Choosing a location is one of the first things families ask me about when they’re planning a photo session.
After years of photographing families, expecting mothers, and babies across Wilmington, Hampstead, Topsail Beach, Surf City, and the surrounding coastal North Carolina area, I’ve learned something important:
The best location isn’t always the most popular one, it’s the one where your family feels comfortable.
As a Wilmington photographer, I’ve photographed sessions on wide open beaches, tucked-away stretches of shoreline, and some of my favorite coastal spots that many people drive past without ever noticing.
While beautiful scenery certainly helps, what matters most is how a location allows your family to interact, relax, and simply be together.
I’ve found that when parents aren’t worried about where to stand, and kids have room to move naturally, the entire experience feels easier. The smiles become genuine, the laughter happens on its own, and the images feel less like a photoshoot and more like a memory.
That’s one of the reasons I guide every client through the location selection process. You don’t need to spend hours searching Pinterest or wondering which beach is best. Part of my job is helping you choose a setting that fits your family, your season of life, and the kind of images you want hanging on your walls years from now.
Hi, I’m Emily.
I’m the photographer behind Emmy Jo Photography, a mama of five, and someone who knows firsthand how quickly these years pass. My goal is to help you preserve the beauty in the chaos, and capture the moments you’ll want to remember years from now.
If you’re looking for a Wilmington photographer for your family, maternity, or newborn journey, I’d love to chat. You can reach out through my contact page, and tell me a little about your family.
Want to see more real families, sandy toes, and beautiful moments from around coastal North Carolina? Come follow along on Instagram for recent sessions, family photo inspiration, and a behind-the-scenes look at life behind the lens.
Why the Right Setting Makes You Feel More Comfortable
One of the biggest concerns I hear from parents is that they feel awkward in photos, or that their kids don’t sit still.
It’s a common worry for family photos, and that’s completely normal.
The location you choose can make a huge difference in how comfortable everyone feels.
When families have room to move, explore, and interact naturally, everything changes.
Instead of focusing on the camera, they’re focused on each other.
That’s why I love outdoor beach sessions so much.
The best locations allow:
- Kids to play naturally
- Parents to relax
- Genuine connection to happen
- Beautiful light to do its thing
- Real moments instead of forced smiles
As a Wilmington photographer, I’ve learned that connection always creates the most heartfelt images.
A beautiful location can help your family relax and enjoy the experience, but the real magic happens in the connection you share with each other. That’s what turns a pretty photo into a memory you’ll treasure for years.
If you’d like to learn more about the approach I take during family sessions, I invite you to read Capturing Connection: Family Photos That Feel Like Home.
A Few Wilmington Area Locations I Frequently Photograph
One of the things I love most about being a Wilmington Photographer is getting to work in some truly beautiful coastal North Carolina locations.
I photograph families throughout:
- Wilmington
- Wrightsville Beach
- Topsail Beach
- Surf City
- Hampstead
- Holly Ridge
- The Camp Lejeune area
Each location offers a slightly different backdrop, but the goal is always the same: creating a space where your family can relax, connect, and enjoy the experience together.
Rather than asking clients to choose from dozens of locations on their own, I help guide the decision based on your family, your children and their ages, and the overall feel you’re hoping to create from your photos.
The location itself matters, but how comfortable you feel there matters even more.
That’s why I walk every client through the process so you don’t have to spend hours researching locations or wondering whether you’ve picked the “right” spot.
What The Locations Feel Like During a Session
One thing I’ve learned after years of photographing families is that every location creates a slightly different experience.
Some families want lots of room for little ones to run and play.
Others want a quieter setting where they can slow down and focus on connection.
Some are celebrating a pregnancy and envision soft, intimate images with their growing family. Others are documenting a season with energetic toddlers who would much rather explore than sit still.
That’s why I don’t believe there’s one perfect location for everyone.
Instead, I help each family choose a setting that supports the experience they’re hoping to have. When the location fits your family well, everything feels more natural.
The smiles aren’t forced, the interactions aren’t staged, and the images become a reflection of who you are in this season of life.
When you hire me as your Wilmington photographer, that’s always my goal.
A beautiful location doesn’t have to be complicated to create meaningful images. In fact, some of the most timeless photographs come from simple settings that allow your family and your connection to take center stage.
If you’re drawn to soft, natural imagery and want to learn more about how simple environments can create powerful photographs, take a minute to read this blog.
Real Moments I’ve Captured in These Spaces As a Wilmington Photographer
While I always make time for the classic family portraits, the images that tend to mean the most are the ones filled with genuine connection. The giggles, the cuddles, the sandy toes, and the little moments that happen when nobody is worried about posing perfectly.
Maybe it’s a toddler racing over to show everyone the shell she just found.
It’s a dad carrying his daughter on his shoulders while she giggles in his ear.
Picture a pregnant mama standing barefoot in the sand, quietly imagining the tiny person who’s about to change her whole world.
It’s a military family holding each other a little tighter, knowing another season apart may be around the corner.
These are the moments that matter, and the ones that families tell me that they treasure the most years later.
The location helps create space for those memories to happen, but the connection is always the star of the story.
One client shared:
“Emmy Jo Photography is, by far, the best around. She has been taking our family’s photos for the past 5 years and I trust her whole-heartedly. She is a dream to work with, she is wonderful with children (so patient, creative, pleasant, and calm), and she takes a lot of pride in what she does. She is able to capture our personalities perfectly and the images are always breathtaking. I highly recommend Emmy Jo Photography!“
That means more to me than I can put into words.
How I Help You Choose Without Overwhelm
If you’re searching for a Wilmington photographer, you’ve probably already looked at dozens of location ideas online.
It can feel overwhelming fast.
But the good news is you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.
When clients book with me, I guide them through the entire process. That’s part of my full-service experience. From wardrobe guidance to location coastal recommendations, I’ve got you covered.
I typically ask questions like:
- How old are your children?
- Do you want a quiet or playful feel?
- Is this a maternity or family session?
- What kind of images do you naturally gravitate toward?
From there, I can recommend locations that fit your family and your vision.
No guessing or stress, just a plan that feels right for you and your family.
A beautiful location is only part of the story. What you wear can help tie everything together and create the soft, timeless feel so many families love.
If you’re already thinking ahead to outfits, I’ve put together a guide on what to wear for your beach photos, filled with simple tips to help you feel confident, comfortable, and photo-ready for your session.
Wilmington Photographer: Creating a Session That Feels Like You
The truth is, the best location isn’t necessarily the most popular one.
It’s the one where your family feels comfortable enough to laugh, snuggle, play, and simply enjoy being together.
As a Wilmington Photographer, that’s what I’m always looking for.
Not perfection, just connection.
One day, your children won’t remember whether the dunes were perfectly shaped or whether every hair stayed in place.
They’ll see photographs that remind them they were held, they were loved, and that they belonged.
Those memories are always worth preserving.
If you’re ready to plan your next family session, I’d love to help you find the perfect location. Whether you’re local to Wilmington, Hampstead, Topsail Beach, Surf City, or part of our wonderful Camp Lejeune military community, I’m here to make the experience effortless from start to finish.
And if you’re expecting, don’t forget to ask about my Maternity + Newborn Bundle. It’s one of my favorite ways to help families document the entire journey from bump to baby.
I can’t wait to help you preserve the beauty in the chaos.
