At the heart of every stunning newborn or family portrait is a story—not just of the people in the photo, but of the person behind the camera. Bonnie Raley, owner of Bonnie Raley Photography, has spent the last 15 years helping families across West Chester, the Main Line, and the greater Philadelphia area capture the moments that matter most. What started as a new mom’s frustration with a chaotic photo session quickly turned into a passionate, purpose-driven business that’s brought joy to hundreds of families.
In this interview, Bonnie shares how a shower curtain and some backyard flowers launched her career, what makes her home studio so special, and why wrangling toddlers is her secret superpower. She also opens up about building a strong “She Squad”, finding balance as a mom of three, and how Concihairge has helped simplify her busy life with in-home hair services that feel like self-care.
Whether you’re a fellow creative, a busy parent looking for a photographer who gets it, or a woman dreaming of turning your passion into a business—you’ll find inspiration in Bonnie’s story.
Bonnie Raley Photography
Hi, my name is Bonnie. I am with Bonnie Raley Photography. I am a newborn, baby, child, and family photographer. I have been in business for 15 years.
What inspired you to start your photography business and what problems were you hoping to solve for moms?
I started my business soon after my daughter was born. When she was about six months old, I took her to Picture People and found the experience to be pretty chaotic. The lightbulb went off and I thought “I want to do this myself!”
So, I ran to The Dollar Store. I bought a backdrop, which was a shower curtain. I grabbed some flowers out of the yard and started photographing my daughter while she was sitting on her bed. It was so clear – THIS is what I wanted to do. I got a business license before I even really knew how to shoot manually on my camera.
As far as problems, I hope to solve… I wouldn’t say there aren’t any problems, really. I’m just obsessed with photographing families. I love it so much and it’s just been my favorite thing ever for the last 15 years.
Bonnie Raley Photography
What makes Bonnie Raley Photography different from other photography experiences, and how do you think that it’s impacting your clients?
There’s a ton of talent in this area, and I would actually say I’m not doing anything wildly different than others. However, one thing I’ll proudly toot my own horn about: I’m really good with toddlers. I have a knack for wrangling them in and keeping them calm, engaged, and cooperative—even when parents are convinced it’s going to be a disaster. I’ve had more than a few say, ‘Wow, I didn’t think that would actually work!’ (It usually does.)
Corissa, my hairstylist, came to me last fall for a mini session and her kids showed up clearly not in the mood—she even said it out loud. But somehow, I just kicked into gear. It’s like this switch flips, and I can bring the energy and make it happen, even when someone’s not feeling it. I don’t know exactly how—I just think it’s one of those hidden superpowers I have.
Another thing that is sort of unique about my business and what makes me special is that I run a home studio in West Chester. We’re lucky to live on two beautiful acres, which means in just one session, I can offer both studio-style portraits and natural outdoor shots. There’s even a charming tree swing that clients always seem to love—it adds such a playful, timeless touch. The variety gives you a really full, well-rounded gallery of images.
Bonnie Raley Photography
What has been your proudest moment so far on this journey?
One of the most exciting moments in my business journey was winning my first Main Line Parent Love Award. If you’re not familiar, it’s a community-driven award that recognizes local businesses, and in their very first year, I was named Best Family Photographer. I was over the moon! It felt like a turning point—like that recognition really helped catapult my business forward. I still remember how surreal it felt that night… people were coming up to me saying, ‘Oh, you’re Bonnie!’ and I was thinking, wait—me? It was such a special moment I’ll never forget.
What does having a strong She Squad mean to you and how has it impacted your life or business?
I think, as a small business owner, it is so important to surround yourself with strong women in business. They will challenge you and support you and rally for you, and it just elevates your business in every possible way.
Bonnie Raley Photography
What advice would you give to women who are looking to build that kind of support system?
Put yourself out there. You need to find your group and get involved in multiple groups. Join networking groups, get involved with your chamber of commerce. Any and all connections you make will help to grow, professionally.
If you could give your teenage self one piece of advice from everything you’ve learned as a mom and business owner, what would it be?
Well, as far as a career goes, I would share something I heard from Oprah many, many years ago. Find something that you love and turn it into your career. It will never feel like work. I have had corporate jobs and they were all fine and good, but, I was just going through the motions. When you find something that you love and it becomes your income, too, it’s really the best of both worlds. It doesn’t really feel like work.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given by someone in your She Squad about motherhood or just life?
When I wanted to start this business, I went out to lunch with a friend. I was working in Corporate America, and I was telling her how I wanted to do this so badly.
I guess she could just see my enthusiasm and hear it in my voice and was very encouraging. And I asked, “But what if I fail? What if I can’t make it work?” And she simply said, “But what if you do make it work?” THAT has always driven me.
Bonnie Raley Photography
You are an amazing Concihairge client. What do you love best about having a stylist come to the comfort and convenience of your home to do your hair services?
I stumbled on Concihairge many blue moons ago when the owner was still doing hair. Once I tried this whole new way of getting your hair done at home, I just loved it.
I really was not a fan of going to the salon. I didn’t like the waiting. I didn’t like the small talk. It’s just a time suck. This has just been so great. I love Concihairge and my hair stylist. She really listens to me. I feel like in years past, I’ve always switched stylists because they get complacent. They would just do what they always did.
And then even if you tried to get them to do something different, they would just kind of keep doing the same thing. And so I would move on to the next salon. But, I’ve been a loyal Concihairge client for, geez, ten years. We’re always trying new things. While I have never gone with pink hair (even though Corissa has tried!) I just love it. She’s great and the company is great, and it’s just so nice to throw some dishes in the dishwasher when my color is setting. It’s a huge time saver!
You are raising three kids and run your photography business. How do you balance family, business and everything in between?
That is the beauty of this job. I have loved being able to create my own schedule. I can work around all of the kids’ activities and still run my business very effectively. I can be productive early in the morning, late at night, and anytime in between.
You’ll often find me working in the car, sitting at lacrosse practice. It’s great! I mean, it’s really been the best part of my life because before photography I worked in Corporate America. If I still had that 9 to 5 (or longer) schedule, I wouldn’t have been able to be a part of my kids’ lives the way I have been.
Bonnie Raley Photography
Bonnie Raley Photography
