About Us

Over the years, I've learned that parents are the busiest bunch, and your family portraits should not live solely on the cloud or social media. My goal is to give you stunning and tangible portraits that won't require a screen to enjoy.

Image of a Mother and Daughter

YOU ARE BUSY.

YOU ARE WORKING HARD TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY, AND TIME IS A LUXURY THAT YOU WISH YOU HAD MORE OF...

I get it. I'm with you.

Rae

Photographer since 1997. Business owner since 2004. Wife since 2005. Mom since 2009. Mom of 4 since 2015.

Life is crazy and messy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Becoming a mom was one of the hardest things I've done, next to creating a business from the ground up straight out of college. But, both of these have shaped who I am to my core.

Being a mom has made me a more patient photographer and more intentional business owner. Being a photographer has made me appreciate how quickly my kids change and grow, and being a business owner makes me cherish the gift it is to spend time with my kids. I can't imagine life without all of these elements balancing me!

I was born and raised in North Carolina. I fell in love with my husband in Colorado. I was a newlywed in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. And, I settled into life as a mom in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Life is a crazy ride. I'm thankful I get to do what I do for a living.

Quality matters to me

I've worked hard to hone my skills so that my work isn't just pretty on social media; it will look great in print.

Craftsmanship matters to me

We work with specialists so that each piece you order from me will be handmade by the best craftsmen in the country.

Your family matters to me

My calendar is limited so that I can best serve each and every family that commissions me to photograph them.

About the Experience

Creation fee and date retainer is $500.

My goal is for your portrait experience to be as effortless as possible. We will help you plan your outfits. We will make the kids think we are just playing for an hour or so, while I just happen to be taking gorgeous portraits of them. And, then, we work together to create stunning, custom artwork for your home.

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01 The Planning

Once you have booked, we will set up a time 4-6 weeks before your session to plan. This can be done in your home or over Zoom. During this time, we chat about what to wear, what you might want to order, and what we can expect from each other during the session.

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02 The Session

On the day of the session, you just have to show up dressed and fed (no hangry toddlers please), and we’ll take it from there. Don’t worry if everything isn’t perfect, that’s real life. We will do everything we can to keep everyone relaxed and having fun.

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03 The Ordering

Within a week of your session, we will have your ordering appointment. This is when you’ll be able to see the proofs and purchase what you love most. Since we do not offer online ordering upfront, all decision makers should be present.

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04 The Delivery

Your order is custom and handmade. It may take 6-10 weeks to complete, but we promise it is worth the wait. All wall galleries and large wall art includes complimentary and professional installation for you.

Rae Barnes has taken our family photo for the past five years. We have four young, high energy children and a handful of pets, so this is no small task. Somehow, without fail, every single time Rae catches insightful moments of each of us, and all of us together, that bring my husband and I to tears. She is delightful to work with and incredibly professional in her work and time frame. We could not recommend Rae enough for capturing these moments that are so short, and too sweet to forget.
Julia P.

Heirloom Artwork

Custom Artwork starts at $850.

We can fulfill any custom request you have for your finished pieces, but our specialties are hand-bound albums, museum-grade canvases, and custom-framed fine art prints. Everything we offer is handcrafted in the United States.

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