You’ve fallen in love with a photographer’s portfolio. The images are beautiful, the pricing fits your budget, and you’re ready to book.
But wait—before you put down that deposit, let’s make sure this photographer is actually the right fit for your family. Because gorgeous photos on Instagram don’t always translate to a great experience for your specific needs. (I’ve learned this the hard way as a client myself!)
After a decade photographing hundreds of San Francisco families, I’ve learned that the best client relationships start with asking the right questions upfront. Not in an interrogation way, but in a “let’s make sure we’re on the same page” way.
Here are the seven questions that matter most.
1. What’s Your Editing Style?
Photography doesn’t end when the shutter clicks. Editing transforms raw images into finished art, and every photographer has their own approach. And here’s what a lot of people don’t realize: editing can completely change the mood of an image.
Some photographers deliver images that look straight out of camera with minimal adjustments—true to the actual colors and light of the moment. Others create airy, bright photos with a light and dreamy feel. My work leans moody and cinematic.
Because I’m predominantly a natural-light photographer, I seek diffused light that flatters diverse skin tones. Most of my images focus on intimate family connections, so the lighting usually enhances that moody, emotional quality rather than fighting against it. (Think golden hour glow, window light streaming across faces, the kind of light that makes you feel something.)
Questions to ask:
- Do you offer different editing styles, or is your approach consistent?
- How do you handle different skin tones in your editing?
- How much will they alter the images in their post-editing? Will they remove distractions? Smooth out wrinkles? Do head swaps in Photoshop?
Why It Matters:
You might love a photographer’s portfolio, but if you prefer bright and airy images and their editing is dark and moody, you’ll be disappointed with your final gallery—no matter how beautiful the photos are objectively. It’s like ordering a latte and getting black coffee. Both are great! Just… different.
Personally, I apply a light hand in editing to keep the integrity of the moment as it unfolds, but I may adjust the lighting, crop images, or remove boogers if need be.
2. Where Will Our Photos Be Taken?
Location shapes the entire feel of your family photos. Understanding your options helps you choose what works best for your vision and your family’s comfort level.
Outdoor locations include parks, beaches, urban architecture, nature settings, and downtown areas. Outdoor sessions give you beautiful natural light and space for kids to move and explore. (Less “sit still!” and more “go run through that field!”)
In-home sessions capture your family where you actually live—the couch where you read bedtime stories, the kitchen where someone’s always sneaking snacks, the bedroom where weekend mornings stretch on forever. Home is usually where the heart is, and guess what? The heart is the center of my work. These are my favorite sessions because there’s something magical about documenting families in their own spaces.
Studio sessions offer controlled environments with professional lighting and backdrops—perfect if you want consistent lighting regardless of weather or time of day.
I’m based in Alameda and travel throughout the East Bay and San Francisco—including Oakland, Berkeley, Lafayette, and Walnut Creek. I shoot both in-home and on-location sessions, though I have a special love for documenting families in their own spaces. There’s just something about a kid showing you their room and secret technique of blowing bubbles that gets me every time.
Questions to ask:
- Do you have favorite locations you recommend?
- Do you know great photoshoot locations in Oakland or other East Bay areas?
- Can we do a mix (like starting at home, then heading to a nearby park)?
- What happens if weather doesn’t cooperate?
- Do you charge travel fees for certain locations?
3. What’s the Real Purpose of These Photos?
Be honest with yourself about what you’re actually trying to accomplish. Different goals require different approaches, and there’s no judgment here—all reasons for wanting photos are valid!
Holiday cards: If you need one great family photo for this year’s holiday card, a mini session or focused 30-minute shoot might be perfect. You don’t need 80 images if you just need one.
Milestone documentation: Maternity, newborn, graduating senior—these are specific moments in time that benefit from dedicated sessions focused on that particular transition.
Season-of-life documentation: This is what most families hire me for. They want to preserve what everyday life looks like right now, with all its complexity and emotion. Not just the highlight reel—the whole messy, beautiful reality. The tantrum that turned into giggles. The sibling fight that ended in a hug. The way your five-year-old still reaches for your hand.
These aren’t just photos. They’re time capsules. (And yes, I get emotional about this.)
Questions to ask:
- What do you recommend for my specific goal?
- Can you show me examples of sessions with similar purposes?
- How many final images should I expect?
4. How Long Should Our Photo Session Be?
Session length dramatically affects both the experience and the final results. And honestly? It’s one of the most important decisions you’ll make.
Mini Sessions (5-15 Minutes)
Pre-scheduled, back-to-back appointments at predetermined locations. Quick and efficient—ideal for families who just need a few updated shots. I only offer mini sessions to returning clients who already know my work and whose kids are comfortable with me. Because here’s the thing: 5-15 minutes isn’t enough time for kids to warm up to a stranger with a camera.
Best for:
- Families who just need updated photos for holiday cards
- Returning clients whose kids already trust the photographer
- Anyone who wants a specific shot and knows exactly what they’re after
Full Family Sessions (90-120 Minutes)
The sweet spot for most families. Enough time for everyone to relax, warm up, and settle into natural interactions. My typical sessions run 90 minutes, paced entirely by your kids’ energy and attention spans. We’re not racing against a clock—we’re following their lead.
High-energy, turbo-charged kids? I’ll have an extra cup of coffee that morning and be ready to match their pace. Shy kids? We’ll move slowly and let them lead the way. The session adapts to your family, not the other way around. (I’ve photographed enough families to know that forcing things never works.)
Best for:
- Most families wanting meaningful family documentation
- First-time clients
- Families with young children
- Anyone wanting both candid moments and some frame-worthy portraits
A Day in Your Life Documentary Sessions (4-8 Hours)
Comprehensive documentation of what a typical day looks like—morning routine, meals, playtime, bedtime. Think of it as an in-depth time capsule of this exact moment in your family’s life.
These Day in the Life sessions capture everything—morning cuddles, breakfast chaos, the school drop-off rush, afternoon play, dinner prep, bath time, bedtime stories. It’s the most comprehensive family documentation available, preserving not just individual moments but the entire rhythm and flow of your family’s day.
Many families also choose to add video to these day-in-life sessions. Working with both a family photographer and family videographer (often the same person—like me!) means you get still images for printing and framing, plus cinematic films that capture movement, voices, giggles, and the sounds that photos can’t preserve.
Best for:
- Families who want in-depth storytelling
- Documenting major life transitions
- Once-in-a-lifetime projects (like grandparents visiting from overseas)
- Families who value process over perfection
Questions to ask:
- What session length do you recommend for my family?
- Can we extend if we’re having a great time?
- What if my kids tap out early?
- Do you offer both photo and video for Day in the Life” sessions?
Here’s a Day in the Life film that preserves this family’s typical weekend morning.
5. Will My Family Actually Connect with You?
Technical skills matter. But personality matters more. Let me say that again: personality matters more than technical skills.
You need a photographer your kids will vibe with—someone who puts them at ease, reads their moods, and knows when to be playful versus when to give them space. If your toddler hides behind your legs every time the photographer approaches, you’re not getting authentic photos. You’re getting photos of the back of your legs and the top of your toddler’s head.
What’s intrinsically linked to personality is values. Does this photographer welcome all expressions of family? Are they inclusive of all genders, ages, sizes, and cultures?
I welcome all genders, sexual orientations, cultures, ages, and sizes. Love is love. It’s as simple as that. Let’s be human together.
Questions to ask:
- Can we meet (video call or phone) before booking?
- How do you typically work with young children?
- What happens if someone’s having a really hard day?
Red flags:
- Photographers who seem rigid about their process
- Anyone who makes you feel judged about your family dynamics
- Photographers who don’t answer questions about their approach with kids
- Anyone who makes you feel like you need to “perform” for them
6. Does Your Pricing Align with My Budget?
Let’s talk about budget. I know—it’s personal and sometimes uncomfortable. But understanding pricing upfront prevents disappointment and awkwardness later.
Here’s what I’ve learned after a decade of doing this work: it’s less about the number in your bank account and more about what you prioritize.
Many of my returning client-families are the ones who see photography as an art form worth celebrating. They’re the families who’ve looked at what matters most to them and said, “Yes! We’re preserving this fleeting season.” For some, that might mean choosing a payment plan. For others, it means scheduling around a busy year. But they all share one thing: they’re excited about what photography preserves—and that excitement makes the investment feel less like a cost and more like a gift to their future selves.
If photography doesn’t feel like a priority right now, that’s completely valid too. Different seasons of life call for different choices, and there’s no judgment either way.
Only you can determine how much you value these photos, but understand that pricing reflects experience: technical camera skills, ability to shoot in challenging light conditions, talent for engaging families and creating ease, years of practice, editing expertise, and business sustainability. (Photographers have to pay Bay Area rent too!)
My photo packages start at $1,200. Video packages start at $2,400. Payment plans are available upon request. (And yes, I’m happy to chat about what works for your family!)
Questions to ask:
- What’s included in your session fee?
- Are digital files included, or are they extra?
- What about prints and albums—do you offer those?
- Do you require a deposit? What’s your cancellation policy?
- Do you offer payment plans?
What’s reasonable to expect:
- Clear pricing on their website or provided upon inquiry (no mystery pricing!)
- Transparency about what’s included and what costs extra
- Professional contracts that protect both of you
- Defined timelines for receiving your images
If a photographer is unclear about pricing or makes you jump through hoops to get a quote, that tells you something about what working with them will be like.
And here’s the thing about finding the right photographer: it’s not just about whose pricing fits your budget—it’s about finding someone whose work makes you think “Yes, I want THAT for my family!” When that connection is there, the decision becomes clearer.
7. Do Their Photos Actually Move You?
This might be the most important question of all. And it’s entirely subjective—what moves me might not move you, and that’s exactly how it should be.
When you look at a photographer’s portfolio, do you feel something? Not just “wow, those are nice photos,” but something deeper—a tug in your chest, a recognition, a sense of “yes, that’s what I want to remember.”
Can you envision your family in those images? Do the photos reflect the kind of connections that matter to you?
Questions to ask yourself:
- Do I keep returning to this photographer’s website?
- When I imagine our session, does it feel exciting or stressful?
- Do their photos show the kind of moments I want to preserve?
- Can I picture these photos on my walls in ten years?
Trust your gut here. If something feels off—even if you can’t articulate exactly what—keep looking. Your instincts are telling you something important.
The Conversation That Matters Most
Here’s what I always tell families: the magic begins with listening, long before I ever raise my camera.
That’s why I start every potential client relationship with a low-pressure chat. We talk about your family, what you’re hoping for, what makes you nervous, what matters most. Sometimes that conversation makes it clear we’re a perfect match. Sometimes it reveals we’re not the right fit—and that’s okay too. (Really! I promise it’s okay!)
If we’re not a match, I’m genuinely happy to connect you with another Bay Area photographer who might be. Because the goal isn’t booking every inquiry—it’s making sure every family finds their right photographer. I also pride myself on being a good matchmaker!
Your Next Step
Don’t be shy about reaching out and having these conversations. Any photographer worth hiring will welcome your questions and respond thoughtfully. If someone seems annoyed by your questions or rushed in their responses, that tells you something important about what working with them would be like.
You’re not just hiring someone to take photos. You’re inviting someone into your family’s space and most intimate moments. Ask the questions. Trust your instincts. Find your match.
And remember: there’s no perfect photographer, just the right photographer for you.
Need help understanding different photography styles first? Check out my guide on what style of family photos to get.
