You’ve been meaning to book family photos for years. Every time it comes up, something stops you: you blank on locations, you have no idea what to wear, you’re already dreading the look on your husband’s face when you mention it.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone.
The good news is that all of it is completely solvable. Here’s how I approach each one.
What actually makes a family session work
Three things separate a session that produces something meaningful from one that doesn’t: posing that actually feels fun, a location that earns its place, and wardrobe that works together. Let’s get into it.
Direction that doesn’t feel like posing
The goal isn’t to pose your family like a bad Sears Portrait studio photo. Nobody wants to stand stiff like a statue, on the beach, and stare at the camera for an hour. You don’t want that, and I don’t want that either. I might have to quit being a photographer if that was how I did my job.
What I do instead is loosely pose you in just they way that will look amazing, and give your family gentle prompts that create real movement and genuine emotion – a slow walk along the shoreline, a whispered secret between you and your kid, a piggyback ride that devolves into chaos. I give you something to do, and then I document what happens.
You stop thinking about the camera. Your kids stop performing. Your husband stops looking like he’d rather get hit by a bus. And the images that come out of those moments are the ones that make you cry at the reveal appointment.
The direction isn’t stiff and rigid – it’s designed to let me get out of the way and let your family just be your family.
A location that earns its place
The backdrop isn’t just a backdrop. It sets the mood, provides depth, and gives your family something to move through rather than just stand in front of. A location that feels right for your family changes everything about the images.
In Jacksonville and St. Augustine, I work with locations I know intimately – places where I understand exactly what the light does at golden hour, where the crowds thin out, and where the environment creates natural opportunities for connection. North Beach at Guana Preserve is one I return to most: uncrowded shoreline, wild dune vegetation, and late-afternoon light that wraps around faces in a way that’s almost impossible to replicate elsewhere.
When we talk before your session, I’ll ask about your family’s personality and the feeling you want when the images are on your walls. From there, I’ll make a specific recommendation – and in most cases, I’ll already have a vision for exactly where and when we should be.
You don’t have to research locations or stress about logistics. That’s my job.
Wardrobe that works together
“What should we wear?” is the most common question I get asked by potential clients – and the one that stops the most mom’s from booking in the first place.
Here’s my very simple instructions: coordinated, not matching. Tones and textures that feel cohesive. Neutral linens, soft wovens, classic knits. Think about how the outfits will look framed on your wall, because that’s exactly where these images are going. HA – I know, that probably doesn’t sound easy at all!
A little more detail: Lean toward earthy neutrals, soft linens, and classic denim. Pieces that feel timeless rather than tied to a specific season. Avoid busy prints, brand logos, and anything that creates visual noise in photos.
When you work with me, I don’t just hand you a list of guidelines and wish you luck. I’ll help you build out your family’s looks from start to finish. That means that I’ll do all the heavy lifting to find you exactly the right outfits for every member of your family. I even include links for you to buy directly from your style board. The only thing you have to do is approve looks and physically get dressed the day of your session.
You will never regret having photos taken.
Years from now, this moment will be exactly what you wished you’d captured.
Your kids will be taller. The baby stage will be a memory. The way your family looks right now – all of you, together, in this season of life – passes faster than anyone expects.
Ready to stop putting it off? Reach out and let’s talk about what a session for your family could look like. I’ll take it from there.
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