My Photography Journey With Hannah: From High School to Motherhood

As a North Carolina photographer, there are few things more meaningful than getting to walk alongside clients through different chapters of their lives. I first photographed Hannah when she was in high school, and since then I’ve documented so many of her milestones—from her dance portraits to cap and gowns, to a parking garage couple’s session, and eventually Christian’s surprise proposal… all were such an honor to capture.

I don’t usually photograph weddings, so I referred them to my friend and talented photographer Carly Hinson, who took wonderful care of them on their big day. But my heart was so happy when Hannah and Christian reached out again this fall—this time for maternity photos.

There’s something deeply meaningful about clients returning as their lives grow and change. It’s one of my favorite parts of this work, and I never take it for granted.

Why I Limit the Number of Sessions Each Month

Part of offering a luxury experience means keeping my schedule intentionally flexible. I limit how many shoots I take per month because I know anything can happen—and when it does, my clients deserve accommodations, not stress.

Weather doesn’t always cooperate (and it definitely didn’t on our original shoot day), babies arrive on their own timeline, and work schedules can be rigid. Keeping space on my calendar allows me to serve people well when life gets unpredictable.

When it was cold and rainy on our original date, I was able to shift things for Hannah and Christian, and the portraits we created together were absolutely stunning. I mean, just look:

Welcome, Beautiful Baby Aria

Now that Little Aria has officially arrived, and the new family is doing well, I get to design their Deluxe Album filled with their favorite images from the session—and you have to see this book.

Why My Albums Are Heirloom Quality

There are plenty of consumer labs out there, and early in my career—even as a professional—I sometimes chose lower-priced options to keep costs down. But everything changed when I saw these albums in person.

The craftsmanship, the weight, the print quality, the way they showcase the photos as true artwork… there’s simply no comparison. These are heirloom-quality pieces meant to be held, treasured, and passed down.

But words just don’t do them justice. You have to see and hold them for yourself to understand. I can just tell you that almost every single client who sees one wants one, which is why I now include them by default in some of my session collections.

These albums are Deluxe for a reason. They are for clients who don’t want substitutes—clients who value meaningful, lasting artwork.

If that sounds like you, let’s talk! I can’t wait to meet you!