Atlanta Family & Couples Photography Blog

A peek behind the sessions, the people, and some of my favorite places to photograph around Atlanta and North Georgia. From newborns and growing families to couples, milestones, and everything in between, the blog is where you’ll find recent sessions, location inspiration, and a little more of the story behind the photos.

Dad and pregnant mom walking behind two daughters in Mabry Park

11.04.26

At-Home Family Photos on a Milton Farm | The Griffin Family

Some families have a favorite photo location. The Griffins have their own farm in Milton, which is a pretty great option if you ask me.

I met up with Ian, Katie and Alex at their property for another round of family photos. There was a new pony to meet, Gritz, and some very intentional rainbow hair for this year’s holiday cards. As far as family-photo accessories go, a pony is hard to beat.

Katie also had an excellent fig season. She’s been busy turning the harvest into jam, and I was lucky enough to leave with three jars of her best flavors. I’m not saying homemade jam is required for a session, but I certainly won’t argue with it.

And then there’s Alex, who is officially a middle schooler. I asked about his girlfriend, and while he was not giving up a name or a single useful detail, the smile on his face told me plenty. Nice try, Alex.

One photo we always have to get

We ended the session with a Griffin family tradition: an overhead photo of Katie and Alex lying side by side. We first did this years ago in a bed of fallen leaves, and now it’s become our signature pose together.

That’s my favorite thing about photographing families over time. The details change. There’s a new pony, a taller kid and a whole new set of stories. But some photos are worth making again.

If you’re looking for relaxed family photography in Milton or North Atlanta, take a look at my family portfolio and session information.

11.02.26

Grant Park Family Mini Session in Atlanta | The Ralston Family

Victoria and Brandon came to me through a recommendation from my client Chelsea, and I met them at Grant Park for a mini session with their two kiddos, Theo and Audrey.

We had perfect overcast skies, two toddlers and a limited amount of time.

My kind of challenge.

Audrey is one, which means she had absolutely no intention of staying wherever we happened to put her.

As she should.

She wanted to move, explore and investigate everything around her, so rather than spending our entire mini session trying to convince a one-year-old that sitting still is suddenly a valuable life skill, we worked with it.

At this age, movement is the photo.

Theo, who is three, was a little more hesitant about me at first. Completely normal. Then I offered to let him use my camera to take a few photos of Mom and Dad.

Suddenly, we had common interests.

He warmed up quickly once he got to be involved, and it’s one of those little things that works because we’re not asking kids to perform for a stranger. We’re giving them something interesting to do and letting the session develop from there.

That’s especially important during mini sessions. Your kids don’t have to suddenly behave like completely different children because we’re taking photos. I just need to figure out how to work with whichever version of them shows up that day.

For the Ralstons, that meant one very busy explorer and one newly appointed assistant photographer.

I’ll take it.

If you’re looking for relaxed family photos in Atlanta that don’t require your toddler to magically stop being a toddler, browse my family photography portfolio or take a look at Packages & Pricing.

10.30.26

Winn Park Family Mini Session in Atlanta | The Diego Family

The Diego family’s first session date got rained out, but I’m not mad about it because the rescheduled morning gave us exactly the kind of light I love.

Overcast.

Yes, really.

People tend to worry when they see clouds in the forecast before their photo session, but overcast light is some of my absolute favorite. It’s soft, flattering and means I can photograph pretty much anywhere without worrying about harsh shadows or everyone squinting into the sun.

So Winn Park + clouds + a happy six-month-old? I’ll take it.

Matt booked this mini session as a birthday gift for his wife with one particularly important goal: getting a great photo of all three of them.

More specifically, they needed the coveted daycare family photo.

You know the one. You suddenly realize you need a family picture and discover that your camera roll contains approximately 9,000 photos of your baby, 600 photos of one parent with the baby and virtually none where all three of you are actually in the frame.

Enter me.

Jules was six months old and came ready with the smiles, which is one reason I love morning sessions with babies. They tend to be happiest first thing in the morning before we’ve asked too much of them for the day and before anyone starts approaching nap-related negotiations.

He even tolerated sitting directly in the grass.

If you’ve ever put a baby in grass, you know this is not an accomplishment I take lightly. 😂

We kept the session simple, let Jules be the star and walked away with something considerably better for daycare than a cropped selfie.

Mission accomplished.

If your own camera roll is suspiciously short on photos containing the entire family, browse my family photography portfolio or check out Packages & Pricing.

10.28.26

Golden Hour Maternity Session at Garrard Landing Park

This one is a little more personal for me.

Lauren is one of my closest friends, and I’ve gotten to photograph a few different chapters of her life over the years. I photographed her with her pups years ago, and in 2023 I got to capture her engagement photos with Noah.

Now they’re having a baby.

We originally had a different date planned for their maternity session, but Atlanta weather had other ideas and rained us out. Thankfully, the rescheduled evening at Garrard Landing Park more than made up for it.

It wasn’t nearly as hot as it had been, and we had that perfect combination of sun and clouds that makes me very happy behind a camera. Then golden hour showed up and really started showing off.

As the sun went down, the sky turned the prettiest shades of pink, which felt particularly appropriate considering Lauren and Noah are expecting a baby girl.

I cannot order a pink sunset to coordinate with your baby, for the record. But when Georgia decides to cooperate, I’ll happily take the credit.

There’s something particularly special about getting to photograph multiple stages of someone’s life. In 2023, I was documenting Lauren and Noah as they prepared to get married. This time, it was the same two people in front of my camera, but everything was different. They’re about to become Mom and Dad.

And because Lauren isn’t just a client but one of my closest friends, I’m especially grateful I get to be behind the camera for this part too.

I can’t wait to watch my dear friend become a mom, meet this little girl and be part of this next stage of their lives.

Although I’m already fairly certain this baby is going to have a LOT of photos.

If you’re expecting and looking for maternity photography in Alpharetta or North Atlanta, you can browse my maternity and newborn portfolio or see Packages & Pricing.

10.26.26

North Georgia State Fair Family Photos | The Russell Family

I’ve photographed the Russells before, but this year we tried something completely different. For their Fall family photos, we headed to the North Georgia State Fair.

Chelsea, John, Delilah and Harrison met me for an evening of rides, games and cotton candy. We also ended up with a couple of newly acquired fish and a funnel cake powdered-sugar fight.

So, you know, your standard family photos.

State Fair Family Photos with the Russells

At this point, Delilah is a photo pro. Perfect smile. Ready when I need her. She knows exactly what we’re doing.

Harrison had some plans of his own.

Fortunately, we discovered his contract terms could be renegotiated with cotton candy. Once properly compensated, he was much more receptive to this whole family-photo situation.

This is your reminder that I am absolutely not above bribery during sessions.

We also lucked out with the weather. It wasn’t ridiculously hot, and the fair wasn’t very busy yet. That gave us plenty of room to explore without fighting huge crowds.

The kids rode a few rides and played some games. They even won a couple of fish from the ping-pong-ball-in-the-fish-bowl game.

Yes, actual fish went home with them.

Family Photos That Actually Feel Like Your Family

There was absolutely no way I was taking a family to the fair without involving fair food.

So we finished with a funnel cake.

Technically, we finished with a funnel cake powdered-sugar fight, which was considerably better.

This is exactly why I love family sessions with something fun built into them. The kids don’t spend the entire session thinking about my camera. They’re too busy playing games, riding rides and eating cotton candy.

Family photos don’t always need a field and a sunset.

Sometimes they need cotton candy.

If you’re ready for updated family photos, browse my family photography portfolio or check out Packages & Pricing.

10.23.26

At-Home Atlanta Newborn Session | Welcome Baby Noelle

I was originally supposed to photograph Latima and Andrew for a maternity session.

Noelle had other plans.

She decided to arrive early, so instead of photographing this family while they waited for her, I got to come to their Atlanta home and photograph Latima, Andrew, big brother Nolan and their brand-new baby girl. I’d say that’s a pretty good Plan B.

Nolan was an absolute champ. Older siblings can sometimes be the wildcard during newborn sessions, especially when they’re adjusting to a brand-new person suddenly getting a LOT of everyone’s attention. Nolan was all smiles and genuinely excited to be in the photos with his baby sister.

Noelle made my job pretty easy too. She slept peacefully through the session, looking impossibly tiny with the most gorgeous head full of hair.

And then there were Andrew’s plants.

Their home was filled with beautiful greenery, and not just a few houseplants someone is desperately trying to keep alive. There were fresh propagations happening. I was impressed. Apparently Andrew is both a new girl dad and a very capable plant dad.

It’s one of the things I love most about photographing newborn sessions at home. All of these little pieces of your actual life become part of the photos without us having to manufacture anything. Your baby’s first home, her brother’s excitement, the spaces you spend your days in and, yes, your impressive plant collection.

We didn’t get the maternity photos we’d originally planned, but we got to photograph Noelle herself instead.

I think she wins that one.

If you’re expecting a baby in Atlanta, you can browse my maternity and newborn portfolio or take a look at Packages & Pricing for more information about at-home newborn sessions.

10.21.26

Grant Park Family Photography in Atlanta | The Garcia Family

I’ve been photographing Gaby, Dan, Sebastian and Isabella for years.

Our first session was back in 2019 at Piedmont Park when Sebastian was still a toddler. Funnily enough, that day also gave us the kind of perfect overcast light I love.

Apparently the Garcias bring their own cloud cover.

Several years and quite a few sessions later, Sebastian and Isabella are basically photo pros.

That’s one of my favorite parts of photographing the same families over the years. The entire dynamic of the session changes.

When kids are little, I’m doing everything I can to keep their attention for approximately three consecutive seconds. Then suddenly they’re older, they know exactly how this whole thing works and they start showing up with ideas of their own.

Sebastian has officially reached the directing stage and now gets a kick out of coming up with shots for his family.

I’m not opposed. It’s nice to have additional staff.

As kids get older, sessions also tend to get easier. We can power through the traditional family combinations pretty quickly, which leaves more time for the fun, silly stuff that usually ends up being everyone’s favorite anyway.

This time, that included a swing and Dan performing an unexpectedly impressive dismount while wearing dress shoes.

Thankfully, everyone survived.

After photographing the Garcias since 2019, it’s pretty fun to look back at that toddler running around Piedmont Park and then see Sebastian now helping direct his own family’s photos.

We still get the photos Grandma wants. We just have a lot more fun getting there.

If it’s been a while since you updated your own family photos, browse my family photography portfolio or check out Packages & Pricing before planning your session.

10.19.26

Murphey Candler Park Family Photos | The Morgan Family

I first photographed Nisha and Ryan in 2021 when they were expecting Declan. That means I’ve now been photographing this little family for five years.

It also means there was a period when they had literally never seen the bottom half of my face.

Our first session happened during that weird post-COVID stretch when I was still photographing clients in a mask. When we saw each other again in 2022, there was essentially a small face reveal involved.

Thankfully, they kept hiring me anyway. 😂

Since then, I’ve gotten to watch Declan grow up through our sessions. And, of course, Gritsy continues to make his appearances too.

Family Photos at Murphey Candler Park

We usually meet at Murphey Candler Park in Brookhaven. This year, we decided to change things up without abandoning a location that’s become familiar to all of us.

Instead of heading to our usual spots, we explored the other side of the park. This area has more wooded trails and a great bridge at the end. It gave us a completely different backdrop while keeping us somewhere the Morgans already know and love.

One of the perks of photographing the same family year after year is that everyone knows what to expect. There’s less warming up and more room to just let things happen.

Watching Declan Grow Up

We walked the trails and got plenty of Declan being Declan. We also made time for photos with Mom and Dad individually. And obviously, Gritsy got his deserved time in front of the camera.

We even made our way to the playground. Sometimes the easiest way to make family photos fun for a kid is to actually let them have fun.

It’s always a joy seeing these four. I also love looking back at everything we’ve captured together over the years.

Same family. Same park.

A very different little boy from the one I first photographed before he was even born.

If it’s been a while since your own family photos, browse my family photography portfolio or check out Packages & Pricing.

10.16.26

Winn Park Maternity Session in Atlanta | Gireesh & Karishma

Gireesh and Karishma are expecting a baby girl in November, and we met at Winn Park for their Atlanta maternity session. Since they live in Midtown, we wanted somewhere close to home with plenty of greenery and variety without making them drive all over Atlanta. Winn Park checked all the boxes.

We also lucked out with the light. Gireesh is a photographer himself, so I didn’t have to convince him that an overcast sky is actually a very good thing for photos. He already knew. 😂 Give me soft cloud cover or golden hour and I’m happy.

He also picked out Karishma’s dress, so I’m giving him credit there too. It photographed beautifully against all of the green in the park.

We spent the session wandering around Winn Park, taking advantage of the soft light and documenting these two in that weirdly short window where you already know so much about the little person coming but haven’t actually met her yet.

That’s one of the reasons I love maternity sessions. Of course we’re documenting the belly, but we’re also capturing the two people who are about to become parents and what their family looked like right before everything changed.

Next time I see these two, hopefully there will be a baby girl joining us.

If you’re expecting and considering maternity photos in Atlanta, you can browse my maternity and newborn portfolio or check out Packages & Pricing for session options.

10.14.26

Romantic Couples & Family Photos at Canoe Atlanta

Amanda and her husband were already married.

They eloped without a formal engagement or an engagement ring. Then, years later, he surprised her with the ring she never had.

Which seemed like a pretty good reason to finally get the romantic photos they never had either.

They were celebrating with a special family dinner at Canoe in Atlanta. Amanda wanted the photos to tell both sides of their story. First, the family they’ve built together. Then, just the two of them.

Family Photos at Canoe in Atlanta

We started with their two young children and Amanda’s parents. Canoe gave us plenty to work with between the gardens, river and all that gorgeous greenery.

Amanda wanted the family photos to feel natural rather than overly posed, which obviously works for me. We photographed everyone together, the grandparents with the kids and plenty of walking and snuggling.

Once we had the family photos, we sent everyone else on their way and completely changed gears.

The Engagement Photos They Never Had

Amanda wanted the second half of the session to feel romantic, intimate and a little editorial. We focused on movement and connection instead of traditional engagement poses.

Canoe was pretty much made for it.

The gardens, river and late-day light gave us plenty of variety. We could make this part feel completely different while still keeping the entire gallery cohesive.

And yes, the ring got its moment too.

What I love about this session is that it doesn’t fit neatly into one category. It wasn’t really an engagement session because they’re already married. It wasn’t just a family session either. And calling it an anniversary session doesn’t quite fit.

It was simply a chance to document the family they have now. At the same time, Amanda and her husband finally got a little piece of the romantic celebration they skipped when they eloped.

There are no rules saying you have to do these things in a certain order.

Sometimes you get the ring later.

Take the photos anyway.

If you’re looking for relaxed, romantic couples photography in Atlanta, you can browse my couples portfolio or check out Packages & Pricing.

·JM·

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