Today we’d like to introduce you to Caitlin.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Photography has been part of my life since middle school. My parents did sports and senior photography, so I grew up tagging along to games and photoshoots. I’ll admit I rolled my eyes at them sometimes, but I secretly loved the excitement of it all. The energy, the timing, waiting for that shot. It stuck with me more than I realized.
I started out borrowing my dad’s camera in 2013, and he and his photographer friends taught me a LOT. The rest I figured out through curiosity and plenty of trial and error. By 2016, I had my own camera, and that same year I finished grad school and moved to Jacksonville. I fell in love with the beaches, the slower coastal pace, and the gorgeous light here. In 2020, I officially founded Caitlin Mae Photography, and it’s grown into something so much bigger than I ever imagined.
Then life got really full in the best way. I married my husband Kyle in 2021, who is my biggest supporter and listens to me gush over client galleries constantly. We welcomed our first son, Bennett, in April 2023 and our second, Nolan, in January 2025. Becoming a boy mama completely changed how I see my work. I know now how fast those newborn days go, how quickly they stop fitting in the crook of your arm, and how much those photos mean once that season has passed.
And now, my boys love going through our photo albums. They flip the pages, point to everyone they recognize, and get so excited when they find themselves. You can see how happy it makes them to see us all together. That’s my whole why. I want my kids to grow up seeing how loved they are! Not just scrolling past it on a phone or a social feed. And I want that for every family I photograph.
So that’s what my business is built around now. I focus on in-home newborn sessions, along with family and maternity sessions at the beaches and parks around Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra, and St. Augustine. Sessions are relaxed and gently guided. Breaks are welcome, toddlers can be toddlers, and nothing needs to be perfect to be beautiful. But the session is just the beginning. Every image is meant to become an heirloom album or printed artwork that lives in your home, the kind your kids will pull off the shelf and flip through for years.
I feel so lucky that this is my job. I get to step into families’ lives during these sweet seasons and help them hold onto them in a way they can actually touch.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Yes and no! I’m so thankful I’ve been able to keep growing, but it definitely has not been effortless.
In the beginning, all of my focus was on making my photos better and better. I wanted my work to be good enough before I felt like I could really call myself a photographer. And honestly? The imposter syndrome is STILL real some days. I think a lot of creatives can relate to that.
What I didn’t expect was learning that good photos aren’t enough to run a business. There’s so much behind the scenes that no one sees: the systems, the communication, the marketing, the planning. I’ve put in a lot of long nights and hard work to get where I am, and I’m still learning every single day.
The biggest struggle has been work-life balance. Running a business and raising two little boys is a lot, and it’s nonstop. Figuring out how to show up fully for my clients and my family is something I’m always working on. Some weeks I nail it. Some weeks I don’t.
But I truly love it. I love my clients. I love the communication part, helping everyone get ready and excited for their session. I love being there to make the whole process seamless so no one is sitting at home wondering if it’s all going to go right or if it’s going to be worth it. Being that calm, steady person for families during such a special season is one of my favorite parts of what I do.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Caitlin Mae Photography is an heirloom newborn, maternity, and family photography business here in Jacksonville. I photograph newborns in the comfort of your home, and maternity and family sessions at some of my favorite beaches and parks around town.
What sets me apart is that my work doesn’t stop at the session. I’m a heirloom-focused photographer, which means everything I create is meant to end up in your home as custom albums and printed artwork, not just sitting in a gallery on your phone. Photos that matter deserve to be held, flipped through, and hung on your walls. I walk every family through choosing their favorite images and designing pieces they’ll actually live with, so they never have to figure that part out on their own.
I’m also known for making the whole process feel easy. From the moment someone reaches out, I’m there to help: planning the timing, outfit guidance, choosing the right location, and making sure everyone feels ready and excited. For newborn sessions, I come to you, so there’s no packing up a brand new baby. We use your own home, your nursery, your bed, the spaces where your story is actually happening. As a mom of two little ones myself, I get how it feels to be in that newborn fog, and I want those sessions to feel like support, not one more thing on your plate.
What I’m most proud of is the relationships. I have families who have booked me for maternity, then newborn, then year after year for family photos. I am honored that I get to watch their kids grow up through my camera. Seeing their albums and prints in their homes, knowing their kids are going to grow up looking at those images and seeing how loved they are, is the best part of what I do.
If you’re expecting or have a new little one, or it’s been way too long since you’ve had a family photo, I’d love to hear from you. This season goes by so fast, and you deserve something beautiful to hold onto.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best way to work with me is to reach out through my website, www.caitlinmaephotography.com, or follow me on Instagram at @caitlin.mae.photography. I love hearing from expecting mamas and growing families!
And if you’d like to support me, the biggest thing is sharing. Leaving a review, tagging me, or telling a friend means the world to a small business like mine. Most of my families find me through someone they love, and I’m so grateful for every one of those referrals.
Pricing:
- All sessions are $300
- Albums, wall art, and images are chosen after your session during a personal ordering appointment, where we look through your photos together and design heirloom pieces you’ll love for years
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.caitlinmaephotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlin.mae.photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caitlin.mae.photography/
