dads snuggling with two kids on the sofa from a in-home family photo session in san francisco

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Tips for a Magical Family Photo Session in San Francisco

November 5, 2022

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The two most popular questions I get about family photo sessions are:
-What’s the secret behind an AMAZING photo session?
-What should we be doing during a photo session?

Honestly, the answer to both questions is the same: Just be yourself! I know this deceivingly simple answer can stir up a gamut of insecurities when it comes to meeting a stranger (especially someone wielding a big, clunky camera) for the first time or even inviting them into your home (Gulp!). Still, nothing is more beautiful and authentic than being YOU.

And do you want to know the secret sauce for transforming your photos from meh to stellar? It’s my pre-session questionnaire. Whether it’s a family photo session at home or on location, this little piece of magic will tell me what makes your heart skip a beat, guiding what we will do during our time together.

For this family, the heart of their home is at the piano. And at 4 years old, this is where you’ll find little G feeling the vibrations of the music and rhythmic tap of his Papa’s foot at the pedals with his younger sister (AKA his #1 fan) within reach, cooing in the background. It’s also remembering the high-octane energy of a silly and wacky toddler, the big smiles and giggles of his little sister, and all the snuggles woven in between.

This is what a documentary-style family photo session is all about, and I’m here to celebrate you in all seasons of your life.

About Me

Real people are my favorite.

It's why I appointed myself the family documentarian early on, carefully recording life unfolding, and learning along the way how much I love visual storytelling. I picked up my first professional camera when my child was born, knowing those early years were dawning and full of change — and I never looked back. I can't imagine doing anything else.

I'm a maximalist in every sense: all-in on a project or power napping, rarely anything in between. A little weird and impressively clumsy, with absolutely zero shame dancing in public. I live in Alameda (aka the Midwest of the Bay Area) with my husband, my teen, and a menagerie of animals. Fair warning: I bring my outdated 90s dance moves to every session.

My upbringing taught me to find beauty where others see ordinary. Motherhood only deepened that instinct, and I've been known to cry at the drop of a hat. Kleenex is a standing item on my packing list for newborn sessions.

I'm awkward at small talk and large groups are where I go quiet — which is exactly why you'll never find me working weddings or large events, and why you will find me completely at home in yours. I work best in the intimate, the real, and the messy.

I invest deeply in the people I work with and pour my whole heart into every session. Walking away with friendships after a session is always a major bonus — and it's the reason I love my job as much as I do.

WORK WITH ME

©Carmen dunham Photography 2026

branding by Bella Maven 

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