Katie Smith Photography

Name: Katie Smith Photography
Address: 601 N First Street, Mebane, NC, 27302, US
Telephone: +13366755252

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Katie Smith Photography

capturing moments before they become memories

Studio located in Mebane, NC. Serving Durham to Greensboro

Mebane photographer, Katie Smith provides fun, beautiful portraits to families within 30 miles of Mebane including Greensboro, Chapel Hill, Pittsboro, and Durham.

06/24/2026

This is the part I wish more people could picture before their session.

Photos are beautiful on a screen, but the real magic happens when one of those portraits becomes part of your home.

When we plan a session, I’m not only thinking about getting a good photo. I’m thinking about what that portrait could become.

Where will it live? Should it be vertical or horizontal? How do we create something that feels like it belongs with the rest of your home decor?

This framed horse portrait is a mockup, but it’s exactly the kind of finished piece I love helping clients create: classic artwork you’ll love for decades.

06/23/2026

I’m dedicating a portion of my summer to trying new things with my photography.

Last week, I put out a model call for a high school senior to take photos with Sparkle, NCTRC’s beautiful Gypsy Vanner horse.

Beautiful model, beautiful horse, beautiful light... but the thing with creatives is that it’s never enough. One idea leads to another, and suddenly a light bulb goes off.

“Oh yeah, I’ve been wanting to try that portrait where the horse is standing in the doorway and the background falls to black. Can we give that a try?”

Lara, who I think is pretty accustomed to my random ideas by now, was game.

So Sparkle got a second photo session.

And I think I’m hooked.

This is definitely more post-processing than I typically enjoy, but my minimalist side loves what happens when you strip away all the distractions and let the horse be the entire story.

I have notes for future attempts, of course, because I am still me.

So if you have a horse and you love this style, let's talk.

06/18/2026

Have you seen the collaborative project Tailwaggers CleanUp started?

They’re putting together a “congratulations on your new pet” goody bag to help new adoptive pet parents start off on the right paw. It will be full of little surprises, including tips from local pet-loving professionals.

I’m excited to contribute postcards with three simple tips for taking better photos of your pet, featuring Bruno, my own Burlington Animal Services alumni.

06/16/2026

Know a senior girl that would love senior portraits with a horse?

The session would be this Saturday, June 20th in the late evening. Session fee would be waived. Two digital images would be included as a thank you.

To apply, send me an email with your name, school, and your outfit idea. Applications by messenger will not be accepted.

06/15/2026

Did you miss Unicorn Day 2026?

Good news: the magic isn’t over just yet.

We’re setting up the unicorn scene one final time this Saturday, June 20th for our last makeup session, and we’d love to open an extra spot or two for families who missed it the first time.

This is your last chance for unicorn portraits this year!

Email me if you want in.

06/11/2026

A little before and after from a recent graduation session.

This isn’t a huge, jaw-dropping transformation with an artsy or trendy edit, which is kind of the point. I want the photos to look the memory.

A good final image usually starts before I ever sit down to edit. It starts with choosing the angle, watching the light, giving direction, and knowing how to work with whatever life throws at us.

This session happened in the middle of the afternoon after rain and scheduling conflicts pushed us out of that softer, prettier light. Full sun, no clouds, and graduation day crowds everywhere.

Not exactly that relaxed, dreamy golden hour experience that everyone loves but that’s real life. Especially during graduation season.

The UNC seal was in the shade while the building behind it was bright and sunny, so I added light to my client to keep everything balanced. Campus was packed, so I used angles and cropping to avoid as much of the chaos as possible, then cleaned up the remaining distractions in the final edit.

My goal is not to make the photo look heavily edited. The goal is for your portrait to feel clean, finished, and focused on you, even when the location is busy, the light is tricky, and the schedule is not perfect.

And please excuse the black box. My client’s privacy comes first, always.

06/09/2026

Golden hour minis are perfect for capturing the magic of lazy summer days. Go beyond the standard poses when you include storytelling props like:

A quilt in the grass. A favorite book. A kite in the evening light. A toy your child already loves.

You don’t need to bring a trunk full of props. Just one small, meaningful thing can make your photos feel more like your family.

Here are five ideas I love for golden hour sessions:

06/05/2026

One of the Keepsake Collective came for birthday photos this week! His outfit colors perfectly matched this backdrop.

What's the Keepsake Collective? It's a mini session membership, waiving all your session fees, discounted digital images, AND at the end of the year, you get an album of all your favorite images. Soon I'm opening the KC for new enrollments just for the second half of the year. If you want to capture birthdays, back-to-school, fall and Christmas from July-December, don't miss out.

05/28/2026

Some clients arrive with mood boards, Pinterest links, outfit ideas, and a clear vision.

Love it. Bring me the inspiration and we’ll build on what you love, talk through what will photograph well, and turn those ideas into portraits that feel personal instead of copied.

Other clients arrive with a busy schedule, a couple loose ideas, and the hope that someone else can please just make this easy.

Also love it. You do not have to know the perfect location, the best outfits, what to do with your hands, or how the final images should come together. I’ve got you.

Whether you’re the Creative Director or the Confident Delegator, your session will still be thoughtfully planned, gently guided, and created with intention.

05/27/2026

Picture this: The kids dipping their toes into the creek, looking for crawfish and sailing paper boats. The whole family is just laughing and having fun because this mini session is about simple summer memories outdoors. If it's dark enough, we might even see a lighting bug or two.

I have a spot in mind, less than a mile from the studio.

Before I go all in, I'm gauging interest. Who would love to participate?

📸 This idea reminded me of this session I did with my oldest back in 2011.

Address

601 N First Street
Mebane, NC
27302

Telephone

+13366755252

Website

http://www.katiesmithphotography.com/

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