SAMANTHA DAVIS

Based between Dorset and London.

Worked with Jaap Buitendijk on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows parts 1 and 2.

Loves dogs and being warm.

Shoots Sony Alpha.

 

Hi and welcome!

I am a freelance photographer specialising in portraits and unit stills for the TV and film industry.

I’ve been a freelance photographer for 16 years now, shooting various projects at home and abroad. I was raised by the beach in Bournemouth and now divide my time between Dorset and London.

I started shooting film with my dad’s cameras and began developing my own film in dark rooms from an early age. After studying photography, art and media for A Level, I went to uni and received a 2:1 honours degree in Writing Fashion and Culture with Photography from Solent University. When I left uni I was lucky enough to be given a full time studio position which honed my skills for posing and working efficiently under pressure, starting my freelance journey.

I was lucky enough to work as an intern for the legendary stills photographer Jaap Buitendijk on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows parts 1 and 2. Working with his assistants in the studio space ‘The Stillery’ on gallery shoots and on set assisting. It was an incredible experience and whilst I was young at the time and knew I needed to build my photography skills - it’s what ignited my love of unit stills.

I’ve recently been on a mentorship with Nicola Dove, the stills photographer for the most recent Bond film ‘No Time to Die’. This has been a thoroughly wonderful education into the etiquette of being on set and how to make everybody happy (by mostly being a photo ninja there to make everyone look good without getting in the way!) She has shared a wealth of knowledge with me and I am privileged to have learnt from one of the best.

I am currently working on shorts for production companies and am available for TV, features and specials throughout 2024.