Let’s be honest, professional photography isn’t cheap. Some parents ask themselves, is the cost of a family photographer really worth it when I have a camera in my hand every day in the form of my phone? We all have to be mindful of our budgets, of course, but the fact is that professional family photography offers so much more value than the price tag alone. Here’s why you’ll thank yourself for investing in family photography.

Family photos serve so many great purposes. They create an opportunity for a fun family outing, give you a lifelong reminder of this chapter in your family’s story, and give you a way to get stunning custom decor for your home. There’s another handy perk too: they make fantastic gifts. As much as your loved ones might enjoy seeing your family portraits on social media, they’ll be thrilled to be able to enjoy them in their own home too. During this season when you’re looking for special gifts for your loved ones, check out these popular ideas for premium photo gifts.

Planning outfits for a photo session, whether it’s family photography, maternity photography, or other types of portraits, is an important part of preparing for your session. While some of my fashion-minded clients love the opportunity to go shopping and other clients feel intimidated by styling. That’s why I offer personal styling services in which I visit you for an in-home consultation and actually help you choose the outfits for your family’s session.

This isn’t a service many photographers offer, so why do I include it in my packages? Because I know that outfit planning can be stressful and because your outfits make a powerful difference in your photos in several ways.

No matter how well your kids normally listen to instructions and corporate on family outings, every parent has at least some anxiety before a family photo session about how their kids will handle it. Will they listen to the photographer’s instructions and smile nicely when they need to, or will they be grumpy and have a hard time sitting still?

I can tell you from experience (both as a photographer and as a parent) that there are never any guarantees. It helps if you take some prep steps, though, so try out these tips.

If you have any photographer friends or if you’re a selfie expert, you might have heard of the “golden hour.” What exactly is the golden hour and does it matter for your outdoor portraits? As a Seattle area family photographer, I’ll give you the essentials I’d want my clients to know.

Fall is utterly gorgeous in the Pacific Northwest, so it should come as no surprise that autumn is one of the most popular times for outdoor portraits in the Seattle area. Who doesn’t love a cozy family photo with colorful trees in the background? If you’re planning to take advantage of the fall season, use these tips to plan the perfect fall portrait wardrobe.

The newborn stage is such an incredible and unique part of life. You’re getting to know your new baby, establishing a schedule of feedings and naps, and beginning a truly lifelong journey with your child. Newborn photography is a wonderful way to save a piece of this experience forever, but there’s one question so many parents ask: when is the right time for newborn photos?
Whether you want to know when to take newborn photos or when to schedule them, I have the answers you need.

Why invest in newborn photography? There are plenty of reasons why newborn photography is worth the cost and effort – some sentimental, and some practical. From my experience as both a mom and a photographer, these are the top benefits to consider.