Meet Lara Greenwood | South Florida newborn, maternity, family Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lara Greenwood and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lara, what is the most important factor behind your success?
Simply put, I believe it is prioritizing client care. Truly what I hope has made me successful in my business is making my clients always feel cared for and supported. Maternity and newborn portraits especially are a taken at a deeply personal time in your life. I direct my clients through the whole experience from styling and newborn safety to clear timelines and communication so clients can relax, be present and enjoy their session. I want all my clients to feel confident they are fully supported so they can simply relax and enjoy their session. It is a moment to slow down and be in the moment.

Behind the scenes, I run streamlined policies, I am proactive with updates and a offer a start to finish process that removes guesswork from first inquiry to delivery of client artwork. The result is trust. When clients feel cared for and never have to wonder “what’s next”, they come back, they refer friends and my business grows on reputation.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I didn’t always call what I do “art.” For years I was just a mom with a camera and when I became a professional there was a big mindset shift I had to make. My work IS art and meaningful art as well. I am responsible for freezing a moment, a memory, a feeling. I had to make a conscience effort to shift my mindset and it was not easy. When I stopped watching other photographers and started building sessions around what inspired me and the client I am working with I saw the creativity and the art. I focused on a calm approach with clean styling, and portraits designed to live on as heirlooms, not just files on a phone. That’s my vibe, neutral, classic and deeply personal with a big dose of fun.
Getting here wasn’t easy. I battled imposter syndrome, and made plenty of mistakes. I invested in education, and shot relentlessly. I learned to lead clients with confidence, guiding parents through the session so they can relax instead of directing every frame. When families trust me to make the decisions, the work is better and the experience is actually more enjoyable for them and makes it more of an experience than a chore. The biggest compliment is when clients tell me how much they enjoyed their session and how it wasn’t awkward or tiring.
What sets me apart is the combination of creativity and service: I handle everything, styling, prep, newborn safety, timelines, clear communication so parents can be present. Every type of session has their own tempo and vibe but I know I hit the mark when clients come back as their families grow or give my name to others.
What I have learned that as an artist, is that you are your edge. I LOVE this work, and I want every client to see and feel that when we work together. When a mom tears up seeing her baby’s portraits, that fuels me every time. A new life begins and families evolve and I’m honored to document it. My brand is relationship-driven so you can slow down, love on your people and let me handle the rest. Twenty years from now I want you look at your photographs and feel the day all over again.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was coming for a week we’d have a hard time narrowing South Florida’s options. Our base would be in Fort Lauderdale, start with coffee and a stroll on Las Olas, then see the city by Water Taxi along the Intracoastal and New River. There aren’t many places you can hop on and off a boat to explore. I’d mix in a beach day, a bike ride through Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, and a little Old-Florida charm at the Bonnet House, then a dock-and-dine seafood dinner at Coconuts.
A couple of days would be spent in Miami. We must include stops in the Design District for some retail therapy and book a table at Cote for some Korean BBQ. A must is my favorite food tour on Calle Ocho in Little Havana, grab a Cafecito, a classic Cubano and people watch at Domino Park. We will make sure to have beach time and watch the sunset on Biscayne Bay.
I would totally add in an airboat ride at the Miccosukee Airboat Park to soak up the Everglades, and if it’s hockey season, we’re absolutely catching a Florida Panthers game
Finally, it is necessary to sit by the pool and just take it all in and relax.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My inspiration, motivation and support is always going to be about the people in my life. While I technically work alone, I’m never on my own. I have so much support around me. First is always my family. They roll with my ever-changing schedule, listen to every post-session mental download and keep me sane—–ish.
And giving credit or a shoutout where it is due, I probably wouldn’t have started this business without my most tenacious, encouraging, supportive friend Nancy. She spent years watching me photograph our kids and kept pushing me to go pro. I took the leap because Nancy wouldn’t let me play small. She believed first and is still my biggest hype girl all these years later.
After a few years in business finding my creative rhythm and settling on the experience I wanted for clients. I realized I needed to lean into the business side of things if I wanted to grow and be more successful. That really clicked when I connected with Jessica Cramer of Matt Cramer Photography in Los Angeles, a fellow newborn photographer who was clearly excelling in a very competitive market. Our casual conversations turned into formal mentoring, and it was the best decision I could’ve made. Jessica’s guidance on all things Google, SEO, and marketing paired with her encouragement, care and endless patience completely rebuilt how I run the backend of my business. The results have been immeasurable. I can’t imagine a mentor who could have had a bigger impact on my business for now and the future.

And finally my clients deserve a huge shoutout. They’re the best. Building lasting relationships is super important to me. Families come for maternity, return with their newborn, and then bring me back for milestones and yearly family sessions. They introduce me to sisters, neighbors, and friends, and suddenly we’ve got a whole little community. These aren’t just customers; they’re clients and true ambassadors. They keep the momentum going.

Website: https://www.laragreenwoodphotography.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laragreenwoodphotography/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lara-greenwood-26996591/

Twitter: https://x.com/lgwoodbaby`

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenwoodbabyphoto/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaraGreenwoodPhotography/shorts

Other: For clients to contact me please direct them to www.laragreenwoodphotography.com/contact

Image Credits
All me!!