Around here, we believe in slowing down.
In a world that rushes by, The Long Way Home is about choosing the scenic route. The one where the windows are rolled down, the music’s playing low, and you can actually feel the moments as they pass.
This name isn’t just a title. It’s a way of life.
It’s about soaking in the everyday beauty, the chaos and the calm, the perfectly imperfect pieces of your story that make it yours. It’s about remembering that the best parts of life aren’t always the big, flashy ones. They’re the quiet glances, the muddy boots, the kitchen dance parties, the way your little one fits just right in your arms.
As a lifestyle and documentary photographer, I’m not here to pose you into someone you’re not. I’m here to tell your story exactly as it is, because that’s where the magic is.
So if you're the kind of person who finds the sacred in the simple, who believes that love is in the details and that life is worth documenting just as it is- welcome. You’re right where you’re meant to be.
SERVICES
Family & Couples
During your session, I’ll guide you through simple prompts, movement, and interaction rather than relying on stiff poses. You can expect a mix of natural candids, genuine connection, and more traditional portraits while still having plenty of freedom to simply enjoy your time together.
Most sessions run around an hour, with flexibility depending on what we’re doing and how the session unfolds.
Come for the setting. Stay for the experience. Leave with photographs that feel like you.
Day in the life
A Day in the Life session is a documentary photography experience where I spend several hours alongside your family, photographing your day as it naturally unfolds.
Rather than meeting for a traditional one-hour portrait session, I’ll join you for a portion of your normal routine. This could mean spending the morning at home, following you through a family outing, documenting an afternoon together, or capturing the rhythm of an entire day.
There’s no set list of poses or planned activities. I’ll observe, move with you, and photograph the interactions, routines, environments, and small details that make your family yours. I may offer gentle direction when needed, but for the most part, you simply continue your day while I document it.
The result is a more complete visual record of your family—your people, your places, your routines, and the in-between moments that a traditional portrait session often misses.
Think of it as having a photographer hang out with your family for a few hours and document the story as it happens.
Intimate Ceremonies
For couples who want their wedding day to feel personal, intentional, and centered around the people and moments that matter most.
I photograph intimate ceremonies, including elopements, small weddings, vow renewals, and meaningful celebrations with your closest people. These days can take place at your favorite location, in your own backyard, or here on my property.
My approach is documentary with gentle direction when needed. I’ll photograph the ceremony as it unfolds, along with the quiet moments before, the interactions between family and friends, portraits, details, and everything in between.
Whether you’re exchanging vows with just the two of you or gathering your closest people for a small celebration, your day doesn’t have to be elaborate to deserve to be documented beautifully.
Small doesn’t mean insignificant.
Portfolio
See My Work
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Barbara & Her Babies
We spent the afternoon letting the little moments lead the way—bare feet in the grass, shared smiles, quiet snuggles, and the kind of tenderness only a mama can offer.
It was soft and slow and full of light—the kind that shines brightest in the in-between.
These are the stories found along the way.
CONOVERS
Five girls. One mama and daddy full of love. And a connection that runs deep.
This session felt like a front-row seat to something sacred—joy wrapped in chaos, giggles echoing through the trees, and hands held in every direction. The Conovers are the kind of family that reminds you what really matters: faith, togetherness, and soaking in the beauty of the present moment.
Makayla, Cody & Cash
You’d never know it was freezing the day we shot this session. The wind was sharp, the chill was real—but the warmth between these three made it feel like the middle of spring.
Makayla and Cody have this quiet, steady kind of love that wraps around Cash like a second blanket. They laughed, they snuggled in close, and they made every moment feel effortless. Cash ran around with pink cheeks and the biggest grin, totally unbothered by the cold—just happy to be sandwiched between some of his favorite people.
Blog
Behind the scenes, stories and more.
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Behind the Scenes
In the "Behind the Scenes" section of my blog, I invite you to peek into the world of photography like never before. Explore the meticulous planning and spontaneous creativity that fuel my sessions. Every photo has a story and a process, and this blog is dedicated to unveiling the secrets that turn ordinary moments into extraordinary memories. Come along and discover what happens before I hit the shutter!
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Stories
My journey as a photographer has been filled with unforgettable experiences, love, and laughter. I've been fortunate to document the craziest and sweetest stories from my clients, each one more unique than the last. Every click of the camera is like capturing a fragment of time, a story waiting to be told.
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More
I specialize in making your photography experience as seamless as possible. Whether you’re nervous about posing or unsure about what to wear, I’m here to guide you with helpful tips designed to make your session fun and stress-free. With advice on handling those tricky moments with kids, plus creative ways to keep your hands busy, I ensure that the focus remains on capturing the special moments of your life. Let's embark on this journey to create beautiful memories together!
REVIEWS
Clients turned friends
Contact Us
Hi, I'm Courtney Lusk - Your Photographer
I’m not here to capture
perfection. I’m here to tell the truth. The soft, gritty, love-drenched truth of your life.
I'm a mama, a photographer, and a collector of the little things.
I’m a mama to three wild kids, a lover of wide-open skies and late-summer light, and someone who knows how quickly time slips by when you’re not paying attention.
I found photography somewhere in the middle of motherhood. Between the noise and the chaos, I discovered something sacred in being able to stop for a moment and really see what was happening. A photograph can hold onto a feeling long after the moment itself has passed.
That’s what I believe photography should do—feel real, raw, organic, and unmistakably yours.
Welcome to Dogwood Hollow
Most of my sessions take place on our family property, Dogwood Hollow. We gave it that name when we first moved in, confidently—and mistakenly—believing the redbuds were dogwoods. The name stuck anyway.
Now it’s a place of winding trails, quiet woods, open skies, and water—a place where families can slow down, explore, and simply be together.
Whether we're wandering the property, settling into the greenhouse, chasing little ones through the grass, or documenting your family right at home, my goal is the same:
To give you photographs that don't just show what your family looked like, but remind you what this season felt like.
