A method of imaging a sample via scanning resonator microscopy is provided comprising positioning a whispering gallery mode (WGM) optical resonator at a first location over the surface of the sample, the WGM optical resonator characterized by at least one resonance frequency, wherein the WGM optical resonator is mounted to the free end of an atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilever such that the WGM optical resonator moves with the AFM cantilever, and wherein the AFM cantilever is operably coupled to an AFM system configured to provide a topographical image of the sample; evanescently coupling excitation light into the WGM optical resonator; detecting light derived from the excitation light to monitor for a shift in the at least one resonance frequency induced by the surface of the sample; and repeating steps (a)-(c) at least at a second location over the surface of the sample.