Story Telling Photo Sessions – How to Create Natural, Candid Moments During the Session

Every image I create is a journey through love, play, and those beautifully genuine moments that define us. I believe that the best memories come from connections—shared laughter, tender hugs, and spontaneous adventures. It’s within these moments that the magic happens!

Unlike any session you’ve experienced before, I focus on making our time together a celebration of your unique story. Say goodbye to stiff poses and forced smiles! Instead, we’ll engage in playful interactions that bring out your true selves. Whether it’s twirling in the park, cozying up on the couch, or exploring a hidden gem in your neighborhood, I’ll be there, capturing the candid laughter and genuine love that unfolds.

How to Prepare for Your Session

✔️ Relax & Enjoy the Moment

  • The best photos come when everyone feels comfortable and has fun.
  • Don’t stress about perfection—just focus on being together and let the moments unfold naturally.

✔️ Coordinate, Don’t Match

  • Choose a cohesive color palette with soft, neutral, and earthy tones that complement each other.
  • Avoid loud patterns, logos, or anything too trendy—classic and timeless is best!

✔️ Keep the Kids Happy

  • Well-rested and well-fed kids = a smoother session!
  • Bring along snacks, a favorite small toy, or anything that keeps them comfortable.
  • Don’t worry if they get a little wild—we’ll embrace the energy and create magic!

✔️ Think About Interaction, Not Just Posing

  • The best photos happen when families interact naturally instead of just standing and smiling.
  • Cuddle, hold hands, tell jokes—these little moments create the most meaningful images.

✔️ Embrace the Chaos

  • Big family sessions can feel a little lively, and that’s totally okay!
  • The unexpected moments—the kids running to hug Grandma, the cousins laughing together—are often the most treasured.

Here’s How we Create Natural, Candid Moments During Your Session

✔️ Walk, Play & Move Together
Instead of standing stiffly, try walking together, holding hands, or playing a simple game like “Ring Around the Rosie” with the little ones. Movement creates authentic smiles and natural interactions!

✔️ Tell Stories & Share Memories
Encourage grandparents to share a favorite childhood story or siblings to reminisce about growing up together. These genuine moments lead to natural expressions and emotional connections.

✔️ Whisper a Secret or Make Each Other Laugh
Parents, whisper something funny into your child’s ear. Grandparents, tell a joke to your grandkids. A shared laugh creates beautiful, unscripted moments.

✔️ Hug, Snuggle & Show Affection
Don’t be afraid to show love! Whether it’s a group hug, an arm around a shoulder, or a child holding onto a grandparent’s hand—these small touches make images feel warm and connected.

✔️ Be Present
Forget the camera for a moment and just focus on enjoying your family. I’ll take care of the rest!

Join me in creating storytelling images that resonate with emotion, reminding you of the joy and authenticity found in every moment. Let’s create something beautiful together! Booking photography in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Smoky Mountains and in between!

Ahumada Family :: Knoxville Maternity Photographer

This maternity session was everything! Shelby has been a long time client of mine, and then her and her family moved to South Carolina and I’d only see them when they would rarely come back to California to visit, but now living in East Tennessee, it was a quick flight over to see them for the day and to capture this milestone for them!

Maternity photography is one of those milestones that are so worth documenting. Mama’s just have this natural, beautiful glow to them. And if they have older children, there is just something special about getting those pictures before your family grows by one more, and capturing the anticipation of the older children.

Scarlett :: Horse Portraits, Knoxville, TN

East Tennessee was recently blanketed with about 5″ of beautiful snow, and I could not let it melt without photographing a dreamy session. Scarlett was the perfect model with her horse. She wore one of my dresses from my client closet and bared the cold with me, and I’d say it was very well worth it!

The Lewis Family :: A Smoky Mountain Family Photo Session, Pigeon Forge

This sweet family found me on Yelp and we jumped on the phone to get to know each other, discuss details about their visit to Gatlinburg and their session. This would be their first trip together as a blended family and their first time in the Pigeon Forge area. After a few minutes on the phone we quickly learned that Cameron and I went to high school together, all the way back in California! We didn’t know each other but we knew some of the same groups of people. And now, he has made his way to Georgia and met his beautiful girlfriend with 3 girls through their daughter’s softball team and they immediately hit it off, and so did their girls! Photographing them was like capturing a family that has always had each other, the closeness, the love and playfulness was beautiful!

I absolutely LOVED capturing their crew and sharing some of my favorite views of the Smoky Mountains, even if we had 45 mph wind gusts and then a downpour in the middle of our session. We just jumped in our cars to wait out the rain and warm up until it passed and then we experienced a beautiful sunset that made it all worth it!

Marriage Proposal :: Gatlinburg Proposal Photographer

SHE SAID YESSSS!!!! We may have driven all over Wears Valley and Gatlinburg to make this proposal happen, as the weather threw us a curve ball and shut down Foothills Pkwy for all the beautiful overlooks, but we made it happen at the restaurant they had reservations at and where all of their family was waiting to celebrate, and it was special as ever and ended up being the perfect place!

If you’re planning to propose to your special someone, reach out to me and let’s plan an epic proposal that will be captured for you to keep for all time!