Morgan Locke Photography

09/08/2026

I know family photos can feel intimidating.

I know because I just had my own family photos taken for the first time in years.
I stressed about outfits. We drove more than three hours. My daughters had approximately 47 pose ideas, and my three-year-old spent the session running around and flipping down hills.
It felt like chaos. And not the pretty Pinterest kind.

But from the other side of the camera, I knew something:
This was actually a dream session.

My kids were engaged. They were playing, laughing, wrestling, talking, making up ideas, and being completely themselves.

And I realized that my overwhelm could ruin the photos far more than their behavior ever could.

So I took a breath.
I smiled.
I played with my kids.
And I trusted our photographer.

I haven’t even seen our photos yet, but I already know they’re good.
Because I know what was happening on the other side of that camera.

So if your kids are running, talking nonstop, wrestling, telling ridiculous jokes, or doing absolutely anything except what you expected...

Take a breath. Look at your kids. Be with them. Trust your photographer.

The moment you’re tempted to stop might be the exact moment you want photographed.

Your kids don’t have to behave perfectly for your photos to be beautiful.

They just have to be themselves.

09/03/2026

If you’ve ever looked at my Mt. Rainier photos and thought, “That looks amazing… but what exactly does a session there involve?”—here’s the answer.

My Mt. Rainier sessions are a little different from my regular family sessions.

We meet a little before sunrise and hike up the mountain together. It’s a short walk, but it is definitely steep.
And every year, I have families who make that climb with me and then tell me it was completely worth it.

There are a few reasons I love doing these sessions at sunrise.

The fall color is usually at its peak during the first weekend of October, before the snow starts to move in. Sunrise gives us beautiful light, but it also means there are significantly fewer people around.

That makes the whole experience feel quieter and more private.

And if you’re wondering about your kids: they don’t need to be experienced hikers. We take our time. We stop when we need to. We let them explore and look around. They can hold your hand, take breaks and be themselves.

Mt. Rainier sessions are offered only the first weekend in October each year.
If you’ve been curious about them, I hope this gives you a better idea of what the experience is actually like.

09/01/2026

What if school pictures didn’t have to look like school pictures?
I’ve been thinking a lot about how we document our children.
School portraits have traditionally given us one yearly photograph—a snapshot of what our child looked like at that age.

And I love that.

But I also wanted to create something a little different.

My Childhood Portraits are a modern take on the traditional school portrait.
They’re photographed indoors with natural light and a simple black backdrop.
No busy backgrounds.
No props.
No elaborate sets.
Just your child.
Their expressions. Their personality. Their little quirks.

And I’m not expecting them to sit perfectly still and give me their best “cheesy” smile.
I’ll interact with them, make them laugh, and give them space to be themselves.
I want to photograph your child.

And the pricing works a little differently than a traditional portrait session, too.
There’s no money due up front.
After your child’s portraits are taken, you’ll have the opportunity to choose from collections, individual digital images, canvases, and other products.
It’s designed to feel much more like the school portrait experience, while giving you photographs that feel modern, personal, and timeless.

📸Childhood Portraits
September 30
Otter Bay Cafe • Silverdale

For young children + homeschool families

If you’re ready to freeze this little version of your child before they grow into the next one, I’d love to photograph them.

BOOKING LINK -

https://514654.17hats.com/p #/scheduling/VG65Qg7qpZgB

08/20/2026

Think 15 minutes isn’t enough time for Fall Minis? 🍂

I get it. Fifteen minutes can sound really short—especially when you have little kids.

But a mini session isn’t 15 minutes of trying to get everyone to stand still, smile, and look at the camera.

We move.

We play.

We snuggle.

We laugh.

We let your kids be themselves.

And I guide you through it all while looking for those little moments of connection that make your family yours.

A mini session won’t give you the same variety as a full session, and that’s okay. If you’re looking for a handful of beautiful images to remember this season of your family’s life, a mini might be exactly what you need.

This year’s Fall Minis are 15 minutes on Bainbridge Island in October. 🍁

This is a new location for me, and I’m so excited to see it come alive in the fall.

Dates are booking now. If you’ve been thinking about updating your family photos this fall, I’d love to have you there.

Details + booking link in bio. ❤️

08/13/2026

Child-led posing doesn’t mean I let your kids run the show. 😂

It means I pay attention to who they are and what they need in that moment.
Some kids want to run, explore, and move.
Some want to stay close to Mom or Dad.
Some jump right in, and some need a little time before they’re comfortable.
Instead of asking every child to fit into the same pose, I use prompts and play to create opportunities for connection—and then I follow their lead.
Because when your child feels comfortable, you get to see more of who they actually are.

And that’s what I want your photographs to hold onto.
Not just what your family looked like that day, but the little personalities, relationships, and moments that make your family yours. ❤️

Your job is to be present with your family. I’ll take care of the rest.

08/10/2026

f you’ve never had family photos taken with me, you might be wondering what you’re actually supposed to do during a session.

The answer is: be with your family.

You don’t need to know how to pose. Your kids don’t need to sit still. And your family doesn’t need to perform for the camera.

I’ll guide you, give you things to do together, and create space for the little moments that happen naturally.

Because I don’t want your gallery to just show what your family looked like.
I want it to remind you what this season felt like. ❤️

I wrote a new blog all about what you can expect during a family session, from the moment you arrive to the moment we wrap up.

Comment Blog and I will send it to you!

08/07/2026

The biggest mistake I see families make when planning what to wear for photos?
Trying so hard to make everything perfect that they forget to make it comfortable.
Your kids need to be able to move, play, snuggle, explore, and be themselves.
And honestly? You do too.
I would much rather photograph a family in outfits they feel comfortable and confident in than perfectly coordinated outfits that leave everyone feeling stiff and uncomfortable.
When you’re choosing outfits for fall family photos, think:
🍂 Coordinate instead of matching
🍂 Add layers and texture
🍂 Dress for the weather
🍂 Choose shoes you can comfortably walk and play in
🍂 Most importantly, choose things that feel like you
Because the goal isn’t to create a perfectly styled family.
It’s to create photographs that feel like your family.
I put together a whole guide with more tips for choosing outfits for your fall family photos, including what colors photograph beautifully, how to coordinate everyone, and why keeping kids comfortable matters so much.
You can read it through the link in my bio. ❤️
And if you’re hoping to capture your family this fall, my fall calendar is open. I’d love to help make the whole experience feel simple and relaxed—from choosing outfits to the actual session.

07/29/2026

Do you want family photos but worry how your kids will behave?

I wrote this blog post with you in mind!

Check it out to learn why I don't expect kids to "behave" and my approach to family photos!

If I had a dollar for every time a parent apologized to me before their family session because they were worried their child wouldn’t cooperate, I’d probably have enough to keep my coffee cup full for a very long time.

07/20/2026

The transition from one kid to two was hard for me.
Learning how to balance “needs and wants”.
It was an overwhelming time while I stretched and grew to be enough for my daughters.

The transition from two to three kids was much easier for me. My daughters were older by then and we all wanted my son so badly after back to back losses.
Everyone lived in a bubble of deep gratitude and love for a long time.
It didn’t even really feel like I had three kids until my son was 2.

What transition was the hardest for you?