What It’s Really Like to Work With Me: From Our First Call to Your Finished Photographs

Choosing a photographer is about so much more than finding someone whose images you love.

You’re also choosing the person who will guide you through the experience. The person who will help you figure out what to wear, where to go, what to do with your kids, and, perhaps most importantly, how to actually enjoy being photographed with the people you love.

That’s why I believe your photography experience should feel just as thoughtful as the finished images.

Getting your photographs taken shouldn’t feel stressful or like another item on your already-full to-do list. From our very first conversation to the moment your finished artwork arrives at your door, my goal is to make the entire process easy, personal, and enjoyable.

Here’s what it’s like to work with me.

1. We Start With a Phone Call

I know we’re all used to texting and emailing these days, but when it comes to something as personal as your photography experience, I much prefer to start with a phone call.

It is just so much easier to have an actual conversation.

We’ll talk about what you’re looking for, what kind of session you have in mind, and what you’re hoping to get out of the experience. I’ll answer your questions, you can ask me anything that’s on your mind, and we’ll get a chance to get to know each other a little bit.

Because I’m not just photographing your family, your relationship, or this season of your life. I want you to feel comfortable with the person behind the camera, too.

This first conversation is a chance for us to make sure we’re a good fit and for you to feel confident about moving forward.

2. We Design Your Session Together

This is one of my favorite parts of the process because this is where we start creating a session that is truly yours.

We can do this consultation in person or over Zoom. If you’re local and would like to meet at your home, I actually love doing that. Seeing your space gives me the opportunity to look at your walls and help you think through what might look beautiful in your home, from the type of artwork to the frame style and size that would work best.

If meeting at home isn’t convenient, Zoom works beautifully, too.

During our design consultation, we go through all the details so that when your session day arrives, you aren’t left wondering if you’ve forgotten something.

We’ll talk about your outfits, location, date and time, and what you can expect during your session. We’ll discuss posing and the different photo combinations we want to capture, whether that’s the whole family together, individual portraits, parents with the kids, or smaller combinations that tell the complete story of your family.

We’ll also talk about the finished photographs.

I’ll show you the wall art, albums, and print options I offer so you know what’s available before we ever take a single photograph. This gives you the opportunity to think about what you might want for your home without having to make those decisions for the first time after you’ve seen your images.

The goal is simple: when you arrive for your session, all the big decisions have already been made.

You get to relax and enjoy the experience.

3. Your Photo Session: Show Up and Enjoy Your Time

Then comes the fun part, your actual session.

And this is where I want you to forget about the camera as much as possible.

If we’re photographing your family, I want you to be present with them. If you’re celebrating your relationship with a couples or engagement session, I want you to enjoy that time together. If you’re having your senior portraits taken, I want you to have fun and let your personality come through.

You don’t need to know how to pose. You don’t need to spend the entire session wondering what to do with your hands.

I’ll guide you.

For a family session, I might have everyone play a quick game of Ring Around the Rosie, ask the kids to run toward you for a big hug, have everyone snuggle together, or ask you to whisper something silly in your child’s ear. Sometimes I’ll have you walk together, hold hands, dance, or simply take a moment to look at each other.

For couples and engagement sessions, I might have you take a walk together, tell each other something that makes you laugh, slow dance, or pull your partner in for a hug. These prompts give you something to do so you aren’t standing there wondering what to do with your hands or trying to manufacture a smile.

And for senior sessions, I’ll guide you through poses and movements while giving you plenty of opportunities to let your personality show. We’ll create a variety of images so your final gallery feels like a true reflection of you.

What matters most is that you are actually there with the people you’re being photographed with.

Some of my favorite images happen in those in-between moments. The laughter, the movement, and the way you naturally interact with each other. My job is to create the space for those moments while also giving you direction when you need it.

Getting your photos taken shouldn’t be stressful.

You shouldn’t leave your session thinking, Well, I’m glad that’s over.

You should leave thinking, That was actually fun.

4. Your Reveal Session: Seeing Your Images for the First Time

After your session comes one of the most exciting parts of the experience, your reveal session.

This is your ordering appointment, and it’s when you get to see your images for the very first time.

Rather than simply sending you a digital gallery and leaving you to scroll through hundreds of photographs on your own, I want you to experience your images intentionally.

We’ll look through your photographs together, and you’ll have the opportunity to choose the images and products that are meaningful to you.

If you’ve decided you’d like wall art, an album, or other printed photographs, this is when you’ll place your order.

Because we talked about all of these options during your design consultation, you already have an idea of what you might want. Now you get to see your photographs and decide which ones you want to bring into your home.

5. Your Photographs Come Home to You

Once your reveal session is complete, you’ll receive your digital files within 24 to 48 hours.

And if you’ve ordered printed artwork, an album, or other products, I’ll take care of the rest.

Your finished products will be delivered right to your door within approximately 2 to 4 weeks of your session, depending on what you’ve ordered and the processing time of the professional photo lab producing your products.

There is something special about opening that box and seeing your photographs as tangible pieces of your life, not just another collection of files sitting on your computer.

A Photography Experience Designed to Be Easy

From our first phone call to the moment your photographs arrive at your door, every part of my process is designed to take the guesswork out of having your photographs taken.

You don’t have to figure out what to wear on your own.

You don’t have to wonder which location will work.

You don’t have to know how to pose.

You don’t have to wait until after your session to find out what products are available.

And you certainly don’t have to stress about whether your photos will actually make it onto your walls.

I’ll guide you through all of it.

Because your photography experience should be about more than getting beautiful images. It should be about enjoying the people you’re there to photograph and creating something you’ll be able to see, hold, and enjoy for years to come.

If you’re looking for a photographer in Raleigh, NC and the surrounding Triangle area and this sounds like the kind of experience you’ve been hoping for, I’d love to talk with you. Let’s start with a phone call and see if we’re the right fit.

Inquire now!