Family Sessions
I shoot hundreds of photos a week – of my clients, my kids and husband, our dog, my garden, our weekend excursions... but I have almost no photos of myself with my family.
Sound familiar?
Don't let another year go by without booking a professional family or individual portrait session. Framed portraits make heartfelt gifts, are beautiful displayed in the home, and are perfect for inclusion in holiday cards.
What Makes Me Different:
* I got my start as a landscape photographer and I firmly believe that the background in any photo is just as important as the subject. I take great care in finding magical backgrounds.
* I take joy in shooting every combination within your family (i.e. kids alone, Mom/daughter, individual headshots, Mom/Dad, Dad/kids). If you want mainly posed groupings, great! If you want mostly lifestyle/candids of you and the kids playing, also great! Just let me know before the shoot. If you want a mixture, 60 minute sessions are ideal.
* I will have most shoots edited and back to you for download within 7 days (at the very longest, 9 days during peak season which is August-Dec).
* If it rains on our booked day, you can apply your deposit to another day at no additional cost.
* I will take charge of posing and tell you want to do. I like to do a combination of posed and lifestyle (candid cuddles and fun), but you can tell me which you want more of, if you have an opinion beforehand.
* Have body insecurity? No problem! I know all the tricks. Don't feel bad at ALL about letting me know specific insecurities beforehand and I can work some posing magic!
* I recently got AI software that can erase double chins, and even shrink bodies (5-7 lbs)! This service can be added to your package, details below.
* I pride myself on exceptional customer service, before during, and after our session. Want to text me photos of your outfits and ask my opinion? Worried about two of your kids bickering? Have a creative idea you want to spam me with? I'm here for it!
* I have two distinct edited styles (not filters; they are individually edited by hand), and clients get to choose: For 30 min sessions and 60 minute sessions, I will send a sneak peek album and ask clients which "look" they like best. Some people prefer my dark and moody look which is more editorial. Others prefer classic. (Promotional 20 minute mini sessions will receive my classic natural light and bright edit). More on my two styles here.
* I now offer edited video reels of your session! Details and examples below.
Family Photo Packages
My 30 and 60 minute packages include you in the editing process; within 72 hours of your session, I will send a small preview gallery with side by side comparison of my two trademark styles: Classic or Modern. You then choose your favorite for me to edit the rest of your gallery.
All packages work with a video reel add-on. See more below.
Location:
To know what openings I have available, I first need to know what location you want to use. Do you want classic Gig Harbor maritime looks? Skansie Park is amazing in the morning. Want rolling golden fields and woodsy looks? Sehmel park 2 hours before sunset is my favorite. Kopachuck Park is my fav for ferns, forest, beach and driftwood. I created my blog just to help clients choose. Each location has pros/cons and examples I have taken. Be sure to click on "older posts" to see them all.
Here are some locations I love for families, with links to photo examples I've taken there:
Skansie Park Always my #1 for a wide variety of backgrounds!
Sehmel Park (woods and boardwalk)
Bella Bella Beach (The Demolay Sandspit)
The Gig Harbor Lighthouse Sandspit (per Coast Guard rules, by donation only; see package below)
20 minute Minis and Santa photos
Fast and easy! I offer 20 minute promotional mini sessions on various dates from April-September only. The dates and signups area always posted 2 months ahead of the sessions on this page. Former clients get emailed first, and then they are announced the next day on my Facebook and Instagram business pages.
30 minute package (prices for 2025):
Kids (or spouse) won't last a whole hour? No prob! Have a quick and easy 30 minute session, with a mix of posed and candid shots of every combination. I am famous for getting 60 minutes worth of photos done in half the time, but I swear it is relaxed, fun, and you won't feel rushed!
My 30 minute package includes 10 artfully edited images for download, chosen from a fully edited private gallery: $350 plus tax. Additional images can be purchased right from your gallery for $15 each, or the whole gallery of at least 50 photos can be purchased with one click at a discounted price (between $150-200, depending on how many turn out).
Available add-ons at booking: video reel and fine portrait editing, including double chin removal (see more below).
To get an idea of the variety I can get in 30 minutes, here are a few examples of full 30-minute galleries: Skansie Park, Austin Park, The woods of Sehmel Park, Bella Bella Beach
30 minute packages are available weekday afternoons and evenings and weekend mornings between 9am-12pm. Not valid for sunset sessions (see more in my Sunset Sessions below). Package valid for one family up to 5 people ($20 more for each additional direct family member; add $75 for grandparents).
Because I know how to best utilize for a 30 min time frame and backgrounds at these locations, I offer 30 minute sessions at these spots:
Skansie Park: (9-10:30AM)
Donkey Creek/Austin Park: (9-10:30am)
Bella Bella Beach Sandspit on Fox Island (AM weekends and PM weeknights),
Kopachuck Park: (10am-noon weekends, and we would have time for the woods only),
Sehmel Homestead Park Woods: 9-12pm)
Sehmel Homestead Park: golden field and split rail fence area: weeknights only July-Oct, 2.5 hours before sunset).
60 minute package (prices for 2025):
Want every kiss and cuddle, with a wide variety of both posed and candid shots? A 60 minute session is ideal! Price includes the hour session and 20 edited digital images for download, chosen from a fully edited private gallery: $650 plus tax. Additional images can be purchased for $15 each or the entire gallery for a discounted price. Valid at one location within 30 minute drive of Gig Harbor.
Package valid for a 5 person family. Add $30 more for each direct family member. Add $100 for grandparents.
Beach Sunset Sessions:
Sunsets are fickle things in the great NW! There is constant wind and cloud monitoring to start at the right time, and they usually get rescheduled at least once because of the weather. My record was 5 times, but they are amazing shoots and worth the effort! Sunset shoots usually take 45 minutes, starting 30 mins before the sun sets, and going 15 minutes into "blue hour." Best May-Sept. $550 for 15 edited images, with the option to purchase extra right form your gallery for $15 each, or the entire gallery of 100 photos for a discounted rate. Example gallery here.
Multiple family sessions:
Have a family reunion coming up? Get some big groups shot and individual photos of every family!
Extended family sessions are a bit more pricey since the more people there are at sessions, the more groupings are involved, and the editing time usually takes me 3x longer than a typical family session, not just because of the wide array of groupings I click and edit, but for the individual face face brightening I often have to edit in big group shots. I
Each session includes shots of each family alone, their kids alone, individuals of each kid, kids with grandparents, grandparents with adult kids, and several big group shots at different locations, and anything else you can think of. Typically, I can get a large group of families done at Austin Park or Skansie Park in 35-40 minutes, and you will end up with close to 100 photos in your gallery.
Locations like Bella Bella Beach, or your home property take 60 mins and costs a bit more. Because if the high output of images, and the fact that families want all the photos to share digital files between everyone, packages start at $400 for one family, and each additional family or set of grandparents is $150. You will receive a fully edited gallery and get to choose your favorite 20 images to download. Extras are $15 each, or you can buy the whole gallery for $150. But it is a great deal, because each family is basically getting their own mini session at the session. Contact me to get an exact quote.
Example albums: 40 minutes at Skansie Park, 60 mins at The DeMolay Sandspit
Sunset Gig Harbor Sandspit Package
(AS OF AUG 14 2021, This package can be done, but it is available "by donation" only due to Coast Guard requirements)
One part boat tour, one part family photo safari, this package is are F-U-N. One dad recently told me it was so fun, that he didn't even have to force a smile for his portraits! These packages combine my two favorite things: clicking photos and taking people on my boat (a new 24-ft open bow SeaRay docked right next to Skansie Park).
1 hour session (about 40 minutes of shooting time after the 10 min boat ride), 25 edited digital images for download, chosen from a fully edited gallery: Donation of $750 plus tax. Additional images can be purchased for $15 each or the entire gallery for a discounted price.
About the boat: I have a 2017, 23 ft open bow SeaRay moored walking distance from Skansie Park. It can comfortably hold up to 10 people. It is super easy to hop off the bow when beaching at the sandspit. Life jackets required for kids 13 and under. I have 13 adult jackets on the boat, 2 kids sizes (50 lbs and above), 1 pink toddler jacket, and a pink infant jacket. If you need additional sizes, bring your own or you can probably find one to borrow on the rack "next door" at Jerisich public dock.
Example albums: Classic edit, Modern Edit
Video Reel Add-on: I recently got a mount for my camera to hold my iPhone14 Pro, because if a photo is worth a thousand words, a video is priceless! I will have a video going the whole time of your session, and I will edit the video footage in a reel with music, capturing all the cuddles and smiles. Because when else will you have video footage of you all looking your best and loving on each other? My guess is never!
If you have a favorite song, send me the youtube link and I can extract the music to use in the video, otherwise I will use my discretion and send you some choices. You choose vertical or horizontal for you video. 1-minute edited video of your 30 minute session: $100. 1:45 to 2-minute edited video of a 60 minute session: $150. Many repeat families say that this is their favorite part of their session, and it always makes them cry!
Examples
60 minute mama and me session at home
Fine Portrait Retouching
All photos are artfully edited for color, light, and overall magical yumminess. Other things I can fix and/or enhance as an add-on fee are:
* double chins
* face slimming
* acne
* backlit and stray hairs
* darken in a thinning hair part-line
* skin smoothing (I can make it look like glowing porcelain)
* teeth whitening
* removing grey hairs off a dark-haired person
* dark circles and eye bags
* wrinkle diminishing on forehead, neck and face
* tasteful torso shrinking (i.e. slight 5-7 lb weight loss)
* arm shrinking
I can basically take 10-15 years off a face!
Things I cannot fix: extreme weight loss, squinting, head swapping from one photo to another.
Retouching your whole gallery: I can proactively modify every photo in your gallery so you never even have to see your wrinkles or double chin! Just choose this option when filling out your booking link that I will send you. I will send a before and after photo as I edit to get your blessing that you love how you look. $100 for a whole 30 min gallery, $150 for a 60 min session
All a carte retouching: After you get your photos back, you may only want a couple retouched. This is $15 per photo (for as many things fixed on the list ^ as you want). Once you download your photos, let me know the file numbers of the ones you want retouched, and I will make a different gallery to send to you to download them when they are done.
Frequently Asked Questions and Session Tips: This is a MUST read! Wondering what to wear, how a session works, or what happens if your kids have a total meltdown? Click here!
Turnaround time:
Each hour I shoot typically takes me 4-5 hours of editing time. You will receive your photos in an online gallery with download instructions for you to print wherever you please. You should receive your style preview gallery in a couple days, and your final gallery no more than 8 days after your tell me which style you prefer. During peak season (Sept-Nov) it could take a couple days longer.
Gift Certificates:
Photos are the best gift ever! Here is a link to purchase one: Gift Certificates
How to Book:
I can’t wait to work with you! Please send me a message using the Contact tab above and include the following info:
1. The location you want to use. If you don't know, click on my Blog tab; I created it just to help clients choose a spot. Each entry spotlights a different location with pros and cons and examples if photos I have taken there. Be sure to click on "older posts" to see them all!
2. What package you would like. All my package prices are located under the "Sessions" tab above.
3. How many family members and their ages. It helps me to start thinking up poses and groupings!
4. Optional: your session goals, if any.
Once we decide on a date and time, I will send you a booking page to fill out a questionnaire and sign a contract. A $50 retainer is due upon booking to reserve your date, which is transferable if it rains on our day. You can pay both the retainer and the remainder (due the day of the session) from that page via Venmo or Paypal. And don't worry if you don't have either; you can use Paypal as a guest and use a credit or debit card.