Documentary Family Photography
Relaxed sessions with no posing and no coaxing because real life is beautiful, as-is.
Let us capture the beauty of your everyday life
Rather than striving to curate perfection with our clients, we’re drawn to the truly genuine and natural parts of life.
We believe there is beauty in those raw, everyday moments and those are the ones that families will treasure for a lifetime because they are attached to real memories, feelings and experiences. For this type of Photo Session, the pressure is off! The more “everyday,” the better—including the laundry and dirty dishes in the background, the toddler-selected outfit, the bandaging of scraped knees, the peeking during dinnertime prayers, the quirkiness of personalities, and any other magic that spontaneously unfolds.
Sessions
All 8 of our Sessions include a private Online Gallery of color and black & white images for viewing and sharing + all high-resolution digital downloads (delivered within 3 weeks of Session date). Purchase of physical Prints, Canvas Wraps, and other products are available through Online Gallery and ship directly. Custom Albums are available as a Session add-on.
Real Life Session
Up to 2hrs | 75+ images | $400
To preserve your current season of life, some favorite activities together, and relaxed, “say cheese” portraits of the whole family. EXAMPLES: preparing a meal together, eating around the dinner table, playing with favorite toys/stuffies, farm chores/yardwork, bathtime/bedtime routine with young kids, Saturday brunch, getting young kids dressed, swing set, trampoline, boardgames, etc.
Homeschool Session
Up to 2hrs | 75+ images | $400
To preserve your current version of “school day”—teaching, learning, exploration, discovery, and family bonds that make your homeschool season & setting unique and memorable. EXAMPLE: studies/lessons/handwriting at the table, a lap-full of kids for a read-aloud with mom, bake/sew something, barefoot nature study with magnifying glasses & sketchbooks in hand, music practice… or whatever is “normal” for your family right now.
Optional $50 Add-on to this Session: School Pictures for each child - an individual, “say cheese” portrait for up to 4 children (additional children $10 each)
Legacy Session
Up to 2.5hrs | 100+ images | $450
To preserve multi-generational bonds, capture favorite memories/activities with grandparents and/or extended family, relaxed portraits of entire family together. EXAMPLES: Make and share a meal together, play a puzzle or game, look through family photo albums, share favorite memory stories around the living room, honor grandparent(s) in some way as a surprise, a favorite family pastime activity.
Documentary Maternity Session
Up to 2hrs | 75+ images | $400
To preserve your season of family life before the addition of Baby’s arrival, and relaxed portraits showcasing Mom’s baby belly. EXAMPLES: possibly in nursery folding little clothes, sorting baby books, having current siblings cuddling around baby belly, capturing dynamic of family awaiting Baby’s arrival.
Birth Story Session
Limited Availability | 100+ images | $1,800
In-home meet-up with Amber at 37 weeks, on call from 38 weeks with 24/7 access, present (to best of ability) to sensitively capture birth as it naturally unfolds from active labor through 1-2 hours after birth (home, hospital, or elsewhere). EXAMPLES: I’d be happy to answer specific questions you have about this type of coverage and share private images of past birth images I’ve photographed as samples, as I don’t post them here on the website. Please inquire about current availability.
Due to the on-call nature of births, unpredictability and varying length of labors, we tighten our service area preference to a 25-mile radius from my home in Lancaster, SC.
*Savings available when you book Maternity and/or Newborn Session(s) during booking.
Documentary Newborn Session
Up to 2hrs | 75+ images | $400
To preserve your season of family life with brand new Baby, and relaxed portraits and details of Baby. Could also serve as a “Meet the Siblings” Session for right after birth. EXAMPLES: sleeping baby, sink/tub bath for baby, nursing/feeding, family holding baby, all family interactions and new dynamics with Baby around, diaper-changing in nursery, crying baby being consoled by parents, details of baby, capture items/gadgets around home.
Special Event Coverage
Up to 3hrs | 100+ images | $400
To capture documentary images of your guest interactions, activities, decor, etc. (No portraits or photo booth—just candid images and features of event as it unfolds naturally). EXAMPLES: birthday party, proposal, reunion, small corporate event, baby shower, baby gender reveal, anniversary party, homeschool event, surprise party, etc.
Simple Senior Session
Up to 1hr | 25+ images | $200
Relaxed portraits with a documentary flair that give a glimpse into your personality, at location of choice, with props of choice. EXAMPLE: a couple different outfits, instrument/sport/other prop, cap & gown, etc.
-
"We're so thankful we had you come document our family. If anyone is considering hiring Amber to capture what your life looks like, I highly recommend her! She is easy to be around and makes the process very unobtrusive so you end up just living life like normal and hanging out with a very fun photographer friend."
MICK
-
"I just wanted to tell you how completely in love I am with these images. This is such a precious gift you've create for us—especially at this time, with all that's going on in our lives. And the images came out so beautifully, full of the little details, expressions, and personal quirks we treasure in our girls. Thank you a thousand times over!"
PHILLIP
-
"WOW, you're amazing!!! You're not only a professional photographer, you're a storyteller and you penned the story exactly how I would want to tell it and how we would want to remember it. You even filled in the blanks to the T! I didn't even see some of the moments happen, but I'll forever get to cherish them."
TRUDY
"This concept is great for other families, but..."
-
Forget what you know about "photo shoots." If you know how to have fun & be comfortable with your family, that's all that matters. "Real life" is beautiful, as-is—no modeling experience required.
-
I bet your husband has an aversion to "photo shoots" from a not-so-fun past experience that may or may not have involved matching outfits and cheesy poses. This is totally different—if your husband enjoys time with your family, all he has to do is live it up while I'm there. He'll probably forget there are even cameras around!
-
Kids will be kids... And to be honest, some of my favorite, most memorable images of clients (and my own family) are during "naughty" moments. Kids do hilarious, mischievous things worth documenting. Plus, capturing images of real parenthood on display is priceless. When you look back, you’ll treasure (and probably laugh at) even the frustrating moments—everything is fleeting and no one is perfect.
-
Is anyone's house really "picture perfect" on a daily basis? Chances are, your home appears "lived in" and that is beautiful, dirty dishes and all. Some day, if/when your house looks like the magazine home you dream of, this current season will make that celebration even sweeter. Embrace it!
-
Documenting the "boring" stuff is still important! Several years ago, my husband and I were the least excited about our lives—living and working out of a small apartment we hated, not feeling fulfilled, no kids or pets. I'm so glad we had a photographer capture that season for us! Now that we have moved forward, we look back feeling encouraged. "Remember when..." seasons propel us.
-
My husband and I are BOTH photographers and we STILL hire a photographer at least once or twice a year to document our life (even before we had any kids). Sure, self-timers are handy, but amazing, genuine images of your candid life are impossible without a third party. Later in life, your kids will want to see you IN photos with them and you’ll be encouraged to see yourself in action with your family. (You may feel uncomfortable on the other side of the camera, but you'll thank yourself later & maybe even shed a few tears.)