I realized that moms who wanted family sessions were moms like me~ we want to be in the pictures, we want our kids to remember that we loved them, we played with them, and we took joy in their childhood.

You can read the full feature here: Canvas Rebel – Meet Carissa Photopoulos

If there’s one fact about me, it’s this—I have never had a plan a day in my life. No five-year roadmap, no meticulously outlined goals. Instead, I’ve always relied on my intuition to guide me, and so far, it’s worked out pretty well!

This is why I do what I do.

This is why I believe in capturing real moments- not just posed smiles, but laughter, movement, and connection. Your family photos should feel like family time. Your kids should be able to be themselves, to play, to giggle, to snuggle up with you without worrying about looking perfect. Because years from now, when time has moved forward and all you have left are the memories, these are the moments you’ll want to hold onto.

Looking back, it feels like this studio was waiting for us all along. We’ve had so many moments where we looked at houses or buildings and thought, Wouldn’t that be great? But for one reason or another, they weren’t the right fit. This one? This one was different.

Most of all, I’m excited to serve the Wausau community- capturing memories, creating beautiful portraits, and offering a space where families can celebrate the moments that matter most. I can’t wait to welcome you into the Studio!

This tree was one of the first plants to show signs of life this spring. The soft, fuzzy catkins grew in early and slowly bloomed out into these yellow and orange blossoms until quickly drooping and giving way to soft green leaves.

This lunar event was the perfect way to get Everett excited for summer school. When I told him that we were almost done with homeschool for the summer, he said he didn’t want to stop learning- and what an excellent way to show him that learning doesn’t just happen at the kitchen table, but all around us as we experience the Earth and build a life we can be excited about.

Check out a few of the pictures as the moon moved into our shadow and turned that epic red color of the Blood Moon!

I just love these dreamy leaves, with all the blur and bokeh in the background! This right here is why I needed a macro lens. And yes, it was definitely a need versus a want!