Documentary Family Sessions

In-home family photography in Asheville, NC

  • A woman with long hair and a sleeveless black top is blowing bubbles with a bubble wand while a young child reaches up towards the bubbles in front of a white house and trees on a sunny day.

    The Classic Family Session

    1.5 Hours, More or Less

    The classic family session, shot at your home or about town. While mostly candid, I do a fair amount of light directing; not posing, but not pure documentary style. I stay until I’m certain I have a dynamic gallery to deliver, but leave before I start to annoy you. (Also ideal for newborn, urban maternity and couples sessions.)

  • A smiling young child with blue eyes peering through a cutout in a yellow surface.

    Extended Sessions: Half and Full Day in the Life

    Between 4 and 10 Hours

    The more time we spend together, the better the photos will be. Certain things just take time. A half day in the life will include time at home, an adventure or an errand (grocery shopping is surprisingly aesthetically pleasing) and a wind down routine like dinner, bath and bed.
    Yes- I am happy to travel for extended sessions!

  • Family Sessions on Film

    Up to 1 hour

    Family Photography shot on 35mm and 120mm film! A slow, laid-back, intentional approach to the family session, shot in your home. Film produces melty, sublime softness of tone and incomparable vividness of detail. While still candid in nature and never stiff, this medium requires a bit more posing and directing. Perfect for families who want a bit more direction. The instant nostalgia created by film images will help you feel more satiated by and grateful for your life just as it is right now.

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In home & at ease.

Documentary family sessions occur within the structure of your everyday life - your home, your routine, your errands, your outings - but the experience is far from ordinary.

My approach to family photography is a combination of fine art and photojournalism. While the sessions are primarily unposed, I do step in to direct a scene as needed, offer guidance towards finding the best available light, suggest an activity, and just in general do what it takes to make the best pictures possible. The result is a relaxed yet engaging experience for everyone involved, one that will lead you to a greater recognition of all that is beautiful and captivating in your typical day. 

It’s hard to explain exactly what transpires during each documentary session, because no two are the same. My job is to read the mood, light, and energy of the subjects and space, and to make the sessions flow smoothly, capturing the moments of connection as they occur along the way. 

Essentially, you will have an idyllic day, whatever that means to your family. Quiet and calm,  energetic and full of adventure- I’m fascinated by all of it. And a few weeks later, when you see the images for the first time, you will understand why. Life truly is extraordinary, but it’s easy to lose sight of that. It’s good to get a reminder. It’s worth it.

Documentary Family Photography Work

A woman with curly hair in a striped shirt watching a young child with a pacifier, sitting on the edge of a vintage green bathtub in a teal-tiled bathroom.
Three children in a bedroom, smiling and playing, with a bed and bookshelves in the background.
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Two young girls jumping on a bed in a bedroom with natural light coming through the window.
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A woman and a young girl sharing an embrace outdoors, with the woman kissing the girl on her cheek.
A family of three, two adults and a young child, laughing and playing together in a cozy living room. The child is riding a plush sheep rocking toy, while the adults watch and smile. The woman is kneeling on the floor, wearing an orange pair of pants
A child with a raised fist looking out a window at a butterfly outside.
Three children playing in a backyard with a wooden fence and green trees. One child with blonde hair and a light-colored shirt is in the foreground, partially out of focus. Two other children are in the background running on the grass, one with curly
Two young women lying on the floor by a window, bathed in sunlight, relaxing indoors.
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A baby lying on the floor near a pile of blankets in a cozy room.
A pregnant woman is sitting in a comfortable armchair, laughing, with sunlight coming through the window behind her. She is wearing a black tank top and a beige cardigan, with her belly exposed. The room has pink walls, green plants, and a wooden sid
A young woman with long brown hair lying on a couch, smiling while cuddling with two dogs, a black and tan German Shepherd and a smaller brown dog.
Two children, a girl and a younger girl, are riding a swing set outdoors, with another person partially visible behind them, all in motion.
A woman holding a young child close to her chest by a window, with a mirror reflecting a girl in a dress in the background.
A man holding a baby girl in a kitchen with a woman sitting at a round wooden table, looking thoughtful, during daytime.
A young girl standing on a dining table with a dog lying on the floor nearby. The table has placemats and a vase with greenery, in a modern dining room with wooden flooring.
Family playing on the floor: a woman and man are sitting with two young children, one boy and one girl, in a room with a toy horse and a small table. The woman and children are smiling and having fun.
A person with tattoos on their arm holding a child close to their face outdoors near a river, with the sun shining through the child's face, surrounded by trees and mountains.
A man with a beard and a plaid shirt holds a young child, possibly a toddler, close to his face. The child is wearing a white knitted sweater and is nestled against the man's chest, creating an intimate and tender moment.

“These are each such works of art and it's beyond meaningful to have such tenderness captured. I also have to say that I've had my picture and space photographed a handful of times over the last bunch of years and the TIME we spent with you was definitely the most easy and natural I've ever felt. You're so warm and breezy and silly. It really did feel like hanging with a bud.”

— LARA

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