Every year for my kids' birthdays, I create a photoshoot just for them.
Not because we need more pictures, but because I want them to have something that reminds them who they were at each stage of life—the things that made their eyes light up, the worlds they imagined, and the confidence they carried when they were simply allowed to play.
This year, my daughter had one request.
"Can we do a mermaid photoshoot?"
We had just gotten a pool, and she was planning a mermaid birthday party. Her favorite color is light blue, so instead of creating the classic "Little Mermaid" scene, I wanted to build something that felt a little different.
Something timeless.
Something editorial.
Something that looked less like a movie set and more like stepping into the hidden treasure cave of a real mermaid.
So my home studio slowly transformed into shimmering fabrics, iridescent reflections, scattered crystals, bubbles, floating textures, and soft light that danced across every surface.
And then the best part happened.
She completely forgot there was a camera.
She danced.
She sang.
She played with every treasure she could find.
She posed herself.
She twirled her curls.
She smiled the kind of smile that only happens when a child believes they're exactly where they're supposed to be.
Those are always my favorite moments.
Because the goal was never just beautiful photos.
It was giving her permission to step into a world where she felt magical.
Years from now, these portraits will hang on her wall long after the birthday decorations are gone. I hope they remind her of more than a mermaid phase. I hope they remind her that she has always been creative, joyful, imaginative, and beautifully herself.
That's something worth remembering at every age.
Inspired by imagination.
Created with intention.
Some of my favorite sessions begin with a simple idea—a favorite color, a story, a feeling, or a world someone wishes they could step into for just a little while.
If you've been dreaming up something unique for yourself or your child, I'd love to help bring it to life. Together, we'll create an experience that's every bit as memorable as the photographs you'll take home.
