Durham Family Photographer

Carolyn Scott is a Durham family photographer. She specializes in candid and documentary at-home family photography in the Triangle area (Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cary, etc). Carolyn’s work has been published in several popular books and magazines, including Apartment Therapy, BuzzFeed, and Fangoria. Locally, she’s been voted Best Photographer in Durham Magazine’s Best Of Durham and INDY Week’s Best of the Triangle. She lives in South Durham with her husband Geoff and three cats.

Sara+Joe+Julian // Durham Family Photographer

Sara and Joe are some of our best friends and neighbors. Wonderful movie-watchers, concert-goers, and extremely reliable when you text them on vacation because you left your alarm on and it’s been going off for hours and the cats are upset, or there’s an invasion of ants in your kitchen. We adore them. Geoff and I photographed their wedding back in 2015 (!) and then we ran into Joe in the parking lot of Harris Teeter at like, 10pm some random weeknight a year later and then we all started hanging out. They’re good people and we love them. And now they have Julian, a toddler who is constantly competing for Cutest Baby in the Land, and does so by growing his eyes bigger every day. He is… INSANELY cute. It’s like if you were to ask someone to draw a very cute toddler, it would just be a picture of Julian. Julian is obsessed with cats (the only way to be) and spends his time frantically chasing after his older feline siblings, Cloud and Usagi, while calling after them in a comically high-pitched voice. It’s my favorite thing to witness. The cats aren’t sure how to handle this yet. Max the dog, however, dutifully follows Julian around, waiting for him to drop a bit of food on the ground that he can pick up. Max is one of my very favorite dogs, and was the first dog to ever cuddle with me. He still cuddles with me during movies and it continues to be a great honor. I love all the people and animals that live in this house, and it was so fun to photograph them all in one space. Thank you guys – for turning off my alarm and for being great friends.

Dog laying in green grass
Parents playing at water table with son
Kid playing at water table
Toddler giving mom a high five outside
Parents playing at water table with toddler
Dog eating treat
Parents playing outside at water table with toddler
Portrait of a dog licking his lips in the grass
Toddler swinging on swing
Toddler swinging on swing
Toddler swinging on swing
Mom pushing toddler on a swing
Mom pushing toddler on a swing
Mom carrying toddler
Toddler using tiny slide in yard
Toddler using tiny slide in yard
Toddler using tiny slide in yard
Toddler using tiny slide in yard
Dad tossing smiling toddler in the air during photos
Family photos at home
Family photos at home
Durham family photographer
Durham family photographer
Durham family photographer
At home family photographer in Durham NC
At home family photographer in Durham NC
Toddler shoes
Toddler standing with parents on swing
Toddler and dog portrait
At home family photographers in Durham NC
Toddler standing in living room holding remote control
Toddler standing in living room holding remote control
Toddler standing in living room holding remote control
Shy cat
Woman carrying cat
Shy cat peering around corner
Toddler crawling on floor
Cat eating treat through a stair railing
Dad carrying toddler up the stairs
Toddler chasing after cat
Family sitting on the couch in their living room
Cat peering at photographer
Family sitting on the couch in their living room
Toddler drinking milk on the floor
Toddler drinking milk on the floor
Toddler drinking milk on the floor
Dog lying in bed
Family carrying toddler up the stairs
Cat and dog on the stairs
Toddler sitting in big chair in his room
Toddler sitting in big chair in his room
Toddler sitting in big chair in his room
Parents reading a book to a toddler in front of wallpaper during family photographs in Durham NC
Parents reading a book to a toddler in front of wallpaper during family photographs in Durham NC
Parents reading a book to a toddler in front of wallpaper during family photographs in Durham NC
Parents reading a book to a toddler in front of wallpaper during family photographs in Durham NC
Parents reading a book to a toddler in front of wallpaper during family photographs in Durham NC
Parents reading a book to a toddler in front of wallpaper during family photographs in Durham NC
Kid plays with toy dinosaurs on bed
Mom reads book to son on the floor
Mom reads book to son on the floor
Little kid looks out window
Little kid looks out window
Little kid looks out window
Little kid looks out window
Little kid looks out window
Little kid looks out window
Shy cat peers out cat door
Family Photographer - Sara+Joe+Julian // Durham Family Photographer
Family Photographer - Sara+Joe+Julian // Durham Family Photographer
Family Photographer - Sara+Joe+Julian // Durham Family Photographer
Parents laugh while making brownies with toddler
Parents laugh while making brownies with toddler
Parents laugh while making brownies with toddler
Durham at home candid photography with family
Kid helps making brownies
Toddler helps make brownies with parents
Toddler helps make brownies with parents
Toddler helps make brownies with parents
Toddler helps make brownies with parents
Toddler helps make brownies with parents
Toddler helps make brownies with parents
Toddler helps make brownies with parents
Toddler helps make brownies with parents
Toddler helps make brownies with parents
Kid sits on couch with his parents
Mom puts shoes on toddler
Mom kisses toddler on the cheek
Mom gives toddler a hug
Group hug family portraits Durham NC
Group hug family portraits Durham NC
Group hug family portraits Durham NC
Couple portraits at home in Durham
Couple portraits at home in Durham
Couple portraits at home in Durham
Couple holding their dog during pictures
Couple holding their dog during pictures
Couple sitting on backyard swing and laughing
Couple sitting on backyard swing and laughing
Couple sitting on backyard swing and laughing
Couple holding baby on swing
Close-up portrait of couple with heads together
Close-up portrait of couple with heads together
Portrait of couple in their backyard
Dad puts son into swing
Kid swinging in his backyard
Kid swinging in his backyard
Parents playing with dog and kid in yard
Dad holding son
Parents playing with bubbles and kid
Parents playing with bubbles and kid
Parents playing with bubbles and kid
Parents playing with bubbles and kid
Parents playing with bubbles and kid
Toddler holding his feet
Toddler portrait
Kid getting ready to eat with jacket
Kid getting ready to eat with jacket
Dog watching toddler eat

Amy+Ben+Nathan+Avi // Raleigh Photographer

I do believe that this blog post calls for a wonderful celebratory dance as it marks the 7th time I’ve photographed Amy & Ben! Which means I’ve also photographed Lucy & Elaine (adorable cats!) at least four times, and Nathan three times (four times there as well if you count in utero). This is, however, my very first time photographing Avi, and my first time photographing the DeLorean (very important). We had a great time! Last time I saw Nathan, he was pretty young and not yet a NASA engineer/astronaut. Now he’s 5 and definitely a NASA engineer/astronaut. This kid knows more about the scientific and robotic aspects of rockets than any adult I know. I couldn’t follow the science or math of anything he said because I’ve always been more of an English class sort of girl, but it sounded official, and he had many books that he referenced to back him up. I have zero doubt that he will one day go to space. Avi is cool with space and everything, but he’s much more interested in becoming my protege or having any job that requires him to press a lot of buttons. He liked my camera. A lot. He liked taking selfies and he liked pressing the shutter button and he tried multiple times to press the format button and also to take video. Maybe a photographer, maybe a director — definitely in the film industry or at a control switch with the most buttons ever. Oh oh, we could potentially have a brother NASA duo on our hands, and Avi could control the giant switchboard that launches the rockets. There has to be one enormous button to push to launch the rocket, right? I don’t know the answer to that, but I’m sure Nathan does. Love these folks and their brilliant kids and beautiful felines!

Cats in the sun
Family portrait smiling together on couch
Family portrait smiling together on couch
Parents goofing around with kids on couch
Dad smiling with sons on couch
Mom playing with sons on couch
Black and white photo of family in living room
Worried toddler looks at camera
Parents laughing at kids playing in the living room during family pictures
Parents laughing at kids playing in the living room during family pictures
Brothers running down the hallway
Kid jumping on the couch
Parents playing with kids on the couch
Kid running down the hallway
Mom dancing with sons on the couch
Mom helping son jump on the couch
Dad smiling at sons
Brothers playing on the couch
Brothers playing on the couch
Brothers playing on the couch
Tabby cat in the sun
Family sitting together on the couch
Boy playing with firetruck on the couch
Son dancing with his mom on the couch
Toddler smiling at the camera
Toddler taking selfie with camera
Toddler taking selfie with camera
Cat sleeping in a sunbeam
Boy holding a camera
Dad showing son how to work a camera
Kid looking at a camera
Toddler laying on couch
Toddler laying on couch
Kid taking a picture of a photographer
Kid being held upside down by his dad
Kid being held upside down by his dad
Kid running up the steps
Kid running up the steps
Toddler walking up the steps with his mom
Brothers walking down the hallway
Son opening shutters to his room
Kids helping mom open shutters
Kid opening his closet door
Raleigh family photographer
Kid playing with rocket toy
Kid playing with rocket toy
Dad playing with son
Mom helping son put on socks
Mom helping son put on socks
Kid smiling into the camera
Family walking out to uncover DeLorean
Raleigh family portrait photographer
Raleigh family photographer
Family pictures with a DeLorean in Raleigh
Family pictures with a DeLorean in Raleigh
Family pictures with a DeLorean in Raleigh
Family pictures with a DeLorean in Raleigh
Family pictures with a DeLorean in Raleigh
Family pictures with a DeLorean in Raleigh
Family pictures with a DeLorean in Raleigh
Family pictures with a DeLorean in Raleigh
Family pictures with a DeLorean in Raleigh
Family pictures with a DeLorean in Raleigh
Family pictures with a DeLorean in Raleigh
Family pictures with a DeLorean in Raleigh
Kid pushing his bike around the yard
Kid pushing his bike around the yard
Kids riding bikes around the yard
Kid playing soccer while wearing a helmet
Kid playing soccer while wearing a helmet
Kid playing soccer while wearing a helmet
Kids using backyard swingset
Kids using backyard swingset
Mom walking upstairs holding toddler
Brothers playing on bed
Boy sitting on bed at parents house
Raleigh family photographers
Raleigh family photographers
Kids playing on parents' bed
Kids playing on parents' bed
Dad hugging son
Kids playing on bed
Mom holding son
Kid playing on bed during family pictures
Kid playing on bed during family pictures
Kid playing on bed during family pictures
Kid playing on bed during family pictures
Kid playing on bed during family pictures
Kid playing on bed during family pictures

Jen+Jon+Declan+Rhett // Raleigh Newborn Photographer

It’s only been a few months since I photographed these dear friends of ours, but a lot has happened since November! Jen, Jon, Declan and family doggo extraordinaire SamSam welcomed baby Rhett into the family in April! He is adorable and a very good baby indeed. He stayed awake most of the time I was there; Jen and I presumed it was because he recognized my voice from all of our themed horror movie nights that involve good snacks, and figured good snacks would be involved. SamSam, doggo extraordinaire, knew good snacks would be involved (at least for her), and she was right. Declan wasn’t sure if there would be snacks or not, but he took great delight in alternatively watching big trucks on their road doing construction and running up and down the hallway calling Jon by his first name after he heard me say it. When he wasn’t doing those two things, he was being a phenomenal older brother to Rhett, whom he loves dearly. Declan is genuinely excited to have Rhett around and his spirits aren’t dampened one bit (I’m assuming because Rhett doesn’t know how to operate Declan’s mini Target shopping cart yet). I’m so happy for this new family of 5 and can’t wait to get to know Rhett!

Toddler standing in hallway
Toddler holding his baby brother for family photographs
Family sitting together and smiling on bed for family photos in Raleigh
Family sitting together and smiling on bed for family photos in Raleigh
Family reading a book on the bed together
Family reading a book on the bed together
Family reading a book on the bed together
Family reading a book on the bed together
Dog sitting on the bed with mom and newborn
Documentary family photography in Raleigh NC
Toddler climbing off the bed
Parents tending to newborn baby
Mom and Dad holding newborn baby in Raleigh NC
Dad holding baby at newborn photography session
Black and white closeup of dad holding newborn baby
Mom holding newborn baby in green dress
Parents admiring their newborn baby in Raleigh NC family portraits
Black and white photo of toddler jumping on the bed
Toddler jumping on the bed with black dog
Toddler jumping on the bed with black dog
Toddler jumping on the bed with dad while Mom sits with baby and dog
Mom helping toddler jump on the bed while Dad sits and holds baby
Mom helping toddler jump on the bed while Dad sits and holds baby
Documentary at-home family photography in Raleigh NC
Toddler being held upside down and laughing
Toddler being held upside down and laughing
Newborn baby swaddle with dragon mobile
Family photos at home
Simple newborn baby photos with dragon toy
Family laughing and playing with toddler
Family laughing and playing with toddler
Toddler looking at himself in mirror
Family laughing and playing with toddler
Parents reading to toddler in his room
Parents reading to toddler in his room