Louisville Portrait Photographer
Watching your baby grow right at home
You don't have to pack up the baby or leave the house to capture this stage. As a Louisville portrait photographer, I come to you, so sitting up, first bites of cake, and all the in-between moments happen somewhere that already feels like home.
Hi, I'm Michelle your
Louisville Portrait Photographer
I’m here to notice the little things that make your family yours
Every stage looks a little different in your house. The way your baby reaches for the same toy every single time, the way big sister narrates everything happening in the room, the highchair covered in this week's dinner. I'm paying attention to the details that make this exact stage of your family unique, documenting them in a way that feels natural and true to you. As a Louisville portrait photographer, I don't ask you to recreate someone else's photo. I ask you to just keep living, right where you already are.
For families in Louisville who are creating a slower, more intentional life
Kind Words
“Michelle is so kind, directs the shoot so well and made us feel so comfortable throughout both of our shoots with her! We would highly recommend using Michelle for any of your photography needs!!"
- Marisa B. Louisville, KY
1. Say Hello
It starts with a simple inquiry. Tell me a little about your family, which milestone you're hoping to capture, and roughly where your baby is developmentally. I respond quickly, usually within the hour and always within 24 hours. Once we've chatted and your date is booked with a signed contract and session fee, your spot is officially held.
Before your session I'll send over a short questionnaire to talk through wardrobe, whether your baby is sitting, pulling up, or on the move yet, and anything meaningful you'd like included, like a favorite toy or a family heirloom. From there, we'll hop on a quick planning call to settle on the best room or spot in your home for light, and if your baby's stage shifts closer to session day, we'll simply adjust the plan together.
2. Planning the Details
Your session takes place slowly and comfortably at home, with room for feeding breaks, a diaper change, or a quick rest if your baby needs it. There's no rigid time limit, though milestone sessions typically run shorter than a full newborn session.
3. Your Milestone Session
A few weeks after your session, your gallery will arrive ready to view at home. This is where you’ll go through the pictures together, choose your favorites, and start deciding which ones you want printed, framed, or turned into an album for your home.
4. Your Gallery Arrives
Instead of staying tucked away on a phone, these pictures become part of the home your children grow up in, hanging near the places they run through every day, beside the shoes by the door, and filling the albums you’ll pull out when they want to relive their childhood.
5. Your Pictures As Artwork
The way your session unfolds
For The pictures they'll return to for years
For the walls your children grow up looking at
The pictures hanging on your walls and tucked into your albums become part of what your children see and return to over the years. They grow up seeing themselves surrounded by the people who love them, reminded of the family they belong to. A daily reminder that they have always been loved and always belonged.
I'll help you every step of the way
I'll help you choose the albums, wall galleries, and prints that fit your home, becoming part of loud family dinners, crayon drawings on the fridge, and the everyday life your children grow up surrounded by, reminding them every day of the people who love them most.
No, your house doesn’t need to be perfect for me to come over.
You don’t need to deep clean, hide the toys, or make every room look like it belongs on a Pinterest board. I really just need a window of good light. I’ll find the spots that work best, move what needs moving, and work with the home you’re already living in.
Portfolio
Louisville portrait Photography
Year of Life Collection
Choose 2-4 sessions to remember more
One day you'll notice how much has changed
Your newborn will soon be sitting at the table, taking first steps across the living room, and reaching for your hand instead of being carried in your arms.
Through two, three, or four sessions over 18 months, the Life in a Year Collection documents the many little chapters that make up your family's story.
Milestone Session Investment
Louisville Portrait Photography
A family session that includes thoughtful planning before, gentle direction during, and help afterward with the pictures you want printed for your home.
- Planning and preparation support
- Outfit guidance for the whole family
- An in-home milestone family session
- Professional editing of your images
- A private online gallery
- Album design and ordering support
- Optional hair and makeup coordination
Session Fee: $300
This includes your date secured on the calendar and all preparation beforehand. Albums and digital images are purchased separately. All in, families typically plan to invest $1000+
Kind Words
"Michelle was awesome! Our one year old had no problems warming up to Michelle and we all had a fun time."
- Hans H. Louisville, KY
From the blog
Most family photo sessions with me run about an hour, though there’s no strict clock. It might be shorter if your kids warm up quickly, or longer if we need a few minutes for a snack break, a feeding, or a shy toddler to settle in. I’d rather slow down and let real moments happen than rush to get the shots within a set amount of time.
I love fall in Louisville, and in my opinion the best fall activities in Louisville are Huber’s Orchard & Winery for pumpkin picking, Boo at the Zoo for Halloween fun, and a walk (or drive) through Cherokee Park for foliage. Fall color usually peaks here around the third week of October, and the most family-friendly events cluster into a handful of weekends, so plan earlier than you think you need to.
Six month photos catch your baby right at the sweet spot — sitting up, full of personality, giggly, and not yet mobile enough to squirm out of frame. Tucked between the newborn haze and the whirlwind of a first birthday, this milestone session captures a stage of your baby you’ll be so glad you slowed down for.
My mini sessions are short, five-to-ten-minute studio sessions with three edited images, perfect for a quick portrait update or holiday cards. Full sessions give you unlimited time, full wardrobe planning, and a complete custom gallery, and it’s the better fit for documenting an actual milestone like a newborn, maternity, or family season. If you’re just looking for a quick refresh, go mini. If you want the whole story told, book a full session.
Wondering if your house is “nice enough” for in-home photos? Here’s the honest answer, plus exactly what to clean (and what to skip) before your session.
Extended family photos are one of the most requested sessions I photograph, and also one of the most postponed. Everyone wants them. Almost nobody starts planning them early enough. If you’ve got a gathering on the horizon and you’re trying to figure out how to actually make a session happen, here’s the honest truth: the session itself is the easy part. Getting four or five families to agree on a date is where most people underestimate the timeline.
Something to read from the porch swing
Frequently asked questions
Can I include photos of the whole family in a milestone session?
Yes! We usually start with photos of the whole family to document your family as you are, at this moment.
How messy does a cake smash actually get?
As messy as your baby wants it to be, and that's part of the fun. If it’s nice out we can even shoot in the yard for easier cleanup, and if the light is good we can finish up with a quick bath or sink rinse right after (which make for the most adorable photos too!)
Do I have to book the full Year of Life Collection to get a milestone session?
Not at all. Milestone sessions can absolutely be booked individually, though many families find they love having the full first-year story once they book their first one.
What should my baby wear for their milestone session?
Keep it simple: one soft, neutral outfit is usually all you need, with the option to get a few photos of baby just in their diaper to capture all of those sweet little rolls. I also love incorporating a favorite toy or a family heirloom piece (like a blanket, rocking chair, etc.) if you have one in mind.
Louisville Portrait Photographer
What if my baby isn't sitting or standing on their own yet for their session?
Totally fine. I'll support them safely with a pillow or blanket just out of frame, or we can shift your session date a bit to match where they actually are developmentally.
