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I decided it was time for new branding photos in the thick of the holiday season. And like any sane person, I asked my kids to take them.
Here’s why.
As a family photographer in Raleigh, I want to work with families who find joy in the chaos of raising multiple kids. Families who thrive in the noise, the mess, the deep love and connection that doesn’t always photograph perfectly.
If my branding photos don’t reflect that, how can you trust it’s something I truly value too?
So I let go of control. I showed up as their mom instead of their photographer. And the photos we made together feel more like me than anything I could have planned.
Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers — the ones raising children with special abilities, the ones navigating challenges quietly, the ones holding families together, the bonus moms, grandmothers, foster moms, grieving mothers, single mothers, working mothers, and every woman who leads with love every single day. 💜
To the mothers of children with special abilities — your strength, advocacy, patience, resilience, and unconditional love inspire more people than you know. You celebrate victories others may overlook, fight battles many never see, and continue showing the world the beauty, value, and potential in every child.
Motherhood comes in many forms, and none of it is easy. But the love mothers pour into this world changes lives, builds communities, and creates spaces where people feel safe, seen, and valued.
Today, we celebrate all of you. Happy Mother’s Day 💕
This is Soren. He’s nine years old. He loves The Beatles, neighborhood walks, and being with his parents. He’s also on the autism spectrum, has a PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) diagnosis, and has spent much of his life fighting battles bigger than most of us can imagine.
Before this session, his mom Katrina (the very talented photographer from @fiftytwohundredphotofilm ) gave me one of the greatest gifts a parent can give a photographer: deep understanding.
She prepared me thoughtfully and honestly, not just about Soren’s needs, but about who he is. She helped me understand that if this session was going to work, Soren had to lead. Connection had to come before expectation and humor, curiosity, and flexibility mattered.
She knew her son deeply, and because of that, she helped create the foundation for something beautiful.
So when I arrived, I didn’t ask Soren to perform for me. I stepped into his world. I let him show me what mattered to him like his favorite street and music. I purposefully pronounced the name Paul “Simmon” so he could correct me, which he thought was hilarious.
And over time, that trust gave us something extraordinary. With The Beatles playing and his mom walking beside him, we captured something Katrina had deeply hoped for, a photo of Soren happily stimming.
These photos are more than portraits. They are evidence of love that listens, of parents who advocate fiercely, and a child who deserves to be seen exactly as he is.
This session wasn’t about perfection. It was about honoring Soren’s story. And that is what makes these images feel like a miracle.
Raleigh Family Photographer, Durham Family Photographer, Raleigh Lifestyle Photographer, Raleigh Extended Family Photographer, Durham Lifestyle Family Photographer, Raleigh Moms, Durham Moms, Raleigh In-Home Photographer, Durham In-Home Photographer, Raleigh Newborn Photographer, Durham Newborn Photographer
This is me and my mom, photographed last month by the incredibly talented Devin Desjarlais. :-)
Mother's Day is coming up, and I've been thinking about what actually makes a gift feel meaningful — not just something to open, but something that stays.
I put together a list of my favorite ideas. The ones I keep coming back to. A few are local to Durham, one of them is completely free, and one of them is this — being in the frame together, before another year goes by.
I'm sending the full list to my newsletter subscribers next week. Link in bio to sign up. 🤍
This is what I mean when I talk about storytelling.
At-home newborn photos aren’t about making everything look perfect. They’re about noticing what your life actually feels like right now. You’ve got a brand new baby who still feels impossibly small, a big sibling who hasn’t slowed down at all, and parents trying to hold both of those things at the same time.
It’s not polished. It’s not quiet. It’s overwhelming in the best and hardest ways, and it changes faster than you think. Getting to document this life stage will never stop mattering to me.
This is the Quidley family’s story.
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A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera.” –Dorothea Lange
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Welcome to the Finding He(art) Workshop loop! We are a group of @findingheARTworkshop alumni + artists inspired by photographing in a variety of locations, using a variety of lighting conditions and creating in alignment with our artistic inspiration.
Follow along and be inspired! Next up: @houseofschaab
From his birth at Duke Regional to newborn photos at home in Durham, this is the next chapter of Remy’s story with his biggest fans.
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Community over competition
We’re a group of photographers from across the country, sharing work that feels honest, creative, and deeply personal. Different perspectives. Different stories. One shared commitment to meaningful storytelling.
Next up: @little_wild_light
Tap through the loop to see what we’re all creating.
I am profoundly changed by my first birth photography experience.
I met Sarah and Logan two years ago at my sunflower minis as they prepared to welcome their daughter, Rayya. They were strangers to me. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing their family grow, documenting the quiet and joyful unfolding from infant days into big sisterhood.
When Sarah asked me to document the birth of their son, Remy, I was deeply honored. Being invited into this sacred space where a family expands, where a woman labors to introduce a life she has made to this world, where she steps into motherhood again… is something that I will never take for granted.
If you, or someone you love, is expecting and feels called to preserve birth as the powerful, intimate, and deeply human story that it is, I would love to connect.
Raleigh birth photographer, Durham birth photographer, birth photography, Cary birth photographer, Wake Forest birth photographer, Chapel Hill birth photographer
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A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera.” –Dorothea Lange
✨🫶✨
Welcome to the Finding He(art) Workshop loop! We are a group of @findingheARTworkshop alumni + artists inspired by photographing in a variety of locations, using a variety of lighting conditions and creating in alignment with our artistic inspiration.
Follow along and be inspired! Next up: @ashley_kaplan_photography
What if we just slowed down.
Held each other a little longer.
Counted fingers and toes.
Noticed how often they laugh until they can’t breathe.
And actually captured it before it all changes again.
Raleigh family photographer, Raleigh family photos, lifestyle photography
I love working with families who show up with their hearts wide open.
This family moved to the Triangle last year to study cancer development at Duke, and when they reached out, they told me they hadn’t done family photos since their daughter was one.
Now she’s three and they didn’t want to miss capturing another moment.
That’s what I love about being a family photographer in Raleigh. My job isn’t to chase perfect photos or perfectly behaved kids. It’s to help you hold onto who your family is right now, before it changes again.
Raleigh family photographer, Raleigh photographer, lifestyle family photographer
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A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera.” –Dorothea Lange
✨🫶✨
Welcome to the Finding He(art) Workshop loop! We are a group of @findingheARTworkshop alumni + artists inspired by photographing in a variety of locations, using a variety of lighting conditions and creating in alignment with our artistic inspiration.
Follow along and be inspired! Next up: @ohtannenbaumphotos
Okay I need your thoughts!
I’m thinking about offering personality portraits. These would be part of a one day only event. Just your kid being themselves. No pressure to perform and no perfect smiles required.
Is that something you’d want? If so, drop a comment and tell me what month would work best for you.
Raleigh family photographer, Raleigh family photos, lifestyle photography
All families deserve photos that reflect who they actually are.
Last month I spent a morning with the Petts family in their Durham home, documenting life with their two boys, including Theo, who has ADNP Syndrome, a rare genetic condition with fewer than 500 diagnosed cases worldwide.
We didn’t ask for smiles or rush the moment. We let the boys lead.
Theo played with his favorite toys, got cozy in his blue blanket, and stayed close to the people who make him feel safest.
Because for many neurodivergent or medically complex families, comfort isn’t a bonus in a photo session. It is the foundation.
This is what inclusive family photography can look like.
If traditional sessions haven’t felt built with your family in mind, I would love to change that.
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A camera is a tool for learning how to see without a camera.” –Dorothea Lange
✨🫶✨
Welcome to the Finding He(art) Workshop loop! We are a group of @findingheARTworkshop alumni + artists inspired by photographing in a variety of locations, using a variety of lighting conditions and creating in alignment with our artistic inspiration.
Follow along and be inspired! Next up: @ohtannenbaumphotos
