The Power of Collaboration - A Photo Session Exchange!

I have always seen Instagram and social media in general as an important tool for photographers to showcase their work and market themselves to potential customers. I also recognize the value in forming networks and connecting with people who otherwise you might not get a chance to interact with. However, one of my biggest surprises this year is how Instagram also became a means to make new, authentic friendships and meet people that have enriched my life in many ways. 

One of such people I met last year was a very talented photographer who had just moved to the Chicago market, and was soon to take it up by storm – Morgan Higgins of Turning Leaf Photography. She is kind and genuinely joyful, and amazing at her work. We started interacting with on a few of our posts, eventually DM’d and then exchanged phone numbers and a few messages before agreeing to meet in person. Once we did, we came up with an idea of taking photos for each other’s family that summer. 

It would be a chance to see how the other worked, perhaps learn new tricks, practice, explore new locations, and also get family photos with us in them (a major issue of photographers is that we are always the ones behind the camera). 

I have worked at other industries in my professional career, and I have to say that in photography, I have found such a supportive network of photographers in the area, that truly see the value in collaboration vs. competition. It is refreshing and highly motivating, and I am encouraged to see where this friendship with Morgan, and other relationships I have developed will go. 

Here are the results of my session at Morgan’s home, with her adorable kids. Further down below you will also see some of the ones she took of me and my family.

And below some of the wonderful photos that Morgan took of my family. It was a windy, but beautiful afternoon at North Avenue Beach and I could not love these images more!