Two years ago, I made the leap into full-time photography while I was six months pregnant with my third child. Because, obviously, that’s the most practical time to completely change careers.

My mindset back then was simple: Let’s see how far I can take this. I didn’t have a master plan. I had a camera, a deep love for documenting families, and a quiet hope that I could build something meaningful here in the Triangle. I never imagined that journey would lead to being recognized as the best family photographer in Raleigh by WRAL viewers in their 2025 Voters’ Choice Awards.

Devin Desjarlais Photography is named the Best Family Photographer in Raleigh by WRAL viewers.

I didn’t even find out in a dramatic way. I’d just joined a local BNI chapter when another member casually congratulated me. I checked the WRAL website on my phone, stared at the screen, and then spent the rest of the day riding a not-so-quiet high that I didn’t quite know what to do with.

What This Recognition as Best Family Photographer in Raleigh Really Means

WRAL’s Voters’ Choice Awards are community-driven. Every year, people across Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill vote for the businesses and people who’ve made their lives a little better. Being chosen by viewers means more to me than any panel of judges ever could. It means families in this community felt seen by my work.

If you’re curious, you can see the full list of winners on WRAL’s site.

The Leap That Changed Everything

I walked away from a stable career while pregnant, knowing full well that it might not work. I’ve always been a hard worker, but in the beginning I overplanned everything. Lighting diagrams, detailed shot lists, etc. In-home sessions were the scariest because no two homes are alike. I couldn’t control the window placement, the paint colors, the clutter, or the chaos.

Now, those in-home sessions are where I feel the most confident.

Family with three young kids pose near a window during a professional in-home family photo session in Raleigh, NC.

I walk into a house I’ve never seen before and look for the story hiding inside it. A hallway that catches the last light before sunset. A kitchen that becomes the gathering place. A toddler who keeps running back to the same corner because that’s where they feel safe. There’s always something special to be found whether we’re shooting in an 80s-built home with no direct light, a small apartment, or a modern farmhouse.

Four Generations, One Living Room

My last session of 2025 was a four-generation family gathering. Eleven people visiting to celebrate a three-year-old’s birthday. The mom told me she wanted her daughter photographed surrounded by people who love her, and that she hoped to see herself and her husband reflected as strong partners navigating the chaos of hosting.

We didn’t have perfect light. It was two hours before sunset and the house didn’t give me much direct sunlight to work with. But the gallery that came from that session is one of my favorites of the year.

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When I delivered it, she wrote:

“These are really just incredible - I'm so overjoyed, I don't have any words… These photos make me forget how exhausted we were. Thank you.”

That’s the part of this job that still makes me emotional. Photos that don’t just show what life looked like, but how it felt. That’s what I carry with me.

Helping Families Feel Comfortable

Before sessions, moms often tell me they’re worried about their bodies. They don’t recognize themselves after kids. They’re nervous about being posed or not knowing what to do.

My job is to hold that worry for them so that they can lose themselves in the comfort of connecting with the people they love the most.

Lifestyle family photography isn’t about perfect posing. It’s about guiding families into natural connection and noticing the moments that matter for future generations.

When people tell me afterward that they felt seen, or that their photos made them forget how hard that season was, I know I’m doing something right.

What I’m Building Toward in 2026 as The Best Family Photographer in Raleigh

This year, I want to work intentionally with neurodiverse and medically complex families. I want to be a safe place for families whose stories aren’t always represented.

There is so much beauty in human difference. It deserves to be documented honestly and lovingly, to live on walls, in albums, and in memory.

Ready to Tell Your Story?

If you’ve been on the fence about booking a session, consider this your sign. You can reach out anytime. Thank you, Raleigh. This one belongs to all of you.