We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Horsley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Stephanie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

The first dollar I made as a photographer was from a college graduation session—I charged $50. At the time, I wasn’t planning on becoming a full-time photographer. I had just graduated college and was teaching third grade when an old high school friend reached out, asking if I still took photos. I hadn’t picked up a camera in a long time, but something in me said, “Why not?”

That first session led to another—this time, a friend of my original client. That second client later asked me to shoot her wedding, and over the years, I’ve captured so many of her family’s milestones. Looking back, I had no idea that simple “yes” would shape my future.

It wasn’t until about two years later that I seriously considered photography as a career. By then, I had a six-month-old son, and I came across an online class that promised to teach the fundamentals of using my camera and working with different lighting. The class cost $500, and I told myself, “If I can just make enough from photography to pay for this class, I’ll be happy.” That’s how it started—one small goal at a time.

Now, six years later, I’m still going. Photography was always a dream of mine, even back in high school, but I never thought it was something I could actually achieve. It’s wild to realize that with hard work, you really do have control over your life—you can chase your dreams and make them real.

Stephanie, 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?

I’m a documentary-style family photographer, passionate about capturing real, unscripted moments that tell the true story of a family’s life. My journey into photography wasn’t a straight path—I actually started as a third-grade teacher! Photography had always been a passion of mine, but I never thought it could be a career. That changed when an old high school friend reached out after I graduated college, asking if I still took photos. I hadn’t touched my camera in a long time, but I said yes. That first session reignited something in me, and over time, one shoot led to another, and I realized this was more than just a hobby—it was what I was meant to do.

I specialize in documentary family photography, which means I focus on the beauty of everyday life rather than posed, traditional portraits. My sessions capture families in their natural element—whether it’s chaotic mornings, bedtime routines, or lazy Sundays filled with laughter. I want parents to look back and see not just what their family looked like but what their life felt like in that moment. I also love working with couples and photographing life’s big milestones, but my heart is with families who want to embrace the beauty in their everyday chaos.

What sets me apart is my ability to make people feel completely at ease in front of the camera. Because I shoot in a documentary style, there’s no pressure to pose or force a smile—I want my clients to just be. I love that my work allows families to be fully present while I do the storytelling for them. Years from now, I want them to flip through their photos and remember the giggles, the messes, the tiny hands reaching for them—everything that makes their life uniquely theirs.

One of the things I’m most proud of is seeing how deeply my photos resonate with families. I’ve had clients tell me they cried looking through their galleries because the images reflected their family so honestly. That’s what keeps me going—knowing that I’m capturing something real and meaningful.

If you’re looking for perfectly posed photos, I might not be the photographer for you. But if you want images that reflect the love, laughter, and real-life moments that make your family special, I’d love to tell your story.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I didn’t necessarily have to pivot my business—I wanted to. Like many photographers, I started by offering everything and experimenting with different editing styles, trying to find what truly clicked. In the beginning, it felt like a dream just to have this job and make money doing something I loved.

But it didn’t take long for me to realize that family sessions were where my heart was. As a mother myself, I deeply connected with the moms I photographed—mothers who just wanted beautiful, meaningful photos with their kids. Over time, as my own family grew, I started seeing traditional, posed portraits differently. The “perfect” images I had of my own family—the kind you see all over Instagram—didn’t really reflect what our everyday life looked like.

That’s when I felt the pull toward documentary family photography. I wanted to reignite my passion, and this was what set my soul on fire again. But transitioning wasn’t easy—documentary-style family photography isn’t widely known or trendy, especially in Florida or even much of the U.S. Still, I knew it was important. I wanted to offer other families what I was already capturing for myself—the raw, unfiltered beauty of real life.

For me, the biggest challenge is that while I can document my own kids so naturally, I’m almost always behind the camera, rarely in the frame myself—something many photographers can relate to. That’s why I believe so strongly in what I do. Documentary photography isn’t just about images; it’s about preserving the laughter, the tears, the quiet in-between moments that define a family’s story.

Right now, my focus is on spreading awareness—talking about this style of photography, helping people see its value. It’s actually quite popular in Europe and Australia, and I truly believe it will start gaining traction here. More and more people are craving authenticity, tired of the perfectly curated images they see online. This is as real as it gets. It doesn’t matter if your house is messy or your kids have sticky hands—your life, just as it is, is already beautiful.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

It’s really simple, share. Word of mouth. If you have a good experience with someone, share it. If you like or back what an artist does it does not hurt to share their content or like their posts. It’s soooooo simple but seems difficult for people to do sometimes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stephaniehorsleyphotography.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/stephaniehorsleyphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephaniehorsleyphotography/

Image Credits

Stephanie Horsley Photography