Susanna Tanner Photography

06/23/2026

There is something incredibly powerful about women supporting women.

One of the things I love most about entrepreneurship is the way it creates opportunities for connection, collaboration, and community. Behind every small business is a person with a story, a dream, and the courage to keep showing up and I believe there is room for us to support and celebrate one another along the way.

This collaboration is such a beautiful reminder that community matters.

When local businesses come together, when women encourage one another, and when we choose connection over competition, it creates something so much bigger than business alone. It strengthens the heart of our community.

I’m so grateful to collaborate with people who value authenticity, creativity, and uplifting others. Because at the end of the day, entrepreneurship is not meant to be built alone.

Tag a local woman-owned business you love below.

06/23/2026

There is something incredibly rewarding about seeing a collaborative project come to life right in our own backyard.

If you’ve been driving around Richmond recently, you might have noticed the new billboard for First Bank Richmond. I was thrilled to be the photographer behind the image for this campaign. A huge thank you to First Bank and Irongate IronGate Creative for a fantastic partnership—it’s local businesses working together that keeps our community moving forward.

Next time you're out and about, take a look up!

06/19/2026

50 Over 50: One of the best parts of 50 over 50, for me, is being inspired by each one of the participants. Meet Willadean.

"It’s been a very long time since I have done anything remotely close to feeling more like myself … with life, unexpected tragedy and an unwavering, relentless wave of grief, this photo shoot was very much overdue,” she said.

To understand the depth of Willadean’s smile in these photos, one must understand the road she’s walked. Married to her high school sweetheart for over 40 years, they were living the dream with three children and a "bonus" child—a life of "crazy, fun-loving chaos." Then, tragedy struck.

Willadean became a bereaved mother, not once, but twice. Both of her adult daughters passed away just a few years apart.

"The silence is deafening, the pain is crippling, and the waves of grief can come crashing down at any time," she shares. "Grief is a funny animal, kind of like an ‘elephant in the room’… everyone knows it's there but walks right past us. We are just trying to survive the most unnatural thing one could imagine: outliving your children."

Read her story and see her beautiful photos at https://www.susannatannerphotography.com/blog/willadean-short-50-over-50-vol2

Hair and Makeup: Whitney Mosey
Model: Willadean Short

For Willadean, stepping into the studio wasn't just about a photograph; it was about doing something "completely out of the box." It was a first-time experience, a checked-off item on a lifetime bucket list, and a rare moment to do something solely for herself. She arrived as a self-descr

06/18/2026

“I’ll book photos after I lose weight.”
“I’m not photogenic.”
“I need more confidence first.”

These are some of the most common things I hear from women before they book a session.

And truthfully?
The biggest lie women believe is that they have to become someone different before they deserve to be seen.

You do not have to earn your place in front of the camera.

You are worthy of being documented in this season of life exactly as you are right now. Not 20 pounds from now. Not when you feel more confident. Not when life feels more put together.

So many women walk into their session nervous and leave seeing themselves differently than they did before.

Not because they changed who they were but because they finally allowed themselves to be seen.

Comment “CONFIDENCE” and I’ll send you my free photoshoot confidence guide.

06/15/2026

Portrait photography should feel like YOU.

Not overly posed.
Not forced.
Not like you’re trying to fit into someone else’s idea of who you should be.

One of my favorite things about portrait photography is that no two sessions are ever the same because no two people are the same. Some sessions feel bold and expressive. Some feel soft and reflective. Some are playful, creative, professional, artistic, confident, quiet… and sometimes all of those things at once.

And honestly? That’s the beauty of being human.

You do not have to fit yourself into one category to be worthy of being photographed. You are allowed to be multifaceted. You are allowed to hold strength and softness, confidence and vulnerability, professionalism and creativity all at the same time.

Your portraits should reflect the fullness of who you are in this season of life, not just one version of you.

That’s always my goal when I pick up my camera.

I would love to know which one feels like you the most, slide 1, 2 or 3? Perhaps you feel like ALL the above are you, and that's okay too. We are mult-faceted as humans.

06/11/2026

Bo***ir is often misunderstood. People see the photos, but what they don’t always see is the transformation that happens during the experience itself.

So many women walk into their session nervous, unsure, or carrying years of self-criticism. And somewhere between the quiet moments, the encouragement, the vulnerability, and allowing themselves to simply be seen… something shifts.

Bo***ir is not just about confidence. It’s also about softness.

It’s about reconnecting with yourself outside of the roles you carry every day. Giving yourself permission to feel powerful, feminine, vulnerable, strong, and worthy all at the same time.

The most beautiful part is that empowerment doesn’t always look loud. Sometimes it looks like finally seeing yourself with kindness.

I wrote more about why I believe every woman should experience a bo***ir session at least once on the blog.

Read more at the link in my bio.

06/09/2026

One of the greatest gifts of this work is getting to walk alongside people through different seasons of life hearing their stories, witnessing their strength, and creating space for them to feel seen.

When Willadean shared these words with me, I was deeply moved:

“You inspired my confidence, deepened my faith, and challenged me to push a little further than I’ve been allowing myself to do…”

Her journey is her own, but I think so many of us know what it feels like to keep moving forward even when life feels heavy. To keep going even when our faith, confidence, or strength has been shaken.

I’m endlessly grateful for the people who trust me enough to step in front of my camera and share part of their story with me. It is never something I take lightly.

Our journeys may all look different, but there is something beautiful about reminding each other we do not have to walk them alone.

06/04/2026

Congratulations, Class of 2026! 🎓

Senior year is such a meaningful season. It’s a chapter filled with change, excitement, uncertainty, growth, and so many moments you don’t fully realize you’ll miss until they’ve passed.

That’s why I love senior portraits so much.

These sessions are about more than cap and gown photos or yearbook deadlines. They’re about capturing personality, confidence, individuality, and the season of life you’re stepping out of and into all at once.

I want my seniors to feel comfortable being themselves in front of my camera. Whether you’re outgoing, quiet, creative, athletic, artistic, or somewhere in between, your session should reflect YOU.

Years from now, these images become more than photos. They become reminders of who you were in this moment and all the possibility that was ahead of you.

To the Class of 2027, I cannot wait to celebrate your story.

06/02/2026

Your marketing might not be broken.
Your audience just can’t feel you yet.

In a world full of content, people are not only looking for information anymore they’re looking for connection. They want to understand who you are, what you value, and what it feels like to work with you.

That’s why your visuals matter so much.

Photography is often the first emotional connection someone has with your business before they ever inquire, book, or buy. The right images tell your story without you having to say a word. They build trust, create familiarity, and help people feel connected to the human behind the brand.

People don’t connect with perfection. They connect with authenticity, presence, and emotion.

Sometimes the shift your business needs isn’t more marketing.
It’s allowing people to actually see and feel the heart behind what you do.

What’s one thing you wish people understood about your business from just looking at your page?

05/30/2026

A Final Reminder to Honor a Courageous Woman

Time is running out to gift a beautiful experience to someone who has faced a breast cancer diagnosis.

Thanks to the generosity of the Women’s Fund of Wayne County and the Deer Family Foundation, we are gifting a fully funded, luxury portrait session to a survivor or fighter in our community. This is a day meant to pamper her, hold space for her story, and celebrate her incredible strength.

If you know a woman who deserves to be seen and celebrated—or if that woman is you—please take a moment to nominate her today.

The Deadline is June 1st
How to Nominate:

Visit susannatannerphotography.com/50-over-50.

Scroll to the very bottom of the page to find the brief form.

Share a piece of her journey with us.

Let's make sure her resilience is honored.