Sam Crump (click to enlarge)

Sample of Sam Crump’s photography at Valley Copy in Eden. (click to enlarge)

Sam Crump – More Than Meets the Eye
By Deborah Quinn - 18 August 2026
 
As an integral part of our community, it was suggested that an article about Sam Crump would be a way for people in the Valley to get to know him better. After working closely with him for the last 12 months, I have benefited tremendously from his kindness, coaching, and patience. I have also learned that this man has great skill and depth that goes far beyond his artistic talent.
 
Many of you in the Valley know “Sam” as the tall, smiling, and helpful man behind the counter at Ogden Valley Copy. He is a fixture in this community, assisting with shipping & printing needs of all kinds. The man behind the tape gun is also an expert in print technology of all shapes and sizes. A master at Photoshop, he can take any old, beat-up family photo with wear and tear and create a beautiful, frame-able rendition. But there is so much more to Sam Crump—a depth of artistry and skill that brings out the best in any subject he is covering.
 
His love for photography was inspired by his mother who always carried a camera and being surrounded by uncles and aunts who were artists and musicians further fueled his artistic outlets. While living in Alabama, Sam worked at Herff Jones (the yearbook publishing company) leading a team that ran a very complex large-format printing press. In the early morning hours before work, as the sun was rising, he would explore the great outdoors in his ’69 VW van and capture nature at its best with camera and gifted-eye.
 
He has honed his craft over the years, covering not only the great outdoors but large events from Telluride to Targhee, the SLC Blues Festival, the OFOAM, and, of course, concerts up at Snowbasin. Sam photographs art events and dance festivals with great fervor and passion, often capturing the essence of these events in difficult conditions and lighting. He was even asked to shoot Utah Arts Festival Featuring Bandaloop, which you can see in the gallery—a fanciful juxtaposition against his gorgeous landscapes.
 
As tall and big as he is, Sam has the skill of quietly capturing the backstage energy at events. Shooting the set list before hand before the band takes the stage, to understand the flow of the evening, gives Sam the ability to know when the audience’s passion will be showing and where to be amongst the crowd at just the right time. He has even been on location for various Hallmark movie productions where he must put himself in the perfect spots to capture the very important “stills” used for promotional purposes.
 
Recently, Sam captured some very haunting yet beautiful pictures of the Middle Fork Fire in June. Many asked how these were done and were somewhat skeptical that a Canon R5 and 600 MM lens compressed the image bringing the viewer front and center. While the final product appeared that he was at the foot of the fire, thanks to some very powerful equipment, he was in fact quite far away on the bank of the Reservoir. 
 
Many have asked if they were AI-generated or “Photoshopped,” but what Sam explained is that he used several different lenses each with unique settings to capture the light, dark, and intense color. Photoshop was used only to mix three exposures – Dark, Medium, and Light – into a single high-resolution file. Think of it as the difference between the color you see in a box of 8 crayons compared to what you see in a box of 64.  And, add a dash of photographic finishing “recipes” Sam has developed over years of digital editing, mix with the magic of our Valley, and photos like these come to life.
 
And what most people who hire Sam don’t know is that taking the pictures is only a fraction of his time – and the easy, fun part for him. The real work is in what comes after the shoot when he edits and perfects each shot until the entire collection is perfect for viewing. This process can take hours and sometimes days, but the end result is always worth it!!!
 
Then there is Sam Crump, the Utah travel agent. The man knows every nook and cranny of this beautiful state that is worth seeing—from hot springs to trails to back roads that might take longer but should not be passed by.
 
Before we headed south to spend last Thanksgiving camping and hiking, Sam said, “You must go Highway 12 through Boulder, UT, and stop at Hells Backbone Grill—THE best restaurant in Utah!” And he was not kidding. HBG has been written up by the New York Times and in Oprah magazine. After 27 seasons in business, it is truly a cultural and culinary delight that is worth the drive and the time. Besides, you can enjoy the beauty of the Escalante region during your trip.
So, if you are planning a trip or need a good idea, pop into the shop and ask Sam. He will certainly have an opinion – and will likely have a photo or two of your destination at hand that he will happily share.
 
A few things to know about Sam: He is a big, 6’6” guy – but horses scare him. So, he will photograph them, albeit very reluctantly as they are not his favorite subject. He does not swear – EVER. When I first used a curse word 12 months ago (as I was extremely frustrated with the “help” center at FedEx), he said, “My mother taught me words have meaning and power and it is bad karma to put those nasty words out in the world.”  So, suffice it to say, my cursing has lessened considerably over the past year.
 
We have a new display of Sam Crump photos in the Gallery at Ogden Valley Copy, so come in and take a look around. We are using a new material called “ACM” – a metal backing with a satin finish, so it does not have the glare that prints on metal often elicit. His photos look better than ever on this new ACM substrate!  And, Sam has hundreds of photos on his website: www.samcrumpphoto.com which we can produce in most any size. Feel free to email us at [email protected] if you have questions or would like pricing.
 
There is so much more than meets the eye to this tall, quiet man Sam, but what we see on the wall in the gallery and the manner in which he conducts himself – that really says it all.