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 family photo session to capture what makes your family unique.
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'll make sure to capture every combination within your family (i.e. kids alone, Mom with kids, Mom/Dad, Dad with 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. I always try to get a mixture.
* 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.
* My sessions are super chill and laid back, and dare I say, FUN.
* I will take charge of posing and tell you want to do and how to look good. I'll show you the back of my camera so you can see how they are turning out. You will even learn tips and tricks to use for every day photos with your phone!
* 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 pride myself on exceptional customer service and communication, 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 edit). More on my two styles here.
* I now offer edited music video reels of your session! Details and examples below.
Family Photo Packages
My 30 and 60 minute packages (packages outlined below) include you in the editing process; within a few days 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!
Austin Park/Donkey Creek Harbor backgrounds and a small wooded area that looks amazing in fall
Kopachuck State Park: woods and beach.
Pt. Defiance Rose Garden, woods, and beach. Great for 60 min sessions.
Sehmel Park Woods woods trail and boardwalk
Sehmel Park Field gold grass and split rail fence area)
Bella Bella Beach (The Demolay Sandspit) Driftwood and beach
The Gig Harbor Lighthouse Sandspit (per Coast Guard rules, by donation only; see package below)
20-minute Spring and Summer Photo Minis and Santa photos
Fast and easy! I offer 20 minute promotional mini sessions on various dates from April-August only. The dates and signups area always posted 2 months ahead of the sessions on this page. When they are created, former clients get emailed first, and then they are announced the next day on my Facebook and Instagram business pages.
30-minute package:
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 in 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 45 edited photos can be purchased easily from your gallery for $135
Available add-ons at booking:
* 1-2 minute video reel: $95
* fine portrait editing, including acne, wrinkles, eye bags, and removing double chins that can pop up at different angles (see full list below): $75
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, the field at 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 only offer 30 minute sessions at these locations:
Skansie Park: 9-10:30AM
Donkey Creek/Austin Park: 9-10:30am
Bella Bella Beach Sandspit on Fox Island AM weekends and PM weeknights (closing late summer 2026 for a remodel)
Kopachuck Park: 11am-noon
Sehmel Homestead Park Woods: 10-12pm
Sehmel Homestead Park: golden field and split rail fence area: weeknights only July-Oct, 2.5 hours before sunset
60-minute package:
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 $150. 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 $125 for grandparents. Scroll below for extended family sessions.
Available add-ons at booking:
* 2-3 minute video reel: $125
* fine portrait editing, including acne, wrinkles, and removing double chins that can pop up at different angles (see full list below): $100
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 different 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 brightening I often have to edit in big group shots.
Each session includes shots of each family alone, their kids alone, individuals of each kid, kids with grandparents, grandparents with adult kids, candids, and several big group shots at different locations, and anything else you can think of. It really is like event photography, hence the higher price point.
Here are full example albums: Skansie Park, The DeMolay Sandspit and the woods of Sehmel Park
Sessions take 35-50 minutes, depending on the location and how many people there are, and you will end up with close to 100 photos in your gallery to choose your final downloads.
These shoots are a great deal, because each family is basically getting their own mini session (valued at $250) at the session.
Because of the high output of images, and the fact that families want all the photos to share digital files between everyone, packages start at $650 for two families and 20 images for download (or one family and one set of grandparents), and $125 for each additional family or set of grandparents (with 5 more image downloads per add on). You will receive a fully edited gallery and get to choose your favorite images to download. Extras are $15 each, or you can buy the whole gallery for only $135 and easily share all the files with the whole family.
If you would just like one big family portrait and nothing else, I can usually get that done in 10 minutes with one background, available at Skansie or Shemel Park only, at select times when I am already there. I don't recommend that option for toddlers, who can take time to warm up, or for having a wide array of choices to choose from. Contact me to get an exact quote.
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 ride, 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 27-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 2023, 27 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.
Sandspit 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. Compressing a 3D human into a 2D image sometimes makes weird face wrinkles and double chins pop up, making us not feel our best! Here is a list of things I can fix and/or enhance:
* double chins
* face slimming
* acne
* backlit and stray hairs
* darken in a thinning hair part-line
* skin smoothing and complexion evening
* teeth whitening
* removing grey hairs off a dark-haired person
* dark circles and eye bags, often caused by uneven light, i.e. in the woods
* 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 if you want
Things I cannot fix: extreme weight loss, squinting, head swapping from one photo to another.
Retouching your whole gallery: I can proactively portrait edit 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.
