Bay Area Family Photography

I want to capture meaningful photos of you where we'll witness the whole gamut of emotions that make life. Our time together isn't about your connection with my camera; it's more about your connection with your family. Be in the moment. Play with your kids. Love on your people. Allow yourself to be a kid again and enjoy this intentional time together as a family.
 Sessions are activity-based, but an activity does not mean to be grand and will usually happen at the most meaningful places for your family (e.g., home, backyard, local stomping grounds). This is what we'll call a documentary-style session. No posing. No props. All love and connection.
 I welcome all LGBTQ+, BIPOC, differently-abled, and non-traditionally structured families. If this offends you, I am not the right photographer for you.

Editing photos carefully is just as important to me as taking them. It's also where I spend 90% of my time. The average processing time for photos is 2-3 weeks, and it may take longer during my busy fall season. If you would like prints during the busy holiday season for cards, I recommend that you schedule your session 2-3 months in advance.
I love your candid style, but I need some more formal portraits. Would you do that?
Though I value posed portraits, I feel they should not dominate a photo session. That said, Grandparents love them—mine do! Please let me know ahead of time, and we can spend a few minutes on them. Otherwise, the rest of the time will be more unscripted fun.
I do not call out directions throughout the session, but I will give gentle guidance if I see an opportunity that could easily be made in better lighting. I may also help facilitate the kind of fun that makes for good candid photographs.

Together, we'll choose a time when everyone is most happy and a place that reflects your family. I usually recommend shooting in the mornings when everyone is fresh and well-rested. With older children, a favorite activity or outing is usually established before the shoot. Otherwise, staying close to home is typically favored by most children under the age of one year old.

I check in with my families a week before the session to discuss details and answer any questions. In case of illness, I appreciate a two day notice, and I will do my best to accommodate your plans when rescheduling. Likewise, I expect the same courtesy if I or any member of my family falls ill. Outdoor shoots are weather permitting; if the weather is questionable, I will be in close contact the days before and on the morning of the session. 

Usually (but not always) there is one partner who is more reserved about the experience. My first suggestion is to get them involved. Show them other films I have made, have them on phone calls when we talk. Make sure they know what to expect. If that is hard to do because of busy schedules, know that they will warm up the day of. Once we get started filming, most people realize how easy it is and there are never any issues. So many times now, I've heard from the reluctant partner that they had "way more fun" than they anticipated.

No need! I may ask you to remove clutter, but otherwise don't stress about deep cleaning. It won't show on the video! I have creative ways of hiding the mess so it doesn't distract from the beauty of your connections and your family.

Something you feel comfortable and beautiful! In all my years in photography, this is the most important thing. Wear something you feel good in. If you're uncomfortable in a new outfit, it will show. Wear something you can move, dance, play in. The same goes for your children. You want them to play and have fun while I'm there so make sure you don't put them in something you're worried about them messing up.

I apply a light hand in editing. I try to keep the integrity of the original photos, but I may adjust the lighting, crop images, or remove boogers if need be.

It starts with a phone call. It is important to me that you are comfortable and understand the process. I'll answer all your questions and go over the details. Once you're ready to move forward, I'll send over the contract and set up automatic monthly payments to secure your package.

In my seven years of photography, I've learned your kids don't care that you haven't lost the baby weight. You deserve to be seen for the incredible parent that you are. The most common thing I hear from my clients is that they want to book a session to remember their kids in this stage of life. And despite not necessarily feeling the best about themselves, they know how important it is to document this time in their lives. Not just for them, but for their children.
After working with hundreds of families, I can say with certainty I know how to create space for you to feel comfortable, which means I can make the seesion feel effortless and help you feel beautiful, just as you are.

I have a pre-teen who is quite strong-willed and dislikes being in photos, so I totally get this one. I've wanted to push off photos because we were in a "hard season". I think one of my superpowers is finding the beauty in the struggle. You can trust me to do this. I'll follow your child's lead and if they melt down, I'll find the sweet moments after. My sessions are judgment-free zones. I get it and have been there.

I don't want you to hold anything back during our time together because you're concerned about the images' usage. This session is about you and your family.
 That said, my business is 100% visual. Thanks to clients who allow me to share my work, I'm able to attract new clients. Not being able to do so impacts me financially. I, however, am also a parent and take steps to ensure privacy and safety by not using identifiable features such as names, tags, street signs, etc. I also keep things G-rated and don't share images that would make anyone uncomfortable without explicit permission (breastfeeding, nudity, politics). I understand that each family is different, and I offer 2 levels of enhanced privacy. If complete privacy is vital to your family and you decide to decline altogether, a fee of $250 will apply and will be billed separately. This is determined on a case-by-case basis.
 Otherwise, photos are for marketing and promotional purposes (social media, website, and occasional magazine publications) directly related to my photography business.

Portrait films celebrate everyday milestones, 1-2 minutes at a time—like little intimate time capsules that you'll want to revisit. They focus on one person and a specific time in their life. Portrait film sessions are shorter 1-2hr sessions (vs. 3-4 hrs from a DITL session). These abbreviated films are perfect for newborns, graduates, birthdays...basically any finite time you would like to memorialize.

The same basic description of a Day in the Life film applies here, except they are for the entire family-not just one individual. These sessions are longer as well, 3-4 hrs as opposed to 1-2 hrs from a Portrait session.