10/23/2026
💕 A LITTLE REINTRODUCTION… AND THE HEART BEHIND MY TEEN TEAMS 💕
Today has been one of those BUSY photography days! I’ve been catching up on editing, getting ready for Christmas minis, had a senior reveal, and spent time on FaceTime calls with families who have applied for my 2028 Senior Team and Teen Squad. And honestly, after one of those calls, I found myself thinking about something…
I need to reintroduce myself. 🥹
Especially to all the moms who are new to following me or who may have heard about my teams but don’t really know me, my heart, or WHY I do what I do.
It’s hard to fit all of that into a website, a blog post, or even a social media caption. But when I sit down for a FaceTime call with a teen and her mom, I feel like it all comes together. They get to hear my heart, ask questions, and understand that these teams are about so much more than showing up for pictures.
So, if we’ve never met, let me tell you a little about me and why I do this. 💗
About eight years ago, I took a leap of faith. I left my career as a web developer and stepped into the world of photography. It was a big change, but I truly believe there’s a reason I’ve been led down this path.
Before photography, I spent more than 18 years teaching Sunday school to young children. I’ve always loved encouraging kids, investing in their lives, and helping them feel loved and seen. And while my role looks different now, that heart hasn’t changed.
I sometimes say I run my photography business like a ministry. And I want to explain what I mean by that because I know that phrase can mean different things to different people.
I don’t mean that I’m going to preach to your teen or push my beliefs on your family. That’s not what I’m talking about.
I mean that I want to be a GOOD adult in your teen’s life. ❤️
I want to be someone who cheers them on, encourages them, celebrates their accomplishments, notices their strengths, and reminds them of the things that make them special.
I want to come alongside YOU as their parent during this season of life. You are their mom, their biggest advocate, and the person who knows them best. I’m not trying to take your place. I simply want to be another person in their corner who genuinely cares about them.
And yes, I absolutely want to create beautiful photographs of your teen! That’s the heart of my business, and I take that part seriously. But I also want the experience surrounding those photographs to mean something.
THAT is why I created my Senior Team and Teen Squad. 🫶🏻
Here’s what I hope your teen experiences when they become part of one of my teams:
💕 A place to belong. A place where they can meet new people, form genuine friendships, and feel welcomed and included.
💕 Encouragement instead of competition. I want teens who celebrate each other, cheer each other on, and genuinely want to see their friends succeed. No voting, no competing for attention, and no unnecessary drama.
💕 Growing confidence. I love watching teens become more comfortable in front of my camera, but even more than that, I love watching them become more comfortable being themselves. Seeing the changes from our first meet and greet to later in the year is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.
💕 Memories that go beyond the photographs. Yes, we’ll have beautiful individual sessions, but we’ll also have group shoots, games, laughter, adventures, service projects, and opportunities to make memories together. These teens get to experience something special alongside people who are becoming their friends.
💕 A safe, encouraging environment. I want these teens to feel comfortable being themselves, laughing, trying something new, and knowing they have people around them who want them to do well.
💕 Someone who sees them. Not just how they look in a photograph, but who they are as a person. Their personality, their quirks, their interests, their dreams, and all the little things that make them uniquely THEM.
And there’s one more thing I want to explain because I know some parents wonder why we start so EARLY! 😂
Why does Senior Team start in January when these teens are still juniors?
Because friendships take time!
We don’t just show up for one group photo shoot in the summer and expect everyone to instantly feel comfortable with one another.
We start with a meet and greet. We play games. We spend time getting to know each other. We have opportunities to connect before the big group events begin.
So when summer rolls around and we’re doing our first big group adventures before senior year, these teens aren’t walking into a room full of strangers. They’ve already met. They’ve already laughed together. They’ve already started building friendships.
And that changes EVERYTHING!
The group sessions become more fun, the laughter comes more naturally, and the friendships have room to grow throughout the year. By the time senior year arrives, they’ve shared experiences and created memories that go far beyond a single photo session.
That’s what I want for these teens. An experience they can look back on and remember with a smile.
Will every teen become best friends with every other team member? Of course not! They’re individuals with different personalities, interests, and lives. But I work hard to create an environment where everyone is encouraged to be kind, include others, and celebrate one another.
Because I believe we can create something really special when we bring the right group of teens together.
And moms, I want you to know something else…
I don’t take it lightly when you trust me with your teen. I know how quickly these years pass. I know senior year comes with a lot of changes, decisions, excitement, and sometimes uncertainty, too.
I want you to feel good about the person you’re trusting to photograph your child and the experience they’re going to have.
I’m a mom of two young adults who are now in college. I’ve spent years pouring into kids, and I know how important it is for our teens to have people around them who believe in them, encourage them, and remind them that they matter.
That’s the heart behind what I do.
It’s why I take the time to get to know your teen before booking. It’s why I want to meet you on FaceTime. It’s why I care about the atmosphere of these teams and the way the teens treat one another. And it’s why I’m just as happy to celebrate their personalities and accomplishments as I am to show off their gorgeous photographs.
The photographs are important. The experience is important. And the PEOPLE are important. 💗
If you’re a mom who has been following along and wondering what my teams are all about, I hope this gives you a little glimpse into my heart.
And if you’re the mom of a current junior or a teen in grades 9–11, my applications are open for the 🎉 2028 Senior Team and Teen Squad! 🎉
I’d love for you to learn more about what each team includes. You can find the details on my website, and if you think it might be a good fit for your teen, the next step is to apply!
I schedule FaceTime calls with applicants and their parents because I want us to get to know each other, answer questions, and make sure the experience feels like a good fit.
Thank you for being here, for following my little corner of the photography world, and for trusting me with such an important season in your teens’ lives.
I’m Jenn, the photographer behind Jenn McKinney Photography here in Cary, NC, and I’m so glad you’re here. 🩷
And if we’ve never met, please say hello in the comments! I’d love to get to know you, too. 🫶🏻
