and contacted her to see if she was available for sunset photos on the beach. She responded back to us very quickly, and it was easy to contact her to set up a time and place to meet. She also helped me set up a dinner reservation on the beach to make our anniversary even more special!
Taking photos with Kristen on the beach was so much fun! She was very professional, but also so down to earth and amazing to work with! We had the best time walking on the beach surrounded by a beautiful sunset and splashing each other in the water. We were all laughing the entire time, enjoying the beautiful sunset and having fun!
The photos turned out more beautiful then we could have ever imagined! They are just absolutely stunning and we have received so many compliments! Kristen is an incredibly talented photographer and it shows in all of her gorgeous photos. If you’re traveling to Costa Rica and want stunning photos of your memories that you will cherish forever…I highly recommend contacting Kristen!
Thank you for everything!!!
Pura Vida,
All I can say is “WOW!!” Kristen Brown did an absolute amazing job capturing the biggest surprise, EVER, our proposal!! I have no idea how she pulled everything off so perfect. I had absolutely no idea we were being followed and how, on a beach with very few people right before proposal, I never saw her. I still laugh thinking about it. Not only did she capture the moment, and many amazing photos after the fact, but she guided my fiance through the whole process. All the way from which day to choose, the timing for the sunset and the tide, how to get me there without giving it away, how to get me to “dress up” for the evening and everything in-between. Kristen is so fun and talented. She made our session fun and very natural, we felt like we had known her forever, after we had just met. Kristen also sent several pictures for us to share with out families within an hour or so of the session and had the entire album to us the very next day.
We cannot say enough about her and her perfect little guard dog [Gidget]. We have said it over again and over again, how thankful we are for her, and how pleased we are with the entire experience. If you’re looking for photographer, look no further. Kristen will not disappoint.
<3
– Hollie
What a great experience! Kristen helped me plan a surprise engagement proposal and the pictures were amazing! She sent me videos of the location days before and my fiancé (Hollie) had no idea it was even happening! I’m so happy she captured this special moment. I’ve had tons of complements on the pictures! Kristen knows what she’s doing!
– Brandon
Kristen made our elopement absolutely perfect! She had such great suggestions and made everything so easy. She is very talented and sweet. Such a pleasure to meet and work with! She turned our photos around in like 36 hours too! Amazing! Our friends and family who weren’t there for our wedding are blown away by how beautiful our photos are. We will cherish them forever. Thanks, Kristen! You’re the best!
Kristen is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! She photographed our wedding at the Langosta Beach Club a few weeks ago and the pictures are more than a dream. Her communication was exceptional before, during and after our wedding. She was super helpful, answered all of our questions and made sure our photos were exactly what we wanted and more. She is fun and personable, our guests really enjoyed interacting with her. My husband and I really enjoyed our photo session after the wedding where she captured pictures with the most perfect lighting. She is very laid back and creative with her shots, AND we got our photos back the very next day! Our friends and family cannot day enough about our photos, some of the best they have ever seen! I could go on for hours but her pictures alone tell her story. I don’t have a favorite, I have about 20 favorites! 🙂 Kristen can make all your photo dreams come true, she did for us!
We went to Costa Rica to renew our wedding vows for our 15 yr anniversary. I chose Kristen because she seemed to capture “moments” and she sure did! She responded to every question before we arrived and the day of the renewal made everything so simple and easy. She knew the perfect place on the beach to capture amazing lighting. Her energy is so calm and peaceful that it was easy for my husband and I to share our vulnerable vows in front of her. She was there capturing the moment and we were able to be lost in each other as husband and wife. Every person I have shared the photos with has been brought to tears as she totally captured the emotions of our family and the immense love we share. I am doing an entire collage wall with these photos because there are so many amazing shots!!! Totally AMAZING photographer!!!
Kristen was so easy to work with. From the first interaction to the last it was easy as could be. There were 10 of us, and getting that many people going the same direction is like herding cats. Needless to say the males in my family were resistant to getting family photos while on vacation. Within minutes she had them relaxed and enjoying the photo shoot. Her style is bright and cheery just like her personality. While still on vacation we got to preview the pictures and download them before we arrived home. When I posted them people could not stop talking about how “beautiful” the photos were. Kristen is a true professional, and I would highly recommend her photography services to anyone!! She has given us the memories of a lifetime, from the most beautiful place in the world-Costa Rica! Pure Vida, my friend. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
– Hayes Family
Kristen took our engagement photos, and they are beyond beautiful!
She had clear communication with my fiancé beforehand and sent us a few previews the same night. The next day, she had the whole album ready!
We had never taken professional photos before, but Kristin (and her adorable pup Gidget) made us feel at ease.
We loved sharing our photos with friends and family so they could experience a little of the magic we did in Costa Rica. I would 10000% recommend Kristen for any photography needs!
Thank you Kristen!!! For the beautiful photos that look exactly how we wanted, but also for making the photo shoot fun! You made us feel comfortable and I think you can see that on the photos. We love every single one of them! Muchas gracias!
– Dominika + Cedric, Paid to Exist
We recently booked Kristen for pictures during a family trip to Playa Flamingo! We had three (slightly grumpy) kids (ages 2-6) to wrangle, plus a lot of different combos to get! But Kristen was patient, fun, well-organized, and made the whole thing very chill and enjoyable. She knew every location and angle we’d need and got the kids smiling. It went so fast that we worried she hadn’t taken enough shots to get ANY good ones. But then she sent over our shoot (while we were still on vacation — that was how fast the turnaround was!) and every photo made us gasp and tear up. She has a lovely eye and the sunset photos were so unique (she does some sort of magic with the colors! They’re so gorgeous). We’ll treasure the pictures forever and hope to hire Kristen again on a future family trip — would recommend her for any photos but especially large family groups and kids!
– Chrzanowski Family
Kristen is the best! My elopement pictures were PERFECT. I highly recommend her. When receiving the pictures FAST I cried it was like reliving the moment again.
It was such a pleasure working with Kristen!!! The before was as perfect, as the during and after. She made us feel so comfortable, the communication was very very easy!! I would recommend her to everybody! And the photos…. are Breathtaking!!! Thank you so so much!!!
Kristen was able to help out last minute when our honeymoon photographer had to cancel. She was so accommodating and so much fun to work with!!! We had an absolute blast shooting with her in Tamarindo and she also made reservations for us at an incredible restaurant called Pangas for a sunset dinner afterwards. She sent over the finished photos the next day and they are AMAZING!! If you’re ever in Costa Rica, you definitely need to book Samba to the Sea 🙂
Kristen is fun and professional. I found Kristen while browsing some pictures of Costa Rica on Instagram and fell in love with her sunset photography. She was easy to talk to and her presentation of her services was easy to read and professional. Her prices are fair and she makes it easy to pay. She gave advice on places for hair and makeup and helped us to set up a dinner reservation for dinner after our elopement. She took beautiful photos of our elopement and made the process comfortable and fun. I love looking back on that day and I am so glad I hired someone who was able to capture it so perfectly. On one of the most important days of your life you want to be surrounded by people who you vibe with and Kristen was it. Thank you so much for capturing our special day!!!
– Emily + Matt
Kristen is a wonderful photographer! My husband and I enjoyed every minute of our elopement shoot and she made us feel very comfortable! I loved her attention to detail and how she captured us in the perfect moment. She knew the best spots for pictures at Tamarindo beach and she recommended we drive there to take advantage of the wonderful sunset. This was the best advice she could’ve given us because the beach at our resort did not compare to the one in Tamarindo, it was soooo worth the drive there. Thank you Kristen for these lovely pictures that will let us relive this day forever!
My husband and I decided to renew our vows with our 2 children on our trip to Costa Rica. My #1 priority was to find the best photographer to capture the moment. I found Kristen by searching on Instagram and absolutely loved her style. She recommended the perfect place for our renewal and captured the moment better than I could have imagined. We fell in love with our pictures as soon as we received the album. Thank you so much Kristen and I definitely will be in touch again!
– Titone Family
Kristen did such a wonderful job with our family photos in Tamarindo! She was so patient with my 3 and 6 year old daughters and was flexible as we worked our way through the session when my kids started to get tired. I had so many friends compliment us on how gorgeous our family photos turned out and she was so quick to get them back to us! We will definetley use her on our return trip to Costa Rica!
– Thiemer Family
My family had the absolute best time taking family pics with Kristen! From start to finish the process was amazing. She was able to keep my 7 years old (who struggles with focus and attention) completely engaged during the entire process. Our pics were fabulous- loved every single one of them! Kristen captured my family perfectly. We love Costa Rica so I’m so sure we will do this again!! Thanks for the great experience.
– Davis Family
So happy we we found Kristen! I’m not a big fan of taking pictures in the first place. But I know my girlfriend would love it. We’re in a long distance relationship and we planned a trip to Costa Rica to spend time together. I had planned to propose while we were there. Being able to plan the whole thing out before hand with Kristen took away a lot of the pressure. My, now fiance, was surprised and loved that we were able to take pictures to celebrate and have memories of our special day. Kristen knew all the good spots and the pictures came out amazing. Think she sent us 102 pictures which gave a us a huge variety to choose from to put in personal photo album. Kristen was so nice and helpful. Very easy and reliable communication. And she got us our photos really fast. The whole experience so nice and worth it.
– Camila + Dylan
Kristen was AMAZING! I did a mother daughter shoot on the beach with my toddler and the pictures turned out so beautiful! She got my daughter to smile and have fun even when she was being stubborn. These pictures were the perfect surprise for my husband and he LOVED them. I’d go back to Costa Rica just to have her take our pictures again 🙂
– Meredith
I could not be happier with the memories that were captured! I wanted family photos taken while we were vacationing in Costa Rica so I hopped on Pinterest and kept seeing the most beautiful shots of families that looked like they didn’t have a care in the world. I clicked on the link and saw natural, candid shots of families having fun together! I was sold! Thank you again for such beautiful photos of my family. I will cherish them forever!
– Prince Family
Kristen was truly amazing! We planned our wedding in Costa Rica and live in the states. Without Kristen’s help I’m not sure how we could have pulled it off. Her photos turned out amazing too. We highly recommend Kristen if you want a memorable experience like we did. Pura Vida!
– Tucker + Laura
On our first family trip abroad and our first trip back to Costa Rica post having kids, we wanted to document the special occasion. After a little research (I say little because the obvious choice was Kristen after a quick Google search and Instagram scroll) I contacted her and had a swift response. Her packages are super clear and she was a++ on the communication front. After we booked and were in CR, we hit a snag on the day we were scheduled for our photo session. Kristen was beyond accommodating and was able to sneak us in for another day. The beach front location at sunset in Tamarindo was so beautiful. CR has provided us with some gorgeous sunsets but this one truly took our breath away.
We had a 30 min session which w a 7yo and 4yo seemed like the best choice to get it done before losing their attention. Kristen worked some serious magic! Both kids were distracted, feeling extra silly (aka not doing anything we asked) and I truly wasn’t sure what we were going to get.
(Kristen suggested a restaurant for us and even made the reservations. The food was the best we had during our stay and it was such a beautiful night!)
Kristen turned our photos around lightning fast and wow! They were sooooo beautiful! She got the best shots of the kids. We have the most wonderful family photos that I will truly cherish forever.
The entire process working with Kristen was a dream and I can’t wait until the next time!
– Kroesser Family
We cannot rave about Kristen enough! She did such a remarkable job! Her photography is always beautiful, and the way she captured moments of our special day was absolutely wonderful. Not to mention, she is a pleasure to be around! Whenever I think of our day, I think of the time we spent with Kristen as well- she made the various parts of our wedding feel so fun and memorable. We are extremely grateful for our opportunity to work with and get to know Kristen. Anyone who has her as a wedding photographer is extremely lucky!
– Kelsey + Jordan
Kristen is straight up awesome! She helped to select the location and had recommendations on the best time to capture the best light and tide. She even helped secure our dinner reservations at Lola’s since we would arrive a little later than the last reservation. The images were stunning. Just stunning. Kristen is a fantastic communicator which is essential when trying to lock in details from so far away. And Gidget is an added bonus!
– Winkelmann Vow Renewal
Kristen is amazing! 10/10 recommend! She was super friendly, kind and funny. I found her on Google the week we were in Tamarindo for our Honeymoon. I was driven to her work after reviewing her portfolio online and fell in love with her photography stylings. It is not super staged, you can see how natural and comfortable her clients look and feel and I also liked her artistic eye for photography that makes her work elevated as opposed to your run of the mill photography photos you can expect from just anyone. We only had a few days we were able to meet with her before flying to our next location and she responded to my inquiry immediately and was able to accommodate us on super short notice. She made both my husband and I super comfortable almost immediately. She instructed us gently while also allowing us to just be us which ultimately produced EXCELLENT photos! I have had numerous people reach out to me about who our photographer was since we have posted on social media because out photos were just that good! I would totally work with her again and would recommend her to anyone. We will cherish these photos forever!! Sidenote: she has a super cute dog assistant named Gidget who adds to the fun experience!!
– Katie + Scott
It was such a pleasure to work with Kristen! She is an expert in what she does and a professional throughout our experience from start to finish for our 15th year vow renewal.
I was immediately drawn to Kristen’s work at first glance of her portfolio. Portrait photography is my favorite hobby and I absolutely love working during golden hours (who doesn’t?!). Seeing how she beautifully plays with the same type of lighting and uses it to compliment the genuine, candid moments won me over.
Between our guests and the wedding party, we had twenty people total attend our vow renewal ceremony. Corralling that many people is never easy, especially when half of the group are children who dance to the beat of their own drum. She was so patient with us, took charge as needed all with grace, and was able to produce images that we will treasure for a lifetime.
Hiring a professional photographer was one thing my husband and I regret not investing in for our wedding day. We are SO happy we went for it this time around and even more so that it was with Kristen! We can’t wait to hang these beautifully captured images on our wall. Gracias!
– Gronn Vow Renewal
I hired Kristen for our family vacation shoot in Costa Rica in March 2019. I have had experience with other photographers before and she definitely made me feel the most at ease. She is punctual, professional, but laid back at the same time. Communication with her was easy and made me feel comfortable about hiring a photographer in a different country without actually meeting her in person.
I was skeptical about how it was going to work- we had 22 of us for the photos- 12 of which were children. Kristen was wonderful and engaging with the kids. She had suggestions but also very “yup I’ll get that for you” when you had ideas too.
Now our photos – they are gorgeous. I received them two days after returning home. Maybe four days after our session? So quick!
I have printed off probably 8 photos already for framing! My brothers have all said the same thing. I have had photos done of our family in the past and I have printed maybe 1 that I like enough for our walls? With Kristen’s photos I want to frame them all!!! I highly recommended Kristen.
– Hatt Family
Amazing experience. Our elopement wouldn’t have been half as special, easy, stress free if we hadn’t of went with Kristen!
From the very first interaction we knew she was a great choice. Any questions I had were answered so quickly, Her recommendations were on point!
What drew me to Kristen was the way she photographs, her attention to detail was amazing, She truly captures the moment in time.
Such a beautiful person with an amazing talent.
My Husband and I had family photos done with our 6 month old in March! Kristen was fabulous to work with. She was so easy-going and captured the most beautiful family pictures I’ve ever seen. We get so many compliments on her work. Kristen was very flexible to work around times that suited our baby and was great at getting her to smile. She truly captured the joy and love we have for our family and baby girl, in the portraits. The turnaround time was also very prompt, we had our retouched high-resolution images available for download within 48 hours. Look no further for your family photographer in Tamarindo Costa Rica, Kristen is it! I just wish she was available for all our family portraits going forward. I guess we will have to travel to Costa Rica more often!!
Kristen was so incredible to work with and she captured all of the love and magic with our family. Not only is she a talented photographer but she was one of the loveliest human beings I’ve ever met and she made us all feel so comfortable right away. It was such a pleasure to spend time with her and we will treasure our photos forever.
Working with Kristen was incredibly easy. She was very quick to respond to all questions and inquiries, incredibly helpful in suggesting locations, and gracious to coordinate with our hotel. The best part of our photo session was the location. It was stunning, and Kristen caught the moments that are now lifelong memories on our wall. Kristen, we can’t thank you enough for being so professional, so personal, and for capturing the most perfect trip in photos!
– Ortega Family
All around great experience! Kristen is extremely nice and easy to work with, and she goes the extra mile to ensure the photoshoot / overall experience surpasses expectations. Would not hesitate to work with her again!
Kristen was so fun to work with from the start. She was clear and responsive on e-mail when I initially booked her photography for my elopement, and then kept in touch about the weather starting a few days before the shoot since it was going to be an outdoor wedding on the beach. During the shoot she was fun and had wonderful ideas on poses and setting. We got our pictures back within a few days. Now everyone we’ve shown our photos to wants to visit Tamarindo because of the beautiful pictures. My husband and I had trouble picking our favorite pictures to print since they were all perfect! You will not regret working with Kristen at Samba to the Sea. She is a wonderful person and amazing at photography.
– Cristina
Kristen shot our maternity photos and we could not be happier. I was a little nervous at first because I get kind of shy in front of the camera, but with her direction and overall fun spirit my husband and I felt totally natural. It felt like we were three friends laughing and playing on the beach. And the photos turned out so beautiful! I can’t wait to do another shoot with her when our little one comes.
My family came to Costa Rica for my daughters Bat Mitzvah. I found Kristen, I knew nothing about her but liked her work online. Chatted a few times before the service and met her at our hotel the day of the service. She is AWESOME! We are a high maintence family from Dallas who expects great service and she was wonderful. All my pictures were wonderful, they were so beautiful and natural and she captured every moment we could have wanted for our memories. I told her the next time I need an event photographed she would have to fly to Dallas. She’s just as talanted as beautiful…I would recommend her to anyone looking for great pictures!
– Perry Family
I was (and still am!) extremely pleased with Kristen and her professional photography services. Six months ago I decided to go ALL OUT for my 32nd birthday so I gifted myself two designer swimsuits and an international trip to Costa Rica for a photoshoot. I had never been to Costa Rica so the search to find a photographer to capture my dreams was daunting. After a few hours on Google I came across Samba to the Sea and my prayers were answered! Kristen’s timely and detailed correspondence combined with a gallery on the website with a diverse collection of ‘occasions’ (? LOL, idk the industry term) gave me the confidence that I found the one. She picked me up from the resort, drove to the waterfall (which was the perfect location!) and created the most pieces of art. I have never modeled a day in my life but Kristen knew exactly what lighting, angles, and positions to place me in. Within TWO days of the photoshoot she edited all the photos and sent me the link to the gallery. Every photo was PERFECTION. It’s been almost a month since my trip and I’m still on a high.
Bottom Line: Kristen Brown and Samba to the Sea Photography are the BOMB!
– Aaliyah
I decided to work with Kristen + Samba to the Sea because she had such great reviews and recommendations locally and abroad. Kristen responded immediately to my inquiry and we were able to schedule a time within our vacation window. Kristen was amazing with our boys, even though it was clear taking photos was the last thing they wanted to do on the beach!
I’ve gotten so many compliments from Kristen’s photos- they were such a hit with family and friends. I would recommend her in a heartbeat!
Best decision ever!!! Kristen made us feel so relaxed and she knew exactly how to position us. The pictures are amazing – front page magazine quality. If you want to look like a million bucks, go with Kristen.
Kristen photographed our destination wedding at Pangas Beach Club, and she did an amazing job!! I came across some of her blogs about weddings she had done at Pangas on Pinterest and immediately looked her up and contacted her. I followed her on Instagram also and am still amazed at all the beautiful sunsets she captures! It can be hard planning a wedding from another country, but Kristen made it very easy! She was very quick to respond to emails and was very helpful with tips about the venue in general.
She helped the wedding day run smoothly as well and captured every little detail and moment of our big day! She instructed us on how to pose and what to do, which I appreciated. The poses never felt forced or uncomfortable. We even went out to the tide for a beautiful picture with the sun setting.
She got the photos back to us insanely fast!! It only took her 6 days to get the photos to us, so it was a very exciting surprise to come home and already have our photos back. I immediately showed them to my bridesmaids and they were amazed at how beautiful they were! Its so special to have such beautiful pictures to show all of our friends and family that weren’t able to make it all the way to Costa Rica.
We love all of our pictures and will cherish them forever!! I would highly recommend Samba to the Sea Photography!!
Kristen’s photography is beautiful and she is so much fun to work with! Even before the session she was always easy to get in touch with, and is a wealth of knowledge about the Tamarindo area and is happy to share insider info to make your trip great! The session was fun and easy and we love the photos she took! Getting photos done on your trip is best souvenir!
– Leach Family
Kristen was incredible to work with from the moment I sent my first email requesting more information from her. She was so fast to respond and so excited to talk with me. It was hard to tear my husband away from surf and sunsets for portraits, but Kristen made it so easy. It was like taking a stroll along the beach with a friend who just happened to be a really talented photographer. She made us feel comfortable and the time flew by! I knew the portraits were going to be great because of her ability, but it was one of the windiest days of the year in Tamarindo so I was a little concerned. I was blown away when I opened our gallery! Kristen is so talented and I would absolutely work with her over and over again!
I am SO thankful we connected with Kristen at Samba to the Sea photography. We wanted to surprise our parents with a memorable anniversary gift and thank you for taking our family to Costa Rica. We started by searching google and found amazing reviews for Samba to the Sea. We fell in love with the portfolio on the website and social media pages. We also reached out to the manager of the house we were renting and he also recommended Kristen. You will NOT regret booking her!!! She coordinated with us weeks in advance and reminded us to remain flexible in the event it were to rain (it was rainy season). To our benefit, the clouds cleared and the sun came out for an amazing sunset photo session. Our pictures are incredible and everyone loved working with Kristen. She kept the atmosphere light and professional to ensure she captured the best photos. Everyone has complimented the amazing quality of the pictures and the scenery couldn’t be more amazing!! If ever in Savannah or Tamarindo again we will absolutely be booking another session! Thank you Kristen for capturing these beautiful memories!!! Pura Vida!
– Beste Family
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 even called us when we got into town to make sure we had talked prior to our wedding. She was very efficient in her communications throughout- always very clear and in touch via email and whatsapp. The 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!!
We had a wonderful experience with Kristen from Samba to the Sea. She took family photos of us at the beach in Tamarindo. The service was booked from the US several months prior to the actual photo session. She responded promptly to emails and was happy to answer all my questions. The payment process was seamless. She was punctual the day of the photo session and everything ran smoothly. Her demeanor and laugh put us all at ease and we had a lot of fun. The photos arrived by email within 2 weeks and are absolutely beautiful.
– Bermingham Family
My finance and I recently had an elopement shoot with Kristen in April. We’ve been going to Tamarindo for a few years now and so decided that’s the spot to get married at. I went online to search for photographers in CR, and Kristen was one of the recommended photographers. I checked out her reviews, and her portfolio online and contacted her immediately. Kristen was super responsive and very helpful if you need other vendor recommendations / information of CR in general.
We met Kristen on the day of the shoot, she’s friendly, funny and relaxing to work with. We had booked the 1.5 hour photo session and she doesn’t make you feel rushed for time. In fact, she took us to 3 different site locations! We received the photos from Kristen within a few days after the shoot, and the photos looks great! I would highly recommend Kristen and would use her again for future family photo sessions in Tamarindo!
Thank you & Pura Vida Kristen!
Kristen took the most gorgeous photographs of our three children on the beach at Avellanas. I have followed her beautiful sunset blog for years and she was my only choice for our family photos. She is a beautiful artistic photographer. Her website was easy to navigate and set up our appt, and Kristen was incredibly responsive and a joy to work with before, during and after our session. My children loved Kristen and wanted to spend the rest of the day with her. Her kind demeanor put them at ease which made for natural and beautiful pictures. They had so much fun! Getting the digital proofs was quick and easy and she has been very patient with my schedule and how long it’s taken me to order – although you are able to download images directly and use your own printer too if desired. I have nothing but rave reviews about my experience with Kristen – our pictures are gorgeous and we will treasure the memories she captured forever. Our family and friends love them too! We will be having Kristen do all of our family photos moving forward. Thank you Samba to the Sea Photography!
My friends who live part-time in Tamarindo recommended Kristen to my family as they have used her services multiple times and are always very pleased. We booked with Kristen about 3 months in advance and she was very responsive, friendly, and professional. It was so easy to book and pay online!
We ran into some crazy rain the day of our shoot and Kristen, who had her eye on the weather throughout the day, made sure we met a little early so we would have less of a chance of being rained out… it worked out perfectly! The pictures were GORGEOUS and I’ve received countless compliments on them. I even ordered the printed pictures from her website and they were great quality. We definitely recommend using Samba to the Sea Photography to anyone!
We had such an amazing experience having our engagement photos taken by Kristen. We chose Samba to the Sea after scouring the web for Costa Rican photographers, because we wanted photos that really incorporated the environment and hers did a great job of that. We definitely weren’t disappointed; although the weather wasn’t amazing and we weren’t the easiest subjects to take great photos of (we couldn’t stop laughing the entire time), Kristen did an amazing job of giving us photos that both captured our relationship and the beautiful landscape that we were so fortunate to be able to visit. Working with her was a breeze, and she accommodated every silly request we had without hesitation. She got our photos back to us WITHIN TWO DAYS, and the online system she uses is very simple. Overall, we feel like we not only got amazing pictures that we will cherish forever, but we made a friend along the way. We will definitely be booking Kristen again in the future!
We had an immensely enjoyable experience working with Kristen for our family photo session. We planned it at the last minute and were fortunate that she was available. She responded immediately to our request. We hadn’t even planned outfits for the photo shoot, but Kristen gave us great advice for a local boutique that had great clothes, (Azul Profundo). She even introduced use to a great restaurant (Pangas) for after the photo shoot.
Kristen and along with her chihuahua, Gidget, put us at ease for the session. Our kids had fun running around while she took pictures. Kristen was great at recommending poses and action shots – we even did some Bollywood poses! She sent us the finished product within the week, which were amazing to look at. Our family has commented on how beautiful the pictures were and loved the energy in the photos at the setting of Tamarindo Beach. Highly recommend looking Kristen up if you plan your stay in this part of Costa Rica.
– Patil Family
We feel blessed and very fortunate to have snagged Kristen on one of her return trips to SC from Costa Rica. And, what a trifecta with both of our sons visiting Seabrook Island with our 3 grandchildren. Kristen is artistic and has style, but most importantly she’s fun and funny and silly when photographing families. She has a natural ability and brilliant way of interacting with children as well as new parents. She made perfect suggestions on beach locations for the type/mood we were hoping for, searching our beaches in advance to ensure the best lighting, sun and location.
Kristen captured such precious moments of our 6 and 9 year old granddaughters with their new cousin, our 9 week old grandson. She has a magical way of prompting silliness amongst family members to capture the perfect expression and glimpse into their fun loving personalities. Seeing our granddaughters embrace their new cousin and the sparkle of love and excitement shown by both my sons and daughter in laws for their families will be treasured forever.
We can’t thank Kristen enough for helping us preserve these memories with such amazing shots of our growing family.
– Pondelik Family
Kristen was great to work with! We decided last minute to do our family Christmas card photos while we were in Costa Rica for Thanksgiving. I contacted Kristen due to her reviews and the pictures she had posted on her website. I loved the pictures, the candid shots, the lighting, the locations, and the black and white shots. She was very responsive and was able to find a time that worked for our family. Upon meeting Kristen in person, I immediately felt at ease. She was professional yet laid back. She immediately connected with my kids and took the effort to learn all of our names. She easily directed us and we were able to get all the photos done in a 30 minute session. We’ll probably do an hour session next time only because the pictures were so good and I’m excited to see what else she could come up with. We received the pictures back very quickly. We were actually still in Tamarindo when the photos arrived. I was so impressed with the photos and instantly realized we’d definitely have multiple choices for the family Christmas card. My husband was also impressed with the photos and it takes a lot to impress him! The pictures are amazing and I’m so glad we chose Kristen as our photographer!
– Black Family
The first thing that drew me to Samba to the Sea was the complete ease into the experience. I was super hesitant when sending out the initial email, because I wasn’t exactly sure if what I was asking for was possible. Kristen responded within a couple hours (probably even sooner) and it felt like the two of us were having a conversation over coffee – that she was a friend who knew exactly what I was looking for. I had asked for a “feel good photoshoot” and Kristen certainly delivered. While I would’ve liked to have had the beach portion of my shoot at sunset, the unpredictable Costa Rican weather moved our shoot up a few hours. Kristen was very accommodating and made sure that we had enough light to work in the space provided. And if that all doesn’t sound good enough – Kristen had my photos done within a day and they are beautiful. I get so many compliments on them.
– Kate D.
Kristen was such a pleasure to work with!! Our family was on vacation in Costa Rica and decided to do a family photo shoot. Kristen was easy to communicate with, very responsive. Kirsten was so much fun and such a delight to work with during our photoshoot. We had an uncooperative 2 year old, but Kristen some how managed to capture him at the right moments. We received all of our photos back while we were still on vacation, which was totally unexpected. And they all came out beautiful!!! I would not hesitate to work with Kristen again if we ever make it back to Tamarindo.
– Williams Family
Kristen was recommended to me by a friend who has used her many times. Now I enthusiastically recommend her. She was professional, yet very personable and easy going. She was open to our ideas and easily meshed our ideas with her own wonderful ideas. Our two grandsons, ages 5 and 7, can be very difficult when it comes time for photos, but Kristen won them over. I am thrilled with all of our photos, but especially those of the grandsons.
– Lovelady Family
I scheduled Kristen to take pictures of my family of 6 at the end of our 2 week Costa Rica trip. She did an amazing job capturing my girl’s personalities and getting their input of what they wanted taken. She made everything so seamless from helping to pick a location, easy payment process, keeping us up to date on weather and even making a dinner reservation at a perfect spot to end our trip. She was so patient with my very energetic & spirited girls…capturing them in a very natural way. I also love our family photos at sunset and when the girls had enough…she got some great pictures of them swimming/ playing in the water together. I would highly recommend her for your photo shoot!
– Nelson Family
I found Kristen while searching for photographers in Costa Rica. She truly went above and beyond to make not only our session memorable but was an invaluable resource for all of my many questions regarding our vacation. Kristen is incredibly talented and the photos she took were not only beautiful but captured our family dynamic perfectly. Thank you Kristen. The memories you captured are a gift!
– Kuppiunger Family
My family (10 crazy people ranging from 3-75 years old) had a great photo shoot with Kristen on the beach in Tamarindo at sunset. She was fun and funny and made some amazing recommendations for pictures. We had such a fun shoot! The kids loved her and everyone felt like Kristen made the most of our hour. The pictures are so beautiful and I have had such a hard time narrowing down which ones to put in frames! We will call Kristen again the next time we go back to Tamarindo!
– Smithrock Family
Working with Kristen is a joy, she makes everything fluid and easy. I have zero experience in front of the camera and was somewhat anxious beforehand. Everything ended up being incredibly easy and fun….. And the pictures came out better, much better, then i could have imagined. My fiance’s sister even cried a little when she first saw them (haha). A most definite recommendation.
– Eric Rogers
Kristen did an amazing job shooting my wedding last weekend. She took absolutely fabulous pictures and eloquently captured the day in a blog post. She was extremely responsive throughout the process and her turnaround time on picture editing and the blog post were absolutely amazing. I loved working with her, and would absolutely recommend her to anyone!
I’ll start by saying that her timing, both specifically for the shoot and for the return of the actual photos, is AMAZING compared to every single other photographer I’ve ever come across. 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. And hopefully everyone is lucky enough to meet Gidget, her teeny tiny sidekick! If you’re looking for exceptional quality and just a plain ol’ good time, Kristen is definitely your match made in Heaven. We one thousand percent recommend!!!
– Sarah + Ian
Wonderful experience- Kristen 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 her services! – Casey Family
I first fell in love with Kristen’s work on my first trip to Costa Rica- I was in a store with my now wife looking at post cards and saw hers. I was instantly drawn to her insane understanding and coordination of light and the softness of her photos. I bought all the cards the store had (and kept some for myself as prized fridge display!)! Several years later and in need of a wedding photographer, we came across an unmistakably recognizable style and I knew instantly that she would be the one for the job. After 4 years of enjoying her work overtime I opened my fridge, I finally got to meet and work with Kristen. In short, working with her is fantastic. She is very laid-back and relaxed, giving everyone a down to earth feel. She sets up her subjects but also gives them free reign and freedom in their positions going with the flow of the shoot. And she brings along her feisty puppy, bonus points in my book. From a professional standpoint, she responds very promptly to emails and thoroughly answers questions; we got our wedding photos back in less than 1 week, and they were all stunning. I could not recommend Kristen more highly for any and all photography needs. – Jessie + Dana
We hired Kristen for a family photo shoot on the beach at sunset. The pictures are amazing! Every single photo is magazine worthy. Kristen took us to the best spots on the beach and captured our family in candid walking photos as well as some posed photos. Kristen’s communication before, after and during the photo shoot was great. Setting up something like this from a different country could have been very nerve racking, but Kristen was on top of every email and question we had. During the shoot she made us feel at ease, which came through in all the pictures. She even got our two year old to smile and look at the camera in every picture. Our favorite picture of us swinging our child above the water is blown up and printed on a canvas that hangs on the wall for everyone to see. The colors, the clarity and the vibe of the picture will take us back to that moment every time we look at it. If you’re reading these reviews to decide on hiring Kristen or not, read no further. You will not regret booking a session with Samba to the Sea Photography. – Rotan + Weihrauch Families
Long story short my boyfriend surprised me with a photoshoot as a gift on vacation and I’m sooo glad he found her. The pictures were AMAZING! I couldn’t have asked for better. She makes you feel so comfortable – – especially if you’re someone who hates getting your picture taken. If you need photos and happen to be Costa Rica or Savannah – – she’s your girl!! – Kirsten + Chris
Kristen was an absolute pleasure to work with. Her sense of angles and lighting are the keys to her beautiful photographs. She took her time and worked with me and my family to not only capture gorgeous photos but also captured who we are. These pictures are my most treasured and I truly look forward to using her again in the future. – Solana Family
My husband and I did a shoot with Kristen (and sweet pup, Gidget) on the beach at sunset while honeymooning in Costa Rica. Our pictures turned out even better than we ever could’ve imagined! Kristen has an amazing ability to capture beauty and true feelings. We have received countless compliments on our photos and recommend Samba to the Sea for anyone and everyone looking for a comfortable experience with beautiful moments captured in time!! 🙂 – Erin + Nate
Kristen was wonderful to work with. She did a family shoot for us in Costa Rica and we are so happy with the results. She was very patient with my toddler and managed to capture some great memories for us. We would definitely recommend her services! – Pushka Family
Kristen was amazing. For our elopement at the Westin she knew all the cool spots for pictures. She went the extra mile to make sure the background looked amazing, clearing things that may have obstructed the view. Being such a kind and positive soul, she really made us feel relaxed in front of the camera. My friends have told me they have never seen me look so happy in pictures! I know it’s all because Kristen was so skilled at capturing the special moments. She had a very quick turn around for the pictures, which was nice because we couldn’t wait to share them. I totally recommend her services if you are ever in need of a photographer. – Sarah + Andrew
Where do I start. Kristen is not amazing, she is extraordinary. She truly goes above and beyond for her clients. She has done two sessions for us now. The first was a maternity which was better than I hoped. Fast forward a year later and she did a family shoot with our our daughter and grand parents. The pictures she captures are just amazing. She has this ability of seeing things you wouldn’t think to tell her and she captures that. Every single picture we have is a favorite. That is no lie. She and her assistant, Gidget, were amazing with our 8 month old. They kept her interested and laughing the entire time. She is our top pic for photography. She is also truly a great person and cares for her clients. Last thing, we did not get many pics with my mother and I forgot to ask her to get a sunset shot. We ended up seeing her outside at sunset a few days later. Without asking she offered to take a few sunset shots of my mother and daughter. Not only were they amazing and special but, what photographer does that?! We love her. You can’t go wrong picking Samba to the Sea. She is a blessing 🙂 – Kara
Kristen was amazing in every aspect. The pictures turned out great, and communication was above and beyond. We even had a snafu with getting to the location of the photographs as the driver took us to the wrong location at first and she was still there waiting when we finally arrived, even without us having access to a cell or email to contact her as we were in Costa Rica. As someone who does not write reviews, I would not hesitate to recommend Samba to the Sea to anyone looking to capture a special moment. – Mike
We were looking for a photographer who resides in Costa Rica last spring when we booked our family trip to the Andaz Papagayo. We wanted really natural, warm family photos just to capture our great time in Costa Rica. Luckily enough, I found Kristen, the photographer’s website Samba to the Sea photography through Google search, and fell in love with her portfolio. Very natural, very warm and honest. I contacted her through her website, which was very quick and simple, and was able to book her ahead of our trip. Our family photograph session was around an hour and we received beautiful photographs in about a week after the photo session. During our 50 min family session, Kristen was able to capture how much our family enjoyed being in Costa Rica. We had a six months old baby and two toddler boys, and she easily worked with all of them and got plenty of amazing photos of all of us. I loved her work so much that I am almost planning another trip down to Costa Rica for next year, just to have her as our family photographer. I really wish I knew her when I was planning my wedding, but at least, now I know who to contact for my wedding vow renewal in the future. 😉 She was really easy to talk to and also very professional through email as well as in person. She had a great energy and I could just see how much she loved her job as a photographer, and that love just shows through all of her photographs. I highly recommend Kristen to be your photographer. Whatever, wherever the occasion is, she would definitely do the best job, and her works will speak for itself.
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. She even highlighted the pieces we wore from my jewelry line, Indo Love, an added bonus. We couldn’t be happier with how they turned out, and will cherish them for the rest of our lives. – Keeley + Steve
Our family spent the summer of 2016 in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Before we left we decided to hire a photographer to take some photos to help commemorate our wonderful trip. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Kristen. The photos were stunning! We have two young kids who were quite the handful and she was just so good with them. Getting the cutest shots by asking them to tell each other a secret or whisper a joke to each other. Her photos are so creative and we will forever be grateful for these memories that she captured for us. If you are considering a photographer in Tamarindo, Samba to the Sea will not disappoint! – Kalik Family
Kristen is an absolute amazing photographer, she is so easy to work with, and such a great person! My husband in I were on our honeymoon in Costa Rica and my brother surprised us with honeymoon photos on the beach with Kristen! It was a dream! She captured our love of each other, as well as the pure beauty of Costa Rica! We will cherish those photos forever, and we hope to work with her again! My husband is a videographer and photographer so he is hard to please in that area, but he was over the moon about the photos and experience that Samba to the Sea gave us! We also love her dog Gidget 🙂 ! – Lani + Jay-J
Kristen is so naturally talented you can see that in each and every photo that she takes! She makes taking pictures flow so well and not overwhelming, my husband usually despises his pictures being taken and he said how awesome she was ! We will definitely use her again!
Working with Kristen was an absolute pleasure. I asked her to take some lifestyle head shots for me, as I’m a freelance writer with frequent requests from publications for a photo of myself. As I’m sure is the same for many people, I’m my own harshest critic when it comes to photos of myself and yet somehow Kristen managed to put together a whole folder of photos for me that I’m not only happy with, but actually now excited to send to people when they ask. She was able to give me direction, calm my nerves and make me laugh during our entire session and her ability to do that plus work with the beautiful natural light at the beach truly shine in the end product. I’m hoping to work with her again for some family photos near Christmas time and would highly recommend Samba to the Sea to anyone looking for a highly professional, yet fun, and personalized experience! – Jackie
Wow! Kristen took photos of son’s baptism and reception. I figured they’d be good pics because of the location, but my expectations were exceeded by far!! So professional and she got the best out of all her subjects. Would recommend her a million times over!! Thank you, Kristen!!!!! – Frank
I’m lucky enough to have worked with Kristen on a few occasions while spending time in Costa Rica and each time I’m blown away by what she captures in her photos. She truly has such a talented eye for creating a photo and is VERY skilled at making me giggle and ‘naturally’ emote as I’m not always so comfy in front of the lens. She has such natural talent to set up a scene with the BEST lighting and atmosphere and can respond quickly to disruptions or changes in weather (rain!). I treasure my photos! And she has a pretty cute assistant (aka Gidget her lil chihuahua!) – Kim
Kristen was an amazing photographer, we couldn’t have been happier with our experience. She photographed our wedding on the beach, made everyone feel comfortable, and encouraged shots that turned out beautifully. Her turnaround time was impressive. The editing job was great, and everyone enjoyed the photos. She’s also extremely responsive before, during, and after the wedding day. And finally she’s just cool and funny – Señorita Mermaid
Kristen was amazing! She captured our big family of 15 as well as our little individual families so perfectly!! It was quick and easy… and the pictures are perfection! She was absolutely wonderful to work with. I would absolutely recommend her!! – Cameron, Pass Family
I just finished viewing my photos, with tears in my eyes. They definitely captured the joy and love we share as a family. These are treasures we will hold on to forever. We really couldn’t wait to see these photos, and appreciate the quick delivery (5 days). Kristen was wonderful and accommodated us with really short notice. You do beautiful work. I will surely be recommending you to anyone I know visiting Tamarindo and area in Costa Rica ! – Ayla, Tyler, and Harper
I could not be more pleased with our experience with Kristen! My fiancé and I came to Costa Rica last month for our ‘elopement-moon’. We were connected with Kristen through our elopement planner. Kristen was so wonderful to work with. She was professional, timely, friendly, fun, and creative. The experience was phenomenal. And the icing on our ‘elopement cake’ are the beautiful photographs she took of us before, during, and after our ceremony. They are amazing and we will cherish them forever! – Kara
Kristen and I did a fitness – lifestyle photoshoot in Tamarindo in July and the results were incredible. She knew exactly which time and locations would work best and also had a keen eye for art direction and complimentary angles – creating a beautiful collection of shots! I would recommend her photography business (Samba to the Sea) to anyone inquiring – whether it’s capturing your little moments or those big adventures – Kristen is your go-to gal for photography! – Christine
LET'S CHAT
The little things and those big feelings, like the look of pure happiness as you’re exchanging vows. Or the laughter shared while celebrating a special birthday with your loved ones in paradise. I’m all about capturing those real moments and y’all having one heck of a good time.
Fill out the contact form or email me at hola@sambatothesea.com and let’s get to know each other (you can count on me to get back to you within a day). If the fit is right, I can’t wait to welcome you and your loved ones to the Samba to the Sea familia!
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.
Samba to the Sea Photography is an internationally published photographer for the adventure loving sunset dreamers & wild at heart.
Based in Tamarindo, Costa Rica & Savannah, Georgia.
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