¡HOLA HOLA!

Me llamo Kristen – that’s Español for
“My name is Kristen.”

Over a decade ago I retired from the hustle and bustle of the NYC corporate banking world, trading in my heels for a surfboard and camera in Costa Rica. My photography work has been featured & published internationally in Harper’s Bazaar, Coastal Living, American Express, and Real Simple, to name a few (eek!).

I love dancing with waves, chasing sunsets, beach strolls with my sassy pants Chihuahua named Gidget, laughing my butt off, and photographing nature’s magic. I’m beyond grateful to call two beautiful places home, Tamarindo, Costa Rica and Savannah, Georgia.

Whether it’s photographing a classic Land Rover, family session, mesmerizing beach landscape, intimate elopement, or a breathtaking sunset, I love working with my clients as much as they love working with me. 

Tamarindo Costa Rica photographer Kristen M. Brown of Samba to the Sea running on the beach to the ocean with her surfboard.

Can I get a HOLA Y’ALL?
How about a PURA VIDA!

Costa Rica photographer Kristen M. Brown.

I’m a photographer
for the
adventure loVing
suNset dreamers
&
wild at heaRt.

published work

Real Simple logo.
Coastal Living logo.
Harper's Bazaar logo.
American Express logo.

Did you know that your photos will give back to help keep Mother Nature magical?

As a proud member of 1% for the Planet, every client of Samba to the Sea helps support this amazing environmental non-profit organization — 1% of gross revenues are donated yearly to 1%FTP.  Click here to learn more!

Some of my favorite things

gidget

aerial images

surfing

savannah

sunset

 

Nikon Film Camera

palm trees

 

old photographs

 

dreamy live oak trees

water views

yoga

 

the sunset shop

Oh, you want to know more?

From a very early age I can remember staring at pictures that my parents took on their worldwide travels and being mesmerized. I could not wait to get my hands on one of my parents’ SLRs. When my mom finally let me use her Nikon, I was ecstatic loading the film for the first time and even more elated seeing my first photographs come to life in front of my eyes in the dark room.

That Nikon SLR instantly became one of my best friends, coming along on every jaunt and worldwide adventure. Gone are the film days, and a digital Nikon DSLR is a welcomed addition to best friend status, but my viewpoint when I look through the camera lens is still the same. The world around me is transformed when I look through the viewfinder. I feel beyond blessed to be doing what I love and living my passions.

How to dance Samba footsteps GIF.

1,2,3...Samba!

Why Costa Rica?

I took my first surf lesson in 2011 and it was love at first wipeout. After two trips to Tamarindo, Costa Rica within a couple of months of that first surf lesson, I was sitting on my surfboard in the Pacific Ocean when my heart whispered I needed to be in Tamarindo. I hadn’t felt that alive in years. A year after my first trip to Costa Rica, in September of 2012, I took a leap of faith and left my job at a big bank in New York City. I hopped on a plane to surf in Pura-Vida-dise and to help Mr. Endless Summer, Robert August, with social media and blogging.

#SunsetChaser

Soon after landing in Costa Rica, I started chasing and photographing the oh-so-magical Costa Rican sunsets every night. After seeing one-too-many ugly postcards for sale in Tamarindo, I decided to take matters into my own hands and started selling my own of 100% recycled postcards, notecards, mini cards using my sunset photographs. Selling my photographs via my cards inspired me to finally pursue my passion for photography full-time. Sunset chasing with my oh-so-adorable Chihuahua Gidget is now a daily ritual – – every afternoon no matter where I am in the world, I close my laptop and head out with Gidget to chase sunsets. Costa Rica and Savannah so far are our two favorite spots to watch Mother Nature’s magic!

P.S. You can bring paradise home with you with my sunset and beach prints from my online print shop, The Sunset Shop!

Costa Rica photographer Kristen M. Brown.
Costa Rica photo prints by Kristen M. Brown at The Sunset Shop.

the suNset shop

Your Getaway to Paradise at Home.

That feeling of freedom, sun soaked beach days, and magical sunset strolls.

It’s the feeling you live for, but there’s one minor detail. You don’t live in paradise.

Thankfully, you’ve finally landed in the right place…

A place that was made for you, fellow sunset chaser, beach lover, and wanderluster! A place full of breathtaking photo prints of paradise.

Welcome & bienvenidos to The Sunset Shop, a place where you can bring that magical feeling of paradise home with you, wherever your home may be.

Costa Rica photo prints by Kristen M. Brown at The Sunset Shop.
Samba to the Sea photography logo.

Kristen M. Brown is an internationally published lifestyle photographer and the photographer behind Samba to the Sea™.

Based in Tamarindo, Costa Rica & Savannah, GA. All images © 2024. All Rights Reserved.