Okay so I have been a photographer here in Raleigh for over five years now, so it’s probably time to tell you all a little more about me right!? Hello, I’m Valerie Worth of Worth Capturing! I’m that silly, laid back mom & photographer who has mastered the monkey sound to coax laughs out of little ones.

Raleigh Photographer | Get to know Valerie

Photographer & native of Raleigh, NC

That’s right! I was born and raised right here in Raleigh and attended Broughton High School. I have two older brothers who also still live in the area (as do my parents).

Here’s a photo of me when I was 2 years old that was in the Raleigh News & Observer! This is from the pumpkin patch that they still do at Highland Methodist Church here in Raleigh.

Valerie as a 2 year old in a pumpkin patch, photo from News & Observer

After high school I attended UNC Chapel-Hill (GO HEELS!) and graduated with a BS in Biology in 2009. I then worked in veterinary medicine for over a decade before becoming a full time photographer.

Starting a photography business in Raleigh

I have always loved taking photos. As a teenager I had collages all over my wall of point-and-shoot film photos that I took with friends. I even had a series where some friends and I recreated ads from magazines and let me tell you, those were pure gold.

I got my first “big girl” camera after college and mostly took photos of my family and dogs. When I had my first child in 2014 I started to really dig in and learn the technical side of photography and how to shoot in manual mode. I shared some photos of my son online and started to get some really encouraging comments as well as some friends asking me to take their photos. As time went on I kept practicing and decided a few years later that I wanted to have a side-gig as a photographer. I never started this with the intention of ever being a full time photographer, but really enjoyed it as a hobby. That little side gig grew and grew, and amidst the chaos of life in 2020, decided that I wanted to do it full time.

Finding my niche as a photographer

I tried a little bit of everything in the beginning – weddings, couples, families, children, and newborns. Once I got into the world of newborn/baby/family photography I was hooked. I feel like I have really found my passion and I truly love what I do. I started off with mostly families and then had the opportunity to create a studio space in my home which has really helped to propel my business forward.

Worth Capturing has provided me with the wonderful ability to create my own schedule, be my own boss, and prioritize family time more than I ever could before. Although solo entrepreneurship has its challenges, I am so thankful to be able to use my talents to capture precious memories for families in Raleigh.

My family

As I mentioned already, this business has allowed me to work from home and be near my family which has been such a blessing. I love being a mom and feeling like I’m really involved in my children’s lives is so important to me while they are young. Balancing work and family is always going to be a challenge, but I definitely feel that I’m headed in the right direction!

When I’m not taking photos I love spending time with my kids and dogs, reading, binging on TV, and traveling. I love being outside, especially if there is a beach involved.