When you think about family and newborn photography, what comes to mind? For Rhiannon Livardo, it's all about capturing those real, in-between moments that families treasure most. I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Rhiannon to learn more about her journey, her passion, and her approach to photography.

Rhiannon's love for photography began at a young age. "When I was 13, I came across a black and white photo of a man sitting on a park bench at night. The only light source was the lamp post near him and the NYC skyline he was facing. In that moment, I felt it in my bones that I wanted to create and be a photographer. Since then, I’ve never looked back."

Her determination led her to teach herself the art of photography during her younger years. After high school, she dove into any photography job she could find, exploring almost every genre. "Once I began photographing children, babies, and families, I knew I had found my happy place."

For Rhiannon, the decision to focus on family and newborn photography was a natural one. "Family and newborns really drew me in. I love the silliness family sessions bring and the sweet, quiet moments during a newborn session. Capturing a family's genuine love and connection and their laughter fills my cup. Seeing their reactions to their gallery is the icing on the cake."

Her own family's influence played a significant role in shaping her approach. "My mom always had a camera in her hand, not only documenting birthdays and holidays but everyday life. The little moments in my own life are so valuable to me that I want to make sure my clients can feel that too."

Rhiannon's philosophy is all about capturing genuine interactions. "When people think of getting their family photos professionally taken, they often imagine a perfect photo of everyone looking directly at the camera. But that's never interested me. Those real, in-between moments are what my clients treasure most. Moments where the family is snuggled closely together, laughing, are stronger and more heartfelt."

From the initial consultation to the final delivery of images, Rhiannon ensures a seamless and personalized experience. "In my initial consultation, I send a detailed Welcome Guide so my clients know what to expect during every step of the experience with me. After choosing a date and booking their session, I send over a Getting To Know You Questionnaire. This helps our session go smoothly and prepares me for everyone's personalities, likes, dislikes, insecurities, etc."

She also assists with styling, sending a clothing questionnaire and offering referrals for hair and makeup if needed. "Based on the family's interests, ages of the children, and their zip code, I choose the perfect location for them."

During the session, Rhiannon mixes fun prompts and games with the natural flow of the family's connection. "About two weeks later, I send them their private, online gallery to choose their images. They can do this all from the comfort of their home. I offer three Digital File Collections that include all the final images and professionally printed products."

Every session with Rhiannon is unique, thanks to her thorough preparation. "My Getting To Know You questionnaire is key! Learning what makes each family member comfortable or even uncomfortable helps me prepare what kind of games and prompts to play at their session, as well as choosing locations."

Her favorite part of a session? "The middle-end of the sessions is always the sweet spot because everyone is loose and more comfortable, especially newer clients. It's awkward getting your photo taken at first, but once I help them shed that anxiety, it's smooth sailing from there."

Rhiannon shared a particularly memorable session that stands out. "I had a session with a family at the beach, and we were debating whether to reschedule because of a thunderstorm forecast. We decided to keep our date and roll with it. The session was incredible, and the family put their complete trust in me. Just as we were about to wrap up, storm clouds rolled in, bringing an amazing cotton candy sky. We had about 10 minutes before the rain came, and we made the best of it. Plus, they were the first family to get in the water, and now all my clients are game for that!"

For families preparing for a photo session with Rhiannon, her advice is simple: "Trust that I will make everyone comfortable, and most importantly, let their kids be kids! Trying to force them to sit and smile makes the session more difficult. But when you let them be themselves, explore, or be silly, their true personalities shine through, and those are the portraits they will love the most."

Rhiannon makes sure to listen to her clients and understand who they are. "With the help of the questionnaires, it becomes easy. I would never force a super shy family to have their session at a crowded, popular park where they feel on display."

The technical side of running a photography business can be tedious but rewarding. "Learning to use my website to its full advantage has been key. I never heard of the word SEO before I became a professional photographer, and it's one of the most important aspects of running my business. Creatively, I make sure to pick up my camera as often as I can, not just when clients hire me."

Blogging is a crucial part of Rhiannon's marketing strategy. "I love and am grateful for clients who find me through word of mouth, but when clients find me through Google, that's a bonus, and that's mainly from blog posts and my website. With my blogs, I tend to be more personable, and I think that's what sets me apart. Blog posts help more than just a small caption on Instagram."

One of the biggest challenges Rhiannon has faced is the digital world. "Everyone thinks they want just the digital files, but having your images in print means so much more. Professional photography is an investment, and I want to ensure my clients are taken care of with every aspect of their experience, including printing."

Balancing a photography business with personal life and hobbies can be challenging. "It's really hard to balance work, personal life, and hobbies. As a small business owner working from home, my email, my desk, and my to-do lists are literally within reach. But I've set a timer for myself. While this isn't a typical '9-5' job, I treat it like one. At a certain time every day, I clock out. After that, it's time to spend with my husband, family, and friends, cook dinner, plan a new trip, and just chill. It's hard to turn off my brain as a business owner, but I make sure to fill my personal life with things I love."

Rhiannon Livardo's journey is a testament to her passion, dedication, and love for capturing the genuine moments that families cherish. Through her unique approach and commitment to her clients, she continues to create beautiful, lasting memories for families to treasure forever.

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