When Sarah and Khris got married back in teh day, I photographed their wedding, so I was quite chuffed when Sarah reached out again to me to ask me to create her maternity portraits. She did not want flwoing maternity gowns or Earth Mother settings. She wanted a classic studio portrait that would be simple and elegant. One issue, though - she could not come to my studio in Knoxville due to her advanced stage.

I am a believer in the concept of Studio Anywhere. What that means is that any photographer should be hard pressed to NOT be able to create a studio in any setting, especially if it is indoors. Indeed, Sarah said we could do it in her mom’s living room in Chattanooga. Have backdrop (and other gear), will travel. We moved some furniture and at one point I was standing on the outside deck, shooting through the patio door, while Sarah’s mom held back screen netting on the sliding door. And voilà! Portraits of a beautiful mother-to-be that seemingly were done in a professional studio.

I remember when I was a child, my mother had a photographer come to our Bronx home and did the same in the living room. It was easier than schlepping my siblings and me to a photo studio and Ma got her pictures - and trust me, if it can happen in a New York City apartment, it can happen in your home. Like my studio, your home features creature comforts like a bathroom and snacks, but even more so, it is a familar setting which can put subjects like children and pets at ease.