Knoxville family photographer
Lifestyle Knoxville Family Photographer
Families that book with me are not just looking for a perfect picture of everyone looking at the camera. They want photos that capture the beauty of motherhood, family, love, and laughter in a natural and relaxed way.
Whether you’re singing lullabies, playing games, or snuggling close, I’ll guide you with prompts that feel natural, so your true connection shines through.
"WE love the natural candid look but are really awkward in front of the camera...do you tell us what to do?"
I intentionally guide and direct your family throughout the session in a playful and strategic manner by incorporating little games and prompts to keep things engaging and fun.
I'll coach you through it, you'll find that as you allow yourself to embrace what is happening and enter into the moment with your kids, everyone starts to have so much fun. This is when my favorite moments happen - those photos that make you melt inside, thinking, "Aww, that's me and my babies!" Or, "Gosh, I love that man."
"We’ve had bad experiences in the past with family pictures, Susannah listened to our concerns and made sure we felt heard! We just received our sneak peak of the session from last night and are in love with every one! We cannot wait to see the rest of the gallery. She was wonderful and kind to our babies as well as engaging in the session giving us prompts and helping us to pose. We will definitely be using her services for future family photos!"
Courtney C.
The Susannah Raye Photography Experience
Personalized Planning Assistance
• Welcome Guide • Client Closet • Questionnaire • Styling •
After booking your session, I'll send a questionnaire that helps me get to know your family better. This helps me to tailor prompts and poses (and even location suggestions) to fit your personality!
To keep you informed without overwhelming you, I'll send helpful emails leading up to your session. You'll also have access to my client closet (for mom), and receive help in styling everyone's outfits.
Capturing beautiful moments of you with your favorite people
At your Knoxville family photoshoot, I'll guide your family with playful and sweet prompts and games to keep everyone engaged and relaxed. Let go of expectations and embrace whatever happens.
We'll capture the little moments of what life looks like right now, the missing tooth, the boisterous laughter, the way she only wanted to snuggle into your shoulder... These are the memories you'll want to keep bottled up to remember forever.
Display Your Memories:
Online Gallery, Canvas, and Prints
You will receive your high quality photo gallery in an online gallery within 2-4 weeks of your session.
You've taken the step of investing in family pictures, don't let those precious memories get lost in a sea of photos in your phone's gallery and never seen by anyone!
Heirlooms You Can Hold
Included in your package is a $100 print credit, I’m not just here to take your photos—I’m here to help you create tangible memories. I work with a professional print lab to offer high-quality canvases, albums, and prints that will become family treasures. In a world where so many photos live on our phones, I believe in giving you something you can hold, frame, and display in your home. Because the moments we capture shouldn’t be hidden away—they should be displayed where they can be enjoyed on a daily basis!
Freebie Alert! Ready for heartfelt & joyful family photos?
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Worried about stiff, posed family photos? My free guide, Five Ways to Create Connection in Your Family Photoshoot, will help you create real, emotive images where your kids have fun and everyone feels natural.
Let me coach you and your family through the process to help you relax together
During your family's session, I will encourage you to lean into physical touch to create connection and give you suggestions for ways to do this.
Connection is a huge piece of what makes for an incredible and natural family picture experience, and it is what I believe gives purpose and meaning to photographs!
Always be touching someone. Hold someone's hand, play with your little one's curls, rub your child's back, trace your husband's jawline, etc.,
Let your kids explore and have fun during the session (better yet, join them!)
Imagine this, your little girl is running around trying to catch a butterfly, instead of immediately trying to make her stand still and smile, try crouching down with her and enter into her world, or hold her hand and let her bring you along to catch the butterfly.
It tells a powerful story, keeps your child happy and engaged, and creates incredible photo opportunities!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book a family photography session with you?
Booking is easy! Just reach out via my contact form if you're ready to book, or you can also check out my investment page.
How long does a typical family session last?
In my experience, a rushed photo session is stressful and makes it harder to really capture genuine moments. That’s why I dedicate a full hour to every family session. My approach is very personal and relaxed. I take the time to get to know you as we walk to the session location, engage with your kids, and ensure everyone feels comfortable and at ease.
While we may not always need the full hour (I know toddlers sometimes have a 30-minute limit), having this time blocked off for your session allows you to breath easy, knowing that I am not in a rush to end your session.
This way, you can truly savor those sweet, intimate moments that make your family’s story unique, and it ensures we have plenty of time and sunlight to capture your family’s love and connection.
Do you help us choose a location for our photoshoot?
I am always scouting new and beautiful locations to add to my ever growing list of awesome photography locations in the Knox County area. As we get to know each other leading up to your session, I will help guide you to which locations I believe would best set the stage to tell your family's story.
What is the print credit for?
When you receive your online gallery, if you're like me, you obsess over them, save them to your phone, and update your profile picture on Facebook... But then what? Too many of us get busy with life and never get around to ordering the prints or making that photo album we wanted, and the photos we invested in get lost in the archives of our phone's many photos.
I want to make sure that you don't miss out on one of the most important parts of your session - Honoring your investment and displaying those beautiful memories around your home! I have photos all around my home - They bring me so much joy and remind me of the love I have for my little family. They mean the world to me! I would rarely see them anymore if I didn't have them printed and displayed in my home.
This is why I have included a print credit with every package that I offer - It is my gift to you! You'll receive a coupon code for that amount to use in your gallery's integrated print store with the professional lab I work with.
You can choose from a number of beautiful and high quality products and a wide variety of print sizes so that your memories are able to be gifted to grandparents and lovingly displayed around your home.
What should we wear for outdoor family pictures?
As we plan your session, I will send you a guide that offers some specific guidance on colors and textures that are recommended for your family's photos, but I also help provide specific suggestions to help coordinate your entire family as well.
I love long flowy dresses, they are so flattering for mom and they add a poetic vibe to your photos. Flowy dusters, and pretty textured lace tops are also high on my list of favorites!
I have a growing collection of beautiful dresses in my client closet that mom can choose from, and I can help you style the rest of your family around your dress of choice.
How does the client closet work?
I started my business because I wanted to create beautiful memories for fellow moms. Part of that is that I want mom to feel as beautiful as her husband and children know that she is! I have been steadily building a collection of gorgeous flowy dresses that are flattering, often flexible in sizing, and photograph stunningly.
When working with me, you get access to my client closet - You can choose your favorite and I'll help you style the rest of your family around your dress.
I'll bring the dress and my pop-up changing tent (if needed) to your photo session and you can change into it on-site. (I can bring a backup dress as well in case you don't like the original one that you chose!)
What if I don't see anything in the client closet that I want to wear?
If you don't see a dress that fits your vision, I would love to help you find the perfect dress! Just reach out and we can chat about your vision and specific desires and I can help you look. I am often browsing websites looking for beautiful options, so I might have ideas just from your description. I can send you the links for what I find so that you can purchase your dress without having to do all the browsing yourself.
How long does it take to receive the final edited photos?
I know you are excited to see your photos! I love getting to open up your photos on my computer after a session. Seeing families happy together and snuggled up just melts me! I'll get a sneak peek sent to you and shared on social media within 72 hours. The rest of your gallery will be delivered within 2-4 weeks.
What if it rains?
Weather is SO hard to predict, isn't it? I keep an eye on the weather (rather obsessively, actually) and will let you know if we should reschedule. Don't stress about the weather leading up to your session - The forecast can change even the morning of your session, so I don't like to make changes too far in advance.
What type of editing/retouching do you do?
I always finish off your photos with a tasteful edit to refine the colors and enhance the beauty of each precious moment.
Because of the nature of lifestyle photography which focuses on capturing authenticity and natural interactions, I do not do extensive editing - I will retouch things that are temporary (such as a pimple or scratch) but I do not do extensive airbrushing, body alterations, or remove things that are happening in the moment (such as windswept hair)
Extensive editing requests can be outsourced for an additional fee per image.
Motherhood, the most beautiful job
You deserve to feel beautiful and special in your family photos!
Mothers have the most incredible job in the world, but also one of the most challenging. I want you to feel AMAZING in your photos!
I have an ever growing collection of flattering dresses that you are welcome to borrow from for your session! I will also help style your family personally so that you have one less thing to worry about.
What if my toddler doesn't like having their picture taken?
I understand— We want everyone happy and cooperative when investing in photos, especially with little ones!
With 15 years of working with children and two little ones of my own, toddlers acting like toddlers does not stress me out at all.
I don't force toddlers to look at the camera and 'cheese'—after all, that's rarely an accurate depiction of their true personality. Instead, I leverage my experience (and any insights you share before the session) to give fun prompts and games that engage your child naturally. They might not smile at the camera, but we'll have so many sweet images that capture their personality and capture who they are at this stage of their little lives!
When it comes to your toddler, you set the tone for the session
Your child will be paying a lot more attention to how you are feeling, than even to what I say - You set the tone for them! So it is important that you stay engaged, playful, and cheerful.
Toddlers change by the minute, and during your session, the best thing you can do as a parent is keep smiling and engaging with your child, they will sense if you are stressed or upset. Plus, when we finally capture that sweet shot, you'll want to remember smiling at them, not looking stressed! I promise—sessions with toddlers can feel chaotic (and they are!), but amidst the craziness, there are so many precious moments to capture.
Ahead of your session, I'll share more ideas to help you and your toddler feel prepared for an incredible experience!
"These came out so much better than I could have ever imagined!!! I’m sure all the parents out there understand the pure chaos that was behind these photos. Susannah reassured me that even though it was chaotic, the pictures would be beautiful!! And she was in fact correct!!! 10/10 100% recommend!!"
Morgan R.
HOW DO I BOOK MY FAMILY SESSION with you?
I am thrilled that you've chosen me to be your family photographer!
You can fill out this form on my contact page to inquire, use the link below, or learn more about the investment.
