One of the things I hear most often from new clients is that they had no idea the experience would be like this. In fact, recently one client told me, “I’ve worked with a lot of photographers. I have never worked with someone who’s experience was like this.”
They expected to show up, take some photos, get a link, pick their favorites. What they got was something entirely different – and they were floored by how much they loved it.
So here it is. From the moment you reach out to the day your art goes on the wall, this is exactly what working together looks like.
Step 1: The first conversation
When you reach out, I don’t send an auto-reply with a PDF and a booking link. I respond personally. We have a real conversation – about your family, what you’re envisioning, the walls in your home you’ve been meaning to do something with, the season that works best for your schedule.
This conversation matters. It’s how I understand what you’re actually looking for before we discuss anything logistical. It’s also how you get a sense of whether I’m the right photographer for your family – not just whether my portfolio looks good, but whether working together is going to feel right.
Step 2: Session planning
Once we’ve decided to move forward, I handle the planning. Location, timing, light – I’ll make a specific recommendation based on what I know about your family and what I know about the conditions at different locations and times of year.
I’ll also plan your entire wardrobe. Not a generic list of dos and don’ts – actual links and specific outfits selected based on your family, your session location, and what will look beautiful framed on your walls. You won’t be standing in front of your closet the night before wondering if it all works together. I’ve already figured that out for you.
Step 3: The session itself
I’ll guide your family through the session with prompts that feel natural rather than posed – movement, interaction, real moments. You’ll stop thinking about the camera, and honestly, that’s exactly the goal.
Most families are surprised by how quickly it stops feeling like a photo session and starts feeling like a really fun evening with people who love each other.
Step 4: The editing
After the session, I spend time carefully culling and editing. From a full session, I’ll present around 70 beautifully edited images – selected not for technical perfection, but for the moments that actually feel like your family. You’ll be surprised how many stunning images we capture in a single session.
The ones where your daughter looked up at you like you were everything. Where your husband finally relaxed. Where the light caught your family at exactly the right moment. Those are the ones that make it into your gallery.
Step 5: The reveal appointment
This is the part most clients don’t expect, and end up describing as their favorite part of the whole experience.
You come in, I’ll have tissues ready (I already know you’re going to need them), and I present your full gallery as a slideshow set to music. You watch, you feel it, you sit back and enjoy.
Then we go through your images together and select only your favorites. From there, we create the collection of your dreams. That might include designing a stunning album to hold all of your chosen photos or plan your wall art, so that your walls are finally, beautifully filled with images of your family. We look at groupings, sizing, placement. You stop seeing photos and start seeing art.
Step 6: Delivery and Installation
When your album arrives I’ll deliver it to your doorstep, and when your framed pieces are ready, I can help with installation. Getting art on the wall is the part most people never quite get to – they leave it leaning against the baseboard for six months. I’d rather it actually end up where it belongs.
Ready to start? Reach out and let’s have that first conversation. It’s the best first step.
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