Children's Little Personalities
Where Confidence Grows and Childhood Shines
There is something magical about photographing children. They're curious, imaginative, wonderfully honest, and completely themselves. Every session is an adventure because you never know exactly what they're going to say, where they'll run, or what tiny little detail will capture their attention next. That's part of what makes children's photography so much fun.
My goal has never been to make children stand perfectly still and smile at the camera. Instead, I want them to feel comfortable enough to laugh, explore, play, and simply enjoy themselves. Those genuine moments always create the most meaningful photographs.
One of my favorite things is watching children grow up in front of my camera. Many families return year after year, and I get to see tiny toddlers become confident elementary school kids, then teenagers, and eventually young adults. It's such a privilege to be part of those milestones.
When children start having their photographs taken at a young age, I've found they often become more relaxed with each session. They know they're coming to have fun. They remember that we laugh together, play games, explore beautiful places, and celebrate who they are. Over time, many of them walk into a session already smiling because they know what's coming.
With little ones, that might mean singing silly songs, playing peekaboo, making funny noises, or yes—even sneaking in a few tickles to bring out those contagious giggles. Before long, though, they proudly announce, "I'm too big for tickles now!" Those moments always make me smile because they're growing up right before my eyes.
As they get older, my role changes, too. Instead of silly games, I become their biggest cheerleader. I love telling kids how great they're doing, pointing out their genuine smiles, and reminding them how wonderful they look just being themselves. My hope is that every child leaves a session feeling proud, seen, and excited about the experience—not because they were perfectly posed, but because they were celebrated for exactly who they are.
I'm especially grateful that today's digital photography gives us the freedom to work this way. Unlike the days of film, when every exposure counted and there was pressure to get one perfect smile, we can take our time. We can laugh through the outtakes, keep photographing through the wiggles and the giggles, and simply delete the images that don't work. That freedom allows sessions to feel relaxed instead of rushed, and children can simply be kids.
Some of my favorite photographs aren't the perfectly posed ones at all. They're the belly laughs, the missing front teeth, the windswept hair, the muddy feet, the twirls, the hugs, and the moments in between. Those are the photographs that tell the real story of childhood.
Because at the end of the day, I don't just want children to remember taking pictures. I want them to remember feeling happy, encouraged, and loved. When they feel free to be themselves, their personalities shine—and those are the images families treasure for generations.
Meet Nora
From Tiny Twirls to Fearless Confidence
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One of the greatest gifts of my career has been watching children grow into the people they're meant to be. Nora is one of those children I've had the privilege of photographing for more than a decade, and every time I look back at our sessions, I'm reminded just how quickly childhood passes.
I first met Nora's family when she was just a baby. I even had the honor of photographing their pregnancy journey before she arrived. Over the past eleven years, I've watched this family celebrate milestone after milestone, and somehow, Nora has grown from a little girl into someone who's almost as tall as I am!
Looking through these two portraits side by side makes me smile. Her mom has always had such a wonderful eye for choosing timeless dresses for her girls. She loves soft colors, beautiful details, and outfits that let them feel like little girls while still allowing their personalities to shine. Even though these photographs were taken years apart, there's a lovely connection between them that reflects that same timeless style.
But what I notice most isn't the dresses.
It's Nora.
In the first photograph, I still see that sweet little girl who looked at the world with wide eyes and quiet curiosity. In the second, I see confidence. I see someone who's comfortable in her own skin, who knows exactly who she is, and who isn't afraid to let that personality shine.
One of the things I love about Nora is that she has always embraced life with enthusiasm. She's the kind of kid who isn't worried about getting dirty if it means having fun. She loves soccer, enjoys being active, and approaches life with a confidence that's contagious. There's a wonderful balance to her personality—she can wear a beautiful dress one minute and head off on her next adventure the next. She's proof that kids don't have to fit neatly into one box. They can be graceful, adventurous, athletic, creative, kind, and completely themselves all at once.
Watching children discover who they are is one of my favorite parts of being a photographer. Every year, they become a little more confident, a little more expressive, and a little more comfortable showing the world their unique personalities. Being invited back year after year means I get to witness those changes firsthand, and that's something I'll never take for granted.
Photographs aren't just about remembering what our children looked like at a certain age. They're about remembering who they were. Their laugh. Their confidence. Their curiosity. The little spark that made them uniquely themselves.
Looking at Nora today, I still see that sweet little girl I met all those years ago—but I also see the incredible young woman she's becoming. Getting to document that journey has been one of the greatest privileges of my career, and I can't wait to see where life takes her next.
From the mountains
to the beaches, we love it all.
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MORE ABOUT US
Meet the O'Leary Kids
Thirteen Years of Growing Up Together
Some families become clients.
Others become part of your story.
The O'Leary family found me over thirteen years ago, when I had my first photography studio on Thames Street in Newport. Before there were children running through our sessions, before family portraits filled the walls of their home, we were celebrating the exciting news that they were expecting their very first baby.
From that very beginning, we've shared so many milestones together.
We photographed maternity sessions, newborn portraits, milestone sessions throughout each baby's first year, birthdays, family portraits, and countless adventures in between. They've visited me at my Thames Street studio, later at my Bellevue Avenue studio, and eventually my home studio. Through every chapter of my own business, they've been there, trusting me to preserve each new chapter of theirs.
In many ways, we've grown up together.
When I first met Caitlin, she was still safely tucked inside her mom's belly, just waiting to make her debut into the world. Today, she's somehow taller than I am! She's all long legs, big smiles, confidence, and enough personality to light up a room. She's a cheerleader with an incredible spirit, and I have no doubt she's going to accomplish amazing things. Watching her grow into such a smart, confident young lady has been a joy.
Then there's Charlotte.
Charlotte has always had such a gentle heart. She's quieter than her older sister, thoughtful and incredibly kind. She loves to dance, and there's a grace about her that shows up both on and off camera. Every year I see her confidence grow a little more, and it's been wonderful watching her become more comfortable letting her personality shine.
And finally, Thomas.
Every family has that one child who keeps everyone on their toes, and Thomas wears that role with a grin that could melt anyone's heart. With that bright blonde hair, endless curiosity, and playful sparkle in his eyes, he has a knack for turning every session into an adventure. Whether he's making everyone laugh or finding his own creative way to do things, he reminds us all that childhood is meant to be joyful.
One of the greatest privileges of my job is seeing these personalities unfold over time. Babies become toddlers. Toddlers become little kids. Little kids become teenagers. Every year they become a little more themselves, and every year I have the honor of documenting that journey.
Looking back through thirteen years of photographs is like opening a time capsule. You don't just see how much the children have grown—you remember the missing teeth, the twirls in their dresses, the silly jokes that made everyone laugh, the hugs, the changing hairstyles, and the little expressions that only lasted for a season.
As a photographer, there is nothing more rewarding than watching children grow into exactly who they're meant to be.
I'm already looking forward to seeing the O'Leary family again this fall. Fall has become our tradition together, and every year I wonder how much the kids will have changed since I saw them last. Somehow they always surprise me.
Thirteen years later, I still feel incredibly grateful that they continue to invite me back to tell their family's story. I can't wait to see what the next chapter holds.
