When this Cary family reached out about booking a family photo session, they knew they wanted a full experience, but taking photos at home did not feel quite right. Their current house is a temporary rental for this season of life, so they wanted to consider another option that still honors their everyday family rhythms.

My Locals Session fit the bill. It is designed to explore what connection looks like for your family around town, whether that means grabbing a slice at your favorite local pizza spot, fishing at the lake, or playing a match together. After walking through my intentional planning questionnaire, we settled on a tennis court and a picnic as the perfect combination to highlight their natural weekend rhythms.

If you are used to outdoor family photos being held at a random park or field, the idea of having a photographer enter into your family rhythms might sound strange or even a bit vulnerable. You may have questions like: Will we still get family portraits? Will my kids last for family photos that are so involved? Are there only action shots or will we get photos I want to frame and share? Will it feel awkward?

If your family is used to putting on coordinating outfits and standing in an open field at sunset, taking photos during a normal weekend outing can feel like a curveball. You might worry that it will feel chaotic, or wonder if you will still walk away with those classic, still portraits for your walls.

Here is the thing: Locals Sessions are not about trying something new for the sake of a cool backdrop. They are about leaning hard into the rhythms your family already loves—the simple, grounding habits you have built to make anywhere feel like home.

When you step onto a tennis court or unroll a picnic blanket in a spot you already visit on a random Saturday, the performance mindset completely evaporates. You get to wear clothes you actually feel like yourself in. The missed hits, the unforced errors, and the silly, slightly awkward moments stop being distractions and start becoming the whole point. The results end up honoring the secure landing place you have created for your family to thrive and feel loved. I will still be right there guiding the flow, making sure we capture beautiful, calm portraits alongside all the movement. But because the space is already yours, the heavy lifting is done. You get to stop worrying about posing and just enjoy being with your people.

Playing tennis at Robert V. Godbold Park might not be a traditional photo location, but for this Cary family, it was the exact right place to just slow down and have fun.

Plan a Locals Session for your Family