FAMILY PORTRAIT SESSION INFORMATION

FAMILY LIFE SESSIONS:

A “Family Life” session is the ultimate gift you can give to your future selves as parents. I spend a whole day photographing your family in real time, in real life. There’s no need to do anything special, no need to put on fancy clothes or organize elaborate activities. This is all about documenting all those day-to-day type moments, big and small, that we don’t always notice at the time. Like that time the little one pooped in the closet (yeah, that happened), while the older one infiltrated the kitchen for an unauthorized snack, and that nice quiet (loud) family board game ended in a cuddle fest on the living room floor. Whatever happens, however it happens, I’m there to photograph all the mad fun, the meltdowns, the messy snacks, and the unbelievable experience of being a part of your family.

This full-day documentary family session is perfect for families with younger children (I shoot from roughly breakfast to bedtime). It’s not a hard rule, but the best time to have a session like this is when your kids are between 1.5 or 2 years old up to about 10 years old – after their personality starts to really come forward, but before the inevitable rise of self-consciousness that marks the arrival of the pre-teen years.

Family Life Session custom album packages start at $1500+tax and require a deposit of $500 to secure your session date. The deposit is applied towards your final purchase.

SHORT SESSIONS:

These are most like what other photographers promote as regular sessions, but my “Short Sessions” are full of crazy, silly, fun, and joyful chaos. We spend around an hour fooling around, playing, tickling, giggling, HUGS! and generally leaving a mess of personality all over our location. This is not about getting your 3 year old to sit still and throw a perfect smile at the camera, this is all about capturing that kid’s character, their quirks and their spirit shinning through on full blast. We can shoot at the park, the hills, the lake, run around downtown, or even your home, anywhere works, just bring yourselves.

Short Session digital and print packages start around $400+tax and require a Session Fee of $150 to secure the date and time of your session. The Session Fee covers the shooting time only, all products are purchased on an a la carte basis..

YOSEMITE SESSIONS:

A family vacation to Yosemite National Park is a great chance to have a family portrait session in one of the most amazing locations on Earth. The basic details are the same as the Short Session except the session is usually a little longer and we try to get to a couple different locations. Between May and September, weekend sessions are not available, and early morning sessions (starting around 7-8am) are strongly encouraged. The park can be extraordinarily busy in the afternoon/evenings and traffic jams are the norm all day on the weekends.

Yosemite Session packages featuring the full set of digital files, a custom album, and the permit required by the park to photograph are $1750+tax. A $750 deposit is required to secure the time and date of your session with the remainder due before image delivery.

WHAT DAYS ARE AVAILABLE FOR A SESSION? WEEKENDS A POSSIBILITY?

Only Family Life Sessions are available on weekends with most Sunday’s being available along a few Saturdays not already booked with weddings. Of course weekdays are also available if it works with your schedule. Since I have a heavy wedding schedule that occupies many/most of my Saturdays throughout the year, it’s necessary to restrict Short Sessions to weekdays only. Sessions typically start about 2 hours before sunset so late spring and summer start times are usually after 6pm. Fall sessions can start as early as 3:30pm after the time change. I take bookings on a rolling basis for the current month plus the next two – so for example if it’s July, I’m booking family sessions for July, August, and September.

HOW DO WE VIEW OUR PICTURES AND PLACE AN ORDER?

All viewing and ordering is done in-person in my home studio for Family Life and Short Sessions – online selection and ordering is not available. Approximately one week after your session for Short Sessions, or 3-4 weeks after your Family Life Session, you will be invited to my studio to view the images and place your order. I take cash, checks and all major credit cards for your convenience.

DO YOU OFFER EXTENDED FAMILY SESSIONS?

At this time, I’m not offering sessions for large, extended family groups. My specialty is working with small, immediate family and their younger children. If you would like a referral to a photographer that specializes in large family groups, I’m happy to give you one, just get in touch via email through my contact page.