Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Hunt.
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?
The story behind my business really stems from two lifelong loves: babies and photography.
I grew up in a large family with seven siblings, five of them younger than me, and for as long as I can remember, I knew I wanted to work with babies. I believe that every child is a precious gift from God, and that belief has shaped both my career and my photography. It led me to a career as a NICU nurse, where I spent 11 years caring for premature and medically fragile newborns and supporting their families during some of life’s most significant moments.
At the same time, I was developing a love for photography. During my college years, I was known among my friends for always having a digital camera hanging from my wrist -a detail that definitely dates me, since this was long before everyone had a camera in their pocket. When I got married, my parents gave me my first DSLR camera as a gift to take on my honeymoon, and that’s when my interest in photography truly took off. I enrolled in an introductory photography class and quickly became hooked.
As my love for photography grew, combining it with my passion for babies seemed inevitable. Back then, newborn photography was still a very niche specialty. There were no workshops or extensive educational resources like there are today. Instead, I stumbled across a photographer’s blog where she shared her step-by-step process for posing and photographing newborns. Around that same time, my older sister was expecting her fifth child. She graciously allowed me to photograph him, making him my very first newborn model in the fall of 2010.
I instantly fell in love with newborn photography. I shared the images online, and word-of-mouth quickly began to spread. Throughout my nursing career, I did photography on the side, gradually building my business one client at a time.
When I eventually stepped away from the hospital to focus on raising my three boys, I also took the opportunity to invest more fully in my photography business. Over the years, I refined my craft, elevated the client experience, and transformed the business into the luxury newborn portrait brand I had always envisioned.
Today, nearly 15 years later, I still feel incredibly grateful that I get to do what I love. What began as a creative passion has become a thriving business that allows me to combine artistry with my love for caring for families and their babies. The most rewarding part is knowing that these images become part of a family’s story, photographs parents will look back on long after the newborn stage has passed.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely wasn’t a smooth road. Like many photographers, I started because I loved the art, not because I had a background in business. Learning how to run a profitable business was an entirely different skill set. I had to figure out everything from pricing and sales to marketing and client experience, often through trial and error.
One of the biggest challenges was learning to value my own work. As creatives, it’s easy to compare yourself to others and wonder if you’re good enough. Imposter syndrome is very real in the photography industry, especially when you’re constantly seeing the work of talented artists all around you. I also struggled with finding the balance between pricing my work sustainably and feeling confident enough to stand behind those prices.
Over the years, I’ve invested in business education, workshops, and mentorships that helped me better understand both the financial side of photography and the psychology behind what clients truly value. One of the most important lessons I learned is that there will always be someone willing to do it for less. Rather than competing on price, I needed to focus on what made my experience unique.
For me, that meant leaning into the things that naturally set me apart -my years as a NICU nurse, my commitment to newborn safety, my attention to detail, and the personalized luxury experience I provide for families. Once I stopped worrying about what everyone else was doing and started embracing what made my business uniquely mine, everything began to fall into place.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in posed newborn portraiture, although I also photograph babies and children throughout their first year and beyond. Posed newborn photography is very different from lifestyle newborn photography. It is a highly specialized art form that requires extensive training, patience, and experience. Every pose is carefully crafted with the baby’s safety, comfort, and wellbeing in mind.
My background as a NICU nurse has been an incredible asset in this regard. After spending so many years handling and caring for newborns in a hospital setting, soothing, feeding, positioning, and reading a baby’s cues feels second nature to me. More importantly, it gives parents confidence that their baby’s safety and comfort are always my highest priorities. I often hear from families that they feel immediately at ease when they walk into my studio, and I consider that one of the greatest compliments I can receive.
I have intentionally created a full-service luxury experience for my clients. Families don’t need to bring props, outfits, or accessories. I provide everything needed for the session and guide them through the entire process. My artistic style is rustic and vintage-inspired, incorporating natural textures, muted tones, and organic elements to create images that feel both timeless and unique.
What I’m most proud of is the experience I provide and the relationships I’ve built over the years. There is something incredibly meaningful about photographing a family’s first baby and then welcoming them back for their second, third, or even fourth child. Knowing that families trust me to preserve some of their most precious memories is both humbling and rewarding.
I think what truly sets me apart is the combination of my nursing background, my specialization in newborn safety and posing, and my commitment to creating heirloom artwork that families will cherish for generations. My goal has always been to provide more than photographs, it’s to create an experience that allows parents to relax, enjoy this fleeting season, and leave with tangible memories of it.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My biggest piece of advice is to be patient with yourself. We live in a world of instant gratification, but photography is a craft that takes time to develop. When I look back at my early work, I can clearly see how much I’ve grown, and that’s exactly how it should be. Don’t be afraid to start before you feel ready, but also don’t expect mastery overnight.
I also wish I had understood sooner that being a successful photographer requires much more than taking beautiful photos. You can be incredibly talented, but if you don’t learn the business side of things like pricing, marketing, customer service, and financial management, it can be difficult to build a sustainable career. Investing in business education was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Another lesson I’ve learned is not to spend so much time comparing yourself to others. There will always be photographers who are more experienced, more established, or doing things differently than you are. Comparison can be discouraging and often distracts you from developing your own unique style and voice. Focus on continual improvement instead of perfection. One of my favorite quotes on this is “The only photographer that you should compare yourself to is the one that you used to be.”
Most importantly, remember why you started. Trends will come and go, social media algorithms will change, and there will be seasons when growth feels slow. If you stay committed to serving your clients well, continue learning, and remain passionate about your craft, the rewards are worth the journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://meredithhuntphotography.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/meredithhuntphotography
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/meredithhuntphotography
