Behind The Scenes

Welcome to our blog page, where we’ll be bringing you into the world of Storybook Studios. We are artists, image creators, magicians if you will…but most importantly - we create personalized artwork. We pride ourselves on the art-work we craft, to find out more keep following our blog.

Woman with long red hair smiling, wearing a black shirt in an indoor setting.

Feb
16
2026

Casey 2.0: Creating From a Place of Strength, Not Survival

For years, I’ve photographed women stepping into their strength through our women's empowerment portraits and over-40 photography sessions in Chesapeake, Virginia. What many people didn’t know is that behind the camera, I was living ...

Feb
14
2026

The 40 Women Over 40 Project

A Portrait Project Celebrating Strength, Reinvention & Real BeautyThere’s a moment that happens for so many women.The kids are older.The career has shifted.The marriage changed — or ended.The body feels different.The mirror feels ...

Feb
11
2026

What Happens Before the Shutter Clicks ✨

What Happens Before the Shutter Clicks ✨The part of the portrait session most people never see.When someone tells me,“I’m not comfortable in front of a camera,”I smile. 💛Because that’s actually who these sessions are ...

Person in a flowing blue costume stands on a field with a bright sun overhead. Stadium lights are visible in the background.

Feb
2
2026

We need the WEIRD, the ODDBALLS and the RULE BENDERS

We Need the Weird, the Oddballs, and the Rule Benders(Not Another Beige Follower)Somewhere along the way, “fitting in” started to sound like the goal.Be agreeable.Be quiet when needed.Don’t rock the boat.Don’t stand out too ...

Jan
29
2026

Teen Mental Health, Confidence, Belonging, and the Silent Weight of Bullying

How confidence, connection, and belonging play a critical role in teen well-beingTeen mental health is something many families worry about—but often don’t know how to talk about.When we hear about teen suicide, it can feel shocking, ...

Jan
26
2026

Why Do Some Girls Turn Mean in Middle School

Why Middle School Is Such a Hard Time for Girls and FriendshipsShort answer: it’s not because girls suddenly become mean — it’s because middle school is where insecurity, identity, and social power all collide at once.Here’s ...

Jan
21
2026

Friendship Shifts in Middle School

Middle school has a way of changing friendships — sometimes slowly, sometimes almost overnight. 💔➡️💜One day your daughter has a close-knit group she feels secure in. The next, dynamics shift. Inside jokes change. Lunch tables rearrange. A ...

A girl sitting inside an old window with black ballet shoes

Jan
13
2026

🌱 When Confidence Drops in Middle School: A Guide for Chesapeake & Virginia Beach Moms

Middle school has a way of changing things — sometimes almost overnight. 💔➡️💜Girls who once laughed easily may grow quieter. A child who loved being in photos suddenly avoids the camera. Confidence that once seemed natural can begin to fade, ...

Jan
12
2026

13 News Now Feature on the Fearless Spirit Project

Back in 2019, Channel 13 News reached out to feature the Fearless Spirit Project. After getting approval from the parents, they joined us at one of our photoshoots. The reporter and cameraman were incredibly kind—they kept saying how ...

Jan
11
2026

The Very First Fearless Spirit Model Crew Session

The video below takes you behind the scenes of the very first Fearless Spirit Model Crew session. 🎥✨When some of these girls arrived, they were so shy they could barely speak to me. For a few, even making eye contact felt hard. 💔 That ...

Jan
6
2026

Behind the Scenes with the Fearless Spirit Model Crew ✨

If you’ve ever wondered what really happens during a Fearless Spirit Model Crew shoot… this is your peek behind the curtain.Yes—there are beautiful photos. But the magic? It lives in the moments between the ...

Person in black outfit lying on blue surface surrounded by yellow and blue flowers, hair fanned out.

Jan
3
2026

The Drone Session

For this Fearless Spirit Model Crew session, I tried something completely new—I photographed the girls using a drone 📸✨We set everything up outside on our studio patio, where the girls laid in different poses surrounded by flowing, colorful ...

A group of women standing together indoors, wearing matching gray shirts and dark pants, smiling at the camera.

Dec
31
2025

Applications Now Open for Fearless Spirit Model Crew

There’s something powerful that happens when girls realize they don’t have to shrink, compare, or fit into a mold to belong.That belief is at the heart of the Fearless Spirit Model Crew—and applications are officially ...

Woman in a black dress gently petting a fluffy, large-horned cow in a dark forest setting.

Dec
29
2025

The Highland Cow Session

Since we specialize in customizing our senior portraits, I get very excited to do things that I haven't done before. Morgan came in proclaiming that she is obsessed with cows! When I heard that there was a place in Chesapeake that had Highland ...

Dec
27
2025

Why the New Year Is the Perfect Time to Update Your Headshots

A new year has a way of inviting fresh starts. New goals. New energy. New opportunities. And yet, so many professionals head into January with headshots that no longer reflect who they are—or where they’re headed.If your current headshot ...

A group of people pose together outdoors in a wooded area, with autumn leaves and hay bales visible in the background.

Dec
15
2025

Why the Holidays Are the Perfect Time for Family Photos

There’s something special about the holidays that no other time of year can quite replicate.Suitcases are unpacked. Guest rooms are full. The house is louder, fuller, and warmer. For a brief window, everyone is in the same place at the same ...

Four people in hooded costumes pose with glowing lightsabers, resembling a scene from a Star Wars movie.

Dec
8
2025

LAST CHANCE for Star Wars Fans

Extended until December 15th!We’re opening up a few more spots for families who are full-on Star Wars fanatics and ready for something truly unforgettable. Storybook Studios is creating a limited, cinematic holiday portrait experience inspired ...

Dec
2
2025

Winter Senior Portraits: Yes, You Can Still Book in the Winter!

Most people think senior photos have to happen in the summer or early fall—but here’s the secret your Class of 2026 families need to hear:✨ Winter senior portraits are absolutely still an option… and they can be STUNNING.If life ...

Four people in hooded costumes wielding lightsabers in a dramatic pose.

Dec
1
2025

Inside Our Space Days Holiday Portraits: A Galaxy-Style Christmas Story

A Holiday Tradition… From a Galaxy Not So Far AwayEvery December, families step into Storybook Studios expecting holiday portraits—but a few brave ones step into something even bigger: a cinematic experience inspired by their ...