documentary family photography

a real life, everyday approach to capturing family memories

I believe kids are not meant to say “cheese” to the camera, and that real moments together are better than forced ones. My photo sessions with families do not feel like a “session” but rather I take more of a day-in-the-life approach to capturing real, honest moments: the fun ones, the not so fun ones, the moments of struggle, along with the moments of joy. Capturing the perfect imperfections is my specialty.

No awkward, forced posing, just following you and your loved ones enjoying a sliver of your day together; Embracing the mundane in the every day; Encapsulating those moments that you’ll want to remember, not just the ones that are “instagrammable”. Whether it’s a special occasion (a birthday, a holiday, a vacation, a family visit), or just a regular day at the pool, my goal is to capture the real, raw energy and the memories that will last you a lifetime.

families portfolio

WHAT TO EXPECT

Documentary Approach: I’ll help you plan out what will feel the most authentic to you and your family but once the session starts, I will let it play out as naturally as possible

Artistic Touch: Every moment gets handled as a work of art, through my lens, and creating poetic imagery without you even knowing it, is my specialty

Gentle Guidance: While I try not to affect the moments through guidance, I will make sure my gentle suggestions throughout the session will guide you naturally – never forced, never posed.

Documentary Family Films

Inspired by the old family films that used to bring the memories with my family to life, I also offer a multi-media add on to your photography coverage. Through voice, movement and images, the story blends together, and ties together through a message through a short film.

INVESTMENT

Family session pricing begins at $950, and depending on location from Califon, NJ (I do travel for family sessions as well!), there may be a travel fee. I can also customize a collection for you if you’d like to create more of a day-in-the-life experience with more time, more activities, or different locations. Additionally, I can customize your coverage with albums and wall art to display your beautiful images once you have them in your hands!

faq

QUESTIONS?

My general approach to family photography is a mixture of lifestyle and documentary. This means that the majority of the time I am looking for moments to naturally unfold without having to force a situation or create a moment that would not have naturally been there. If you would like a few posed photos, make sure to relay this in our initial consult and I’ll be sure to work it in. Sessions are 90 minutes long, so there is plenty of time for a little of both if you’d like.

Many of my clients like to come back for a mini session after they’ve done a full session, for a quick update, or for a Christmas card photo in the fall. I 30 minute mini sessions in Califon, NJ at a local park, at any time of the year, at a reduced rate, and with a limited number of images.

Yes of course! I have several locations that I know already and if it’s an unfamiliar location, I will always get to know your tastes before I recommend one. I have photographed in people’s homes, at the beach, a local park, a walk in the city, or even a coffee shop or restaurant that means something to you. The sky is the limit in creating your customized experience to your portraits.

That’s the beauty of my documentary approach, there is no such thing as “cooperating”! No stress for parents and no stress for kids. All memories are beautiful, even the “hard” ones. You’ll look back on these days sometime and wish you still had them, believe me, so I aim to capture it all in the most natural way possible. If we really need a break, that’s why your session is 90 minutes, and we can absolutely take a little snack break if needed.

Absolutely! Extended family sessions are the best for these types of sessions because there is so much possibility for interaction and creating lifelong, meaningful memories, with different generations.

Your photos will all be professionally edited by me and include my signature color correction. I typically do not do extensive retouching on photos to keep them as natural and true-to-life as possible.