Here’s my process

The Shoot:
Don’t worry, I love chaos.

You can bring your family just as they are and we’ll make it work. Often it is the unexpected that makes the magic happen.
In short, I promise the photo shoot will be worth showing up for. No matter what comes our way mid-shoot, you’re going to get pictures you love.

The Edits:
I’ve been in business since July 2009, and I know how much my clients anticipate their photos. That’s why I return photos on time, every time. That’s a one-week turnaround for portraits. I give my full attention to each project – one project at a time – until it’s done. I get photos back to people quickly so they can see that what felt like chaos turned into something beautiful. That’s the joy of being a family photographer.

The Final Images:
For a flat rate, I offer the best of both worlds: you own the digital images and have access to an online gallery that allows you to download all of your digital images with just one click. Through the gallery, you can also easily share photos with friends and family and order prints from a professional quality lab. Prints ordered from this lab are available to you at cost, with no additional markup (in other words, you’ll save a ton on prints!).

The Rates:
Full Session $650 + tax
1.5 hours of photography*
An immersive photo shoot experience, which includes exploring one of your favorite places
75+ high-resolution digital images, with full printing rights
Online gallery for sharing and ordering prints
Quick turnaround: images edited and delivered within one week!

*Trust me, the time will fly by! Many families worry that their toddler or baby won’t have the attention span for a shoot of this length. Outdoor shoots offer plenty of opportunities for exploration, and we’ll break up the posing with action and games.

Mini-Session $300 + tax
20 minutes of photography
30+ high-resolution digital images, with full printing rights
Online gallery for sharing and ordering prints
Quick turnaround: images edited and delivered within one week!

Mini-sessions are available on limited days throughout the year and take place at specific, pre-set locations. Click here to sign up for announcements when mini-sessions are planned.

My mini- sessions might be better described as power sessions. They’re all about jumping in and getting it done. We’ll capture a few classic shots in a couple of perfect locations and – voila! – you’ll have your family holiday card photo or senior pictures, with extra photos to share. While getting that one perfect shot is key, there’s plenty of time in a mini-session – when you’re working fast! – to capture a great variety of shots.

Click here to view my favorite locations for photo sessions

Session Prep

Already booked your session? Great! Below are some details about how to prepare for your photo shoot.

Rain
A few days prior to a shoot, I always check the forecast and then send an email confirming the upcoming session. If it looks like rain, we will stay in touch and make the final call the evening before your morning session or by noon on the day of your evening session. More often than not, the shoot goes ahead as scheduled. Gray sky and cloudy days actually make for great photos! And even if it’s raining cats and dogs the day of your session, the photo shoot is not doomed. I can suggest a few indoor options or we can find another day and time that works. If you are not available for a reschedule, I will send a refund.

Attire
First, lets debunk some photo session myths:

It’s not necessary that everyone in the photos match. It’s also not necessary that your outfits are in sync with current trends or perfectly coordinated by color. Also, you don’t need to be dressed in neutrals. The camera loves color!

Here’s what’s important:

You should pick outfits that you love to wear. In other words, don’t pick clothes that may be unflattering or uncomfortable just because they match a color theme you’d planned for the shoot. What’s most important is that you feel great in the clothes you’re wearing.
Being comfortable often translates to more fluid, natural shots.

Color is great, and so are patterns. (The only patterns that don’t work well are small, tight stripes.)

Post-Session
During the editing process, I’ll sort through each and every picture. While I love to include outtakes (these are often the favorites!), I promise I will skip over photos that are unflattering! The very best shots will be delivered to you in the digital gallery.

Reviews

What a lovely and talented person Morgan is! In a twenty minute mini session, she captured multiple beautiful images of our family in several different settings. Her kind and laid-back personality made us all relaxed and it shows in the pictures. She also let our kids’ personalities shine in their own unique ways. She was exceptionally responsive via email and had a very quick turnaround on the files. Highly recommend!
-Sarah

We’ve worked with Morgan several times for our annual family photo session and we’ve had an amazing experience. She is patient with little ones and manages to capture the most beautiful moments on camera. I have photos from each of our sessions hanging throughout our house. She also did a session with our family and our dog and captured her sweet personality and zest for life in a way I didn’t think was possible. Love her! Can’t say enough good things about Morgan!
-Kim

Morgan photographed our large family including 5 kids under 5 and got multiple, beautiful pictures of all 13 of us smiling at the camera. She was so fun to be with and was flexible with all the craziness that working with groups and children brings. And if you have your heart set on getting pictures at Duke Gardens, all the better. Morgan knows everything about the Gardens! We will definitely be having her photograph us again and recommend her to anyone who asks.
-Ruth

Morgan took FANTASTIC photos of our children during a Duke Gardens session. She was incredibly patient with both our 3 year old and 6 year old and somehow worked her magic in between their various complaints and need for snacks to capture their personalities and some great smiles. We tried several photographers in Durham before Morgan but she was by far the best, and we plan to hire her again to capture our family holiday card photos this year!
-Sara

I could not have been happier with Morgan Henderson Photography! Morgan shot a mini session of me with my dog. She was quick to respond to every message prior to the session. She was absolutely amazing to work with an so patient with my crazy chocolate lab. Her turnaround time was super quick and I absolutely loved the photos! I am planning to book another session this fall!
-Amanda

Morgan did an amazing job with my son’s senior pictures! She did a fantastic job getting a teenage boy and his faithful dog to cooperate and shine. I will treasure these images for years to come!
-Andrea