Experience | Service | Heart
creating simple, organic, timeless photographs as souvenirs of our time together
Hi! I'm Margaret McCanna. You can call me Maggie.
I've been a photographer for... well... decades, professionally since May 2010, moving my studio to beautiful Amherst County, Virginia, in December 2017.
My forté is in creating images that capture your personality in a relaxed and carefree session, from beauty and boudoir to business and branding. You can read more about me, my vision, and why I do what I do in the FAQs below.
I’m a full-service boutique photographer, working with you at every step to create a luxurious experience.
Every woman’s story holds depth, grace, and strength — qualities that deserve to be seen and celebrated. My portrait experience is designed to honor that truth. Each step is intentional, creating a journey that is as personal and meaningful as the finished artwork itself. From our first conversation to the final installation, you are cared for with the attention and artistry of a truly bespoke experience.
The Discovery Call: Understanding Your Vision
Every remarkable portrait begins with understanding. During our initial conversation, we discuss what you envision, the feeling you want to convey, the purpose behind your images, and how you dream of seeing yourself. It’s not about posing for the camera; it’s about shaping an experience that reflects who you are today and the woman you’ve become.
You’re guided from the very start by someone who listens deeply and creates images with intention. Your session is designed entirely around you: your story, your energy, your essence.
The In-Home Consultation: Designing with Intention
Before our photo session, I will visit your home for a private consultation. Together, we’ll curate wardrobe selections that flatter your style and reflect your personality. I’ll also take note of your living space (color palettes, textures, and light) so your finished artwork harmonizes beautifully with your home’s design.
You’ll receive expert guidance in styling and presentation, ensuring your portraits feel authentic to you and perfectly suited to your space.
The Portrait Session: A Day of Care and Confidence
On session day, everything is arranged so you can simply arrive and enjoy. Professional hair styling and makeup artistry set the tone, not for transformation, but for refinement. During your session, I provide gentle, detailed direction, so you feel confident in front of the camera. Every pose and angle is guided with precision, revealing the most flattering expressions and the quiet power of your presence.
You are cared for throughout, allowing you to relax, trust the process, and genuinely see yourself in a new light.
The Reveal & Selection Appointment: Seeing Your Portraits Come to Life
A week or so later, we meet again for a private image reveal. This is often the most meaningful part of the experience — the moment you see yourself as others do. Together, we’ll review your images and choose the portraits that best capture your story. I’ll guide you through custom options for wall art, albums, and fine prints, tailored to your aesthetic and lifestyle.
With professional curation and expertise, your choices feel effortless and confident. You leave knowing every selection is meaningful and beautifully realized.
The Finishing Touch: From Image to Art
Your chosen portraits are artistically retouched to enhance their natural elegance and produced using the finest archival materials. When your artwork is ready, I personally deliver and install your pieces, ensuring they are displayed with care and precision.
Every detail, from creation to installation, is handled for you. What begins as a photo session becomes a lasting legacy, with personal art that enriches your home and reflects your journey.
A Luxury Experience, Thoughtfully Designed
This is more than photography. It is a refined, guided experience created to honor your individuality and celebrate your confidence. From start to finish, every moment is designed to make you feel seen, valued, and beautifully represented.
Let’s Tell Your Story
If it’s been years, or never, since you’ve had your portrait taken, let’s change that. My job is to take care of you through every step, from planning to final image selection. You’ll walk away with portraits that feel real, empowering, and entirely you.
Make "getting portraits" one of the unforgettable experiences that becomes a regular part of the story of your life. Reach out today.
How do you want to be photographed?
Frequently Asked Questions
What inspired you to start your business?
We always took lots of pictures as I was growing up. Every family gathering. Every state or attraction “welcome” sign on summer road trips (with us standing next to it, of course). Posing next to pretty flowers or interesting trees…. While a lot of these pictures stayed in their envelopes (the kind you got back from the film developer/printer), many were put in photo albums. Those albums weren’t exactly photo-friendly, however. I took up scrapbooking and taught “creative” photo preservation for over 10 years.
During these classes and workshops, I noticed that a lot of the women making their family scrapbooks were not in very many of the pictures. They were usually the ones taking the photos, and they didn’t like the less-than-flattering pictures that others had taken of them. After more than a few people asked if I were a professional photographer – and the gift of my first “nice” digital camera from my brother – I determined that all the mother/family photo historians needed a beautiful photograph of themselves that they love.
I want to deliver photos worthy of framing and hanging on the wall or sitting on the mantle or at least placing in a scrapbook along with all the other images deemed special enough to print and preserve.
What makes your business unique?
Maggie Takes Pix specializes in women’s portraits. Women tend to be critical of their appearance, so I’ve made a point of studying flattering poses and using kind lighting to help you look your best, providing clean, classic imagery.
Yes, I photograph families, men, and some weddings… but my focus is on women, from young middle schoolers who could use a self-esteem boost, to high school seniors about to fly the nest, to brides glowing in anticipation of their big day, to mothers (of all ages) who perhaps need to be reminded how beautiful and appreciated they really are, and especially grandmothers who are ready to share their stories and celebrate their life and legacy.
I believe that all women deserve to exist in photos.
Once the kids leave home, those few photographs that mothers appear in become even fewer. For many I've worked with, their youngest child’s wedding was the last time they had a professional portrait taken. I want women’s lives and stories to be documented and celebrated at every age and stage.
Biography
Margaret "Maggie" McCanna, MBA, is an award-winning photographer specializing in women's personal and professional portraits: business, beauty, and boudoir. Since May 2010, she's helped hundreds of multi-faceted women feel authentic, beautiful, and confident in their photographs.
Maggie also has years of experience as a business manager. Especially familiar with local non-profits and small businesses, she has taken care of the "behind-the-scenes" of multiple entities so that their owners and directors can focus on their core organizational missions, in industries ranging from human services to the arts and education, military, and medical facilities to restaurants. Her work in the aging service community led her to become a Certified Dementia Practitioner with a heart for intergenerational storytelling, especially when it comes to legacy portraits.
Maggie is married to Steve, who built their home (and her studio) about 10 minutes west of Amherst, Virginia, relocating from Hampton Roads to their slice of paradise in October 2017. She's Mom to one daughter, Caitlin Angulo, a visual artist who lives in Virginia Beach, and caretaker for one chill cat and one hot mess of a dog. A true dairy aficionado, Maggie believes there is no such thing as too much cheese, and she is easily bribed with ice cream.
"I recently got the courage to have some headshots taken. I was so nervous. Margaret McCanna from Maggie Takes Pix did an incredible job!
I could tell you a long list of things I don’t like about myself - especially when it comes to a picture. Maggie was so encouraging and positive, she really made me feel at ease!I highly recommend her for all your photography needs!"