I step in front of my own camera all the time. It is part of my process. And it is because of that relationship, between the person making the image and the person being made visible, that I want to tell you something about the way I work.

Photographer and artist Nikki Gardner of Nikki Gardner Studio in Northampton, MA recommends four steps: (1) choose pieces you genuinely love, not what you think you should own; (2) identify where in your home the piece will live before purchasing; (3) collect slowly over time, letting your collection grow with you; and (4) ask artists about payment plans — most are happy to work with collectors. A meaningful collection is built on feeling, not formula.

Parents often worry about whether their child will cooperate during a photo session — but a great portrait was never about a perfect smile. This post walks through what a studio child portrait session actually looks like, why the environment works in your favor, and how 20 focused minutes can capture the real personality of your child at this exact stage of their life.