meet: sami Lombardo

my why

My mom was always the one taking photos. She had an old Canon Rebel that I thought was the coolest thing ever. I’d always ask for a “real camera,” hoping I’d get one just like hers. For my 10th birthday, I was gifted a little Vivitar point-and-shoot instead. I had no idea that tiny camera would shape my entire life.

My mom passed away when I was 15. Since then, I’ve often found myself scrolling through her Facebook, looking at the thousands of photos she took. Yes, thousands. She never culled anything (and honestly, I don’t think she even knew what that meant). I love seeing the world through her eyes, whether it’s one of my siblings’ sporting events, a family party, or a snow day she felt inspired to capture. But what breaks my heart is how few photos exist of her, or of all of us together. After she passed, I couldn’t stop thinking: Why didn’t I ask to take more photos with her?

It took me years to realize that this is my why and what drew me specifically to wedding photography. I do what I do so the people you love most are not just behind the camera, but in the story, preserved and remembered forever. For you to be able to pass on for generations to come.

That’s why I approach every wedding with care, presence, and intention, because these are more than just photos. I photograph with that little girl in mind, the one who wished for a real camera and the woman she became because of the memories it helped her keep. Your story matters and at the end of it all, photos are some of the only things we pass on.