I became a portrait photographer because I love photographing people, and I love photographing their faces. When families come to me for a session, they are looking to document how they and their children look at this exact time in their lives.
Lately, that’s created a real struggle for me. Between how fast the internet and AI are changing, and the bigger question of consent around showing children’s faces publicly, I’ve had to really rethink what I share on my website and on Instagram.
It’s kind of a strange problem, both for me and for potential clients. People want to see the work I actually produce, and what they can expect from a session with me. Instead, they’re stuck seeing more abstract photos from a session, like detail shots, hands, or the back of a toddler’s head. So when someone’s trying to decide if I’m the right photographer for their family, they’re making that decision based on images that leave out the exact thing they probably want to see most – their faces.
I want to be really clear about something, though. Those photos absolutely exist. I take them, and I LOVE taking them. I’m just still figuring out how to safely show that work to potential clients. I want people to know what to expect before they book with me, but I also want to protect the clients who have already trusted me with their families. In a landscape where anyone’s photos can end up somewhere they never agreed to, this isn’t just a style choice for me anymore. It’s a protection question.
Back when I started photography in 2014, before every session, families would sign a model release if they were comfortable with me sharing their photos. I photographed the session, edited the photos, and shared my favorites on my website, blog, and Instagram. It gave my clients a fun way to share with family and friends, and let me share the work I was proud of.
But somewhere along the way, I started to think more about what sharing actually means. A single image posted online is there forever. What does that mean for a toddler in five, ten, or twenty years? Honestly? We don’t know yet.
This became personal for me when I thought about my own son, and what it means to make that call for a child who can’t yet weigh in on it themselves. As the photographer, I’m one more person making a decision about a child who isn’t mine.
So I made a change. I no longer share children’s faces on my social media, and I’m thinking very carefully about my website and blog too.
The silver lining here is that it’s pushed me to find more ways to tell your family’s story. Not just your smiling faces, but through details, through light, through the in-between moments that feel more like a nostalgic memory. As it turns out, those are often the images people love the most anyway.
I want to be clear about one thing: this is my decision for myself, as the third party behind the camera. It is not a judgment of what parents choose to share of their own children. That is completely and entirely yours to decide, and I fully respect whatever choice you make.
What it does mean is that every client of mine receives a full gallery (including their smiling faces!) to keep and share however you want with the people you love. What I’m choosing not to do is put those images out into a public space I can’t fully control or predict.
I won’t pretend I’ve landed on a perfect system. I’m still figuring out what this looks like on my website specifically, because I know families want to see real work before they book, not just detail shots. It’s a work in progress.
One thing I am exploring: sharing more of that fuller work through my email list, where things feel a little more personal and a little less public than social media or a website gallery. If that’s something you’d want to see, you’re welcome to join here.
If you’re trusting me with your family, I want you to know I take that seriously, not just during the session, but after, too.
Hi there! I’m Kate – a Hightstown NJ photographer celebrating and photographing all stages of your unique motherhood journey. From the exciting days during your pregnancy, to the whirlwind newborn moments, to the beautiful chaos of life with littles, my goal is to beautifully photograph each stage so you and your children can have and hold those sweet memories in your hands forever.
For 12 years, I’ve been photographing families in their homes, capturing the authentic, intimate moments that make your story uniquely yours. And now, I’m thrilled to be opening a natural light studio on Mercer Street in Hightstown where we can create beautiful family portraits in a warm, welcoming space designed just for you.
Whether you prefer the comfort of your home or the convenience of the studio, I’m here to document your journey with care and creativity.
You can see more of my work on Instagram, learn more about me, and inquire about a session – I would love to get to know you and your family and create beautiful memories together!
