Why "salt & Mist"?

 

Family of three poses on beach at dusk, man carries toddler in purple bear costume on shoulders while woman hugs him.

Our name is a nod to the duality of storytelling. Salt represents the raw, candid truth of the present moment. Mist represents the ethereal, unreal quality of a cherished memory. We specialize in that intersection where reality meets fantasy, archiving the ordinary moments that feel like magic.

 

hey! we are

Sam + Meli

 

Black and white wedding photo of bride holding bouquet and groom tenderly kissing her forehead outdoors.

 

Long before we ever picked up cameras together, we were known as a tag team. We connected over a shared rhythm—leading worship, running church tech, and navigating co-op video games. We’ve always had each other's backs, and over the years, that partnership evolved into a shared way of seeing the world.

At our core, we are quiet observers. We naturally notice the shifting atmosphere of a room, separately gathering small details and coming together in private to compare notes. On a wedding day or during a portrait session, that synchronized instinct kicks in. Meli is drawn to the immediate subject and the surrounding space that frames their story, keeping a sharp eye on the finer details. Sam moves toward the unseen perspectives, finding the unique angles most people miss and capturing the raw, fleeting facial expressions that hold the true feeling of the moment.

When the gear is put away, our life is rooted in the beautiful chaos of family. You’ll usually find Meli managing a home filled with toddler laughter, scream-giggles, and a deep love for baking homemade chocolate chip cookies for her family. Sam is the intentional anchor—the keeper of well-organized days, a well-dressed look, and the creator of the perfect morning espresso that helps us tackle the day. We are partners in every sense of the word, and we can’t wait to welcome you into our archive.

 

A bearded man in a Carhartt vest holds a baby in a purple outfit on his shoulders at a foggy beach.
A woman lifts a baby in a pink snowsuit high above her head on a cloudy beach near ocean waves.
A visual journal of our own lives
Stained glass window depicting Jesus Christ surrounded by children, rendered in vibrant red, gold, and blue hues.
A bearded man smiles while holding a baby in a blue shirt outdoors under a cloudy sky.
Smiling baby boy sitting on a blue and red toy ride-on car in a colorful indoor play area.
Hand pointing at framed Amazing Spider-Man comic page featuring Electro in black and white at an exhibition.
A bearded man in a black beanie holds a camera and a baby in a pink snowsuit on an outdoor overlook.
Young woman with glasses smiling at beach while holding a baby in a denim outfit on a sunny day.
A toddler girl in a white floral dress walks barefoot on a sandy beach under a cloudy sky.
A small dog wearing a tuxedo bow tie is held up at a wedding ceremony with guests seated in the background.
A photographer with a camera and backpack bends down to assist a toddler on a brick path in a park at dusk.
Snow-capped mountain range under overcast skies with dense evergreen forest in the foreground.