We recently connected with Karrah Lewis and have shared our conversation below.

Karrah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

Photography, art, and looking for the good as I walk through the world have always been deeply embedded in who I am. Becoming a mother gave me all the motivation needed to focus on building my photography business. I never knew I could love four little human beings so much! As my children grew, my heart ached thinking that I might forget the details in their little faces and the beautiful story of their personalities. Capturing them on camera felt like a necessity! I wanted to give those same memories to other families as well. What an honor to encapsulate motherhood, childhood, and a family’s bond with imagery to cherish for generations. With great dedication, I dug in deep to learn all I could about being the best photographer, and storyteller. It has been easy for me to love photography because it feels like I am serving others by helping them see the “wonderful” in themselves. Giving this joy and happiness by sharing these treasured photographs with my clients fulfills my heart.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a natural light photographer based in Raleigh, North Carolina. I photograph all over the Triangle area and travel with many clients to the stunning North Carolina beaches. I am a mama to four sweet boys and was an educator for 14 years. Children & families are my heart! I strive for my sessions to feel lighthearted and free-spirited. My passion lies in capturing timeless images of love, emotion, new beginnings, cozy snuggles, and all those precious moments we wish to freeze & treasure forever. My specialty is maternity, newborn, and family photography. Many clients share that they enjoy my patience and calm spirit, especially when working with young children.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I first started in the photography industry, I thought I needed to buy all the props to create the perfect “setup” for a session. Over time, I learned that props and rigid posing are not needed at all! The most beautiful imagery is created with simple moments of authentic connection and love. Sounds easy right? Not always…The challenging part is that many people grew up experiencing family photos that were posed and rigid. I have to show them a different way! Building trust with clients so they feel comfortable with being themselves is my top priority. It is wonderful to see clients come back to me year after year with an understanding that they can be fully present with their favorite people. Many of my clients never even look into the camera because their eyes are on the ones they love! My job is to guide families into the beautiful light and help them connect in ways that are flattering to the camera. My photography is more than a bunch of props and people staring into my camera. If I have created images that evoke feelings, I have done my job right!

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Word of mouth built the foundation of my business. The imagery I capture matters, but the relationships formed with the families make my business the wonderful thing that it is. Many of my clients have become very dear to my heart because I have had the honor of documenting their growing families over many years. I can wholeheartedly say I love these people. How can I not, after so carefully studying all the things that make their family uniquely beautiful? How can I not adore these precious babies that I have watched grow in front of my lens into teens? These relationships matter, and they have built a business that feels purposeful. My job provides me an opportunity to see the beauty in humanity, the glimmers of hope in a world that often feels somewhat broken. Grateful is the word that comes to mind when I think of where I am now in my journey as a photographer. What an absolute gift to be able to do this for a living!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karrahlewisphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karrahlewisphotography/

Image Credits
Photographer with her son B&W image by Angela Jackson Photography – Columbus, IN