Before You Even Arrive
Your session actually starts weeks before we ever meet in a field at golden hour. After you book, I send over a short questionnaire — nothing intimidating, just a handful of questions about your family. Your kids' names and ages. What makes them laugh. Whether anyone has sensory sensitivities or nap schedules I should work around. What you hope to do with the images afterward — a framed print for the hallway, a holiday card, an album for the grandparents.
That information shapes everything. If your two-year-old is a runner, I'll pick a location with a natural boundary — a tree line or a gentle slope — so you're not spending the session chasing. If your eight-year-old is shy about photos, I'll plan conversation starters that get her talking about her favorite book series instead of simply asking her to smile. If your baby has a witching hour at 6 p.m., we schedule accordingly.
A week before the session, I'll send over my outfit guide and check in about any last questions. I'll also confirm the location and time. By the day of, you'll know exactly where to park, what to wear, and what to expect. The goal is for you to show up feeling prepared — not stressed.
What to Bring (And What to Leave at Home)
Pack light. A favorite snack that won't stain faces or clothes — think pretzels or apple slices, not blue slurpees. A comfort item for little ones: a lovey, a pacifier, a small toy that fits in a pocket. A change of clothes for inevitable spills. Bug spray and a brush in the warmer months.
What to leave at home: the pressure to perform. The idea that you need perfectly behaved children. The phone in your pocket — hand it to me and I'll keep it safe. You don't need to document the session yourself. That's my job.
The First Five Minutes
You pull up to the location — maybe it's Raven Rock, maybe it's a quiet field at Carvers Creek, maybe it's your own living room for a newborn session. And here's what happens: I don't immediately start shooting.
The first few minutes are about settling in. I get down on my knees to meet your kids at eye level. I ask them questions — real ones, not small talk. What's the coolest bug they've ever found? Can they show me how fast they can run to that tree and back? These first minutes matter because they set the tone. Kids figure out quickly whether the person behind the camera is someone they can relax around or someone they need to perform for.
Meanwhile, I'm watching. How does your family move together? Who reaches for whose hand? Does your son orbit around your legs, or does he bolt for open space? All of this tells me how to work with you for the rest of the session.
How I Work with Kids (Where the Real Magic Happens)
Nobody — and I mean nobody — produces genuine smiles on command for an hour straight. Not adults, and certainly not children. So I don't ask for smiles. I create conditions where smiles happen naturally, and then I'm ready when they do.
This might look like a tickle fight between siblings. A game of chase through tall grass. A whispered secret into mom's ear that turns into a giggle. Sometimes I'll ask a kid to show me their best silly face first — once that guard drops, the real smiles follow within minutes. The session becomes play, and the camera becomes invisible.
For the Wiggly Toddler
Toddlers are not built to stand still, and I will never ask them to. We embrace the wiggles. Some of my favorite frames from toddler sessions happen when a little one is mid-run, arms out, looking back over their shoulder at mom and dad. Or when they've stopped to inspect a flower and their whole world has narrowed to a single petal. Those images capture who they actually are at this age — curious, kinetic, unstoppable. That's so much better than a stiff portrait.
If we need a family shot where everyone is looking at the camera, I use movement to get there. Walk toward me holding hands. Stop a few feet away and pick up your toddler. I'll count down from three, say something ridiculous, and capture the reaction. It takes about fifteen seconds.
For the Reserved Older Child
Some kids arrive with their arms crossed, determined not to enjoy this. I see you, and I respect it. I won't cajole or over-cheer. I'll ask them to teach me something — about their favorite Minecraft build, the chapter book they're reading, the lizard they caught last weekend. Once they realize they're the expert in the room, something shifts. The arms uncross. The real expressions surface.
I also give older kids small, specific jobs. Hold this for mom while I take a picture of her. Walk your little brother to that tree and back. Stand right here and keep an eye on the horizon for me. Purpose does wonders.
What If Someone Has a Meltdown?
I'm going to say this plainly: almost every session with young children includes a wobble. A skinned knee, an overtired toddler, a baby who suddenly realizes they're hungry right now. This is not a disaster. It's not a session-ruiner. It's just life with kids.
When it happens, we pause. No one rushes. We sit down on the blanket, pull out a snack, and reset. And here's something most parents don't expect: the reset moments often produce the tenderest images of the whole session. A dad soothing a crying toddler against his shoulder. A mom nursing a baby in the golden light while big sister leans against her. These aren't the photos you planned for, but they're often the ones you love most.
During the Session: The Flow
A full family session typically runs about an hour. That hour has a natural shape to it, though I never follow a rigid script. The light, the location, and your family's energy guide me.
The Posed-ish Shots
Early in the session, while everyone is fresh and the kids are still curious about this whole endeavor, we'll knock out a handful of what I call posed-ish shots. These are the ones where everyone is looking at the camera, relatively close together, smiling. The holiday card contender. I'll give you direction — where to put your hands, how to angle your shoulders — but I'll keep it brief. Ten minutes, max. The goal is to check this box so we can move on to the good stuff.
The In-Between Moments
This is where I live creatively, and it's where your favorite images will come from. After the posed-ish shots, I step back. I might ask you to walk together, or I'll tell the kids to show me how high they can jump. Mom and dad, take a minute to just look at each other while your kids explore. These prompts produce the unguarded moments — a hand on a cheek, a shared laugh, a toddler reaching up without being asked — that no amount of posing can manufacture.
Depending on the location, we might move to a second spot for a change of scenery. A field to a tree line. A porch to a garden path. The variety makes your gallery feel richer and tells a fuller story.
After the Session: What Happens Next
When we wrap, you head home. I head to my editing desk. This is where the quiet work begins.
A single session produces hundreds of frames. My job is to cull those down to the very best — the images where the light, the expression, and the moment all came together. I'm looking for connection, for authenticity, for the frames where your family looks like yourselves rather than a version of yourselves trying to look good for a camera.
Each selected image is then hand-edited. I adjust color balance, exposure, and contrast to create that warm, timeless look my work is known for. I don't over-process — you won't look airbrushed or artificial. You'll look like you, on your best day, in beautiful light.
When You'll See Your Gallery
Your full online gallery is typically ready within two weeks. You'll receive an email with a private link. From there, you can view your images, download the high-resolution files, share with family, and order prints directly through the gallery if you'd like. The gallery stays live for a set period, so you have time to decide which images you want framed, which ones go in the album, and which ones become next year's holiday card.
Why You'll Be Glad You Did This
I've photographed families across Spring Lake, Fort Liberty, and Fayetteville for years now, and I hear the same thing after almost every session: I was nervous about this, and it was actually fun. The kids had a good time. I didn't expect to feel this emotional looking at the photos.
That last part is what stays with me. Parents tell me they cried opening their gallery — not because the photos were pretty, but because the photos showed them something they live inside every day and rarely get to see from the outside: how much they love each other. The way their son looked at them during the tickle fight. The protective curl of a hand around a baby's head. The years going by in a single image of a family walking away, kids getting taller, hands still held.
You don't need to know how to pose. You don't need perfectly behaved children. You don't need to feel confident in front of a camera. All you need to do is show up, be your family, and trust me to handle the rest. That's what I'm here for — and I'd be honored to capture this season of your story.