diff --git a/viscy/representation/engine.py b/viscy/representation/engine.py
index 983cb54f..b15d305f 100644
--- a/viscy/representation/engine.py
+++ b/viscy/representation/engine.py
@@ -111,6 +111,16 @@ def _log_samples(self, key: str, imgs: Sequence[Sequence[np.ndarray]]):
             key, grid, self.current_epoch, dataformats="HWC"
         )
 
+    def _log_step_samples(self, batch_idx, samples, stage: Literal["train", "val"]):
+        """Common method for logging step samples"""
+        if batch_idx < self.log_batches_per_epoch:
+            output_list = (
+                self.training_step_outputs
+                if stage == "train"
+                else self.validation_step_outputs
+            )
+            output_list.extend(detach_sample(samples, self.log_samples_per_batch))
+
     def log_embedding_umap(self, embeddings: Tensor, tag: str):
         _logger.debug(f"Computing UMAP for {tag} embeddings.")
         umap = UMAP(n_components=2)
@@ -157,17 +167,7 @@ def training_step(self, batch: TripletSample, batch_idx: int) -> Tensor:
             # Note: we assume the two augmented views are the anchor and positive samples
             embeddings = torch.cat((anchor_projection, positive_projection))
             loss = self.loss_function(embeddings, labels)
-            self._log_metrics(
-                loss=loss,
-                anchor=anchor_projection,
-                positive=positive_projection,
-                negative=None,
-                stage="train",
-            )
-            if batch_idx < self.log_batches_per_epoch:
-                self.training_step_outputs.extend(
-                    detach_sample((anchor_img, pos_img), self.log_samples_per_batch)
-                )
+            self._log_step_samples(batch_idx, (anchor_img, pos_img), "train")
         else:
             neg_img = batch["negative"]
             negative_projection = self(neg_img)