We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful RaeLynn Fleming. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with RaeLynn below.

RaeLynn, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is working with special needs families. My son was diagnosed with level 2 autism when he was turning 4, and while it was something I expected, it was still something I had to learn and process. Luckily, my son is freakin’ ADORABLE, so he was the perfect subject from the start, but I DID have to learn how to work with him. I had to have the extra patience, I needed to do things on HIS terms. Eye contact isn’t always there, the shutter has to close at the exact moment the smile crosses the lips. With any child, neurotypical or neurodivergent, you are gonna run into attitudes, and outbursts, ZERO cooperation, but I remember having the fear of going to a photoshoot with a photographer and worrying if he wasn’t cooperating enough, if she would get the image, and sweating from stress and anxiety the entire time. Knowing how that felt, it compelled me to make other families feel comfort in knowing someone who actually GETS it.

When we finally got my son into an amazing ABA program, I was thrilled to extend an “Extra Care” package for the other parents and their families that were a part of this whole new world my family just joined in. I wanted them to know that they could have a photographer who would understand that their kids aren’t going to sit still and smile, or be perfectly posed. Someone who would understand that they needed more time to warm up and be comfortable, if at all. I want all families of all capabilities to be able to experience the joy and memories of a family photoshoot.

Working with my son and these families … seeing that I can give this memory of this moment frozen forever, means more to me than the dollar amount. These are the times of our lives we can never get back, they are the laughs, the smiles, and snuggles that are worth remembering. It makes my job so much more fulfilling than I could have ever imagined.

RaeLynn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is RaeLynn. I am a coffee obsessed, Bluey lovin’, autism mom who may or may not curse a little bit, and by a little bit a mean a lot. I’ve been with my husband for over 21 years, and we struggled with infertility for 2.5 years before having our one and only, beautiful son, Sylvester. Struggling with infertility, and now having a child with special needs – Sylvester has autism – has only made my passion to capture all of the special moments in our lives grow stronger, and my love for it more fierce.

I am a hobbyist turned self-taught photographer who built this small business from the ground up. With the trust of family and friends, I was able to start capturing small glimpses of their lives, and it has truly brought me back to life. Many, many moons ago back in my trade high school, I took photography and graphic design, and I was obsessed with it. I invested a lot of my time into it, and truly fell in love with both. But, life happens … technology advances, and makes things “easier” in a sense. In the busy world that we have these days, phones became easiest, but they don’t always capture what I’m seeing.

My son was born a week before the world shut down due to Covid, and I was absolutely heartbroken when I was unable to get those newborn photos that all my friends had been able to have done with their newborns. All I wanted was to capture all of those moments … freeze time. That’s when my longing for photography came back, and it came back STRONG.

Thanks to the support of my family and friends, I was able to dive back in to the world of photography again. When my son was diagnosed with autism, my love for capturing all families, including families with special needs really flourished. Not long after a family vacation, I happened across the meaning of halcyon – denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful – I realized that was exactly what I wanted to capture. And so, my business Halcyon Captured came to be.

I specialize in family portraits, lifestyle sessions, and custom packages for families with special needs. I offer engagement, maternity and newborn sessions, as well. I am open to trying any kind of photoshoot, any style, any new idea. I want to bring your vision to life.

I am extremely open and flexible with my clients. You want those specific poses? Absolutely. You have no clue what you want? Lets brainstorm. Need some styling help? I’ll tell you what I would recommend based on my style of shooting, but I’ll help you go through your options. Your baby won’t stop crying during the session? Take your time! If we need to reschedule, we can reschedule. You want me to refinish that one image because you hate that wrinkle? Let me help a sista (or a brother) out. You give me complete creative freedom? I love you MOST. I’m a mom, and I have had times where I’m running late, and being stressed about that is going to show in your session. I want you to feel 100% comfortable and confident in me. I’m here for you, more than just being your photographer. I think having that kind of attitude with my clientele stands out to them.

I want my clients to know that I take this job seriously. I will do everything in my power to try to make you feel comfortable, to make sure I get THAT shot, and I will HYPE YOU UP to the fullest. Making sure you are happy is my priority. YOU are my top priority.

To see the light and joy in your eyes and knowing that I can capture that for their parents and them to have for the rest of their lives is the greatest blessing.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Truly, the most rewarding aspect of being a family photographer is knowing that I’ve forever captured their halcyon. That minute, that sunset, that sly grin, the uncontrollable laughter, that first family portrait, that tiny smile, the smile lines, baby bumps and more. It’s there forever now.

Helping the families with special needs has filled a place in my heart that I didn’t know needed to be filled. Seeing the relief on their faces that they’re working with someone who understands their needs, knowing I will be patient with them, and do everything I can (literally everything … run, jump, lay or roll on the ground) to get those images of their entire family, is SO important to me.

On top of all of that, this field is forever and will always be changing. I SO look forward to that! Learning more and more every day, and being able to explore different styles and techniques is (almost) the best part! While art is always subjective, it’s also something I strive to achieve not only in my profession, but in my life.

Again, the definition of halcyon is denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful. Hey, it might’ve been chaotic to get it, but my families will have it forever.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

At the end of the day, I really have my husband to thank for pushing me back into photography. Photography has ALWAYS been there, and he pushed me to go for it in every way.

Art has ALWAYS been a major part of my life. I went to tech school for graphic design and photography. After that, when my husband was being deployed to Iraq, I went to cosmetology school and I thrived in color. I always knew being a cosmetologist wasn’t what I wanted to do, but it was a creative outlet and something good to fall back on. Photography was always there, though. Disposable camera, then digital camera, then iPhone … that passion never left.

My goal in this photography journey is to do what my momma always told me to do when I was a kid: Be the BEST RaeLynn I can be. I want to be the best version of myself. I want to show my kids that you can start from the bottom and go literally as far as you want to go, so long as you strive to be the best you can be.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.HalcyonCaptured.mypixieset.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halcyon_captured
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HalcyonCaptured23

Image Credits

Brand photo if courtesy of Caitlyn of Voir Clair Photo!