Family photo sessions have a reputation of being stressful and awkward, but with the right photographer it doesn’t have to be that way! Instead of being asked to just stand there and smile, you’ll be given fun prompts and activities to do together that bring out real smiles and build family connection.
“Not only do I absolutely LOVE the photos Michaela captured of our family, she also provided us with a very fun experience! She is engaging, sweet, and personable. I enjoyed the music she played during our shoot and the ways she encouraged our family to interact in a natural way for us. Everything was seamless and easy. She’s clearly a pro in all the ways!”
What if if my child isn’t cooperative during the photo session?
My approach is to let kids be kids and photograph them as they are, so you’ll never ever see me pressure a hyper child to sit still or a shy child to smile simply because they were told to. It makes such a huge difference to use fun activities that give you and your kids reasons to smile and giggle instead of just telling you to smile.
I also have some helpful tips for you as a parent to keep in mind that I’ve included in my guide on how to prepare your children for a photo session.
How much should I expect to invest for family photos?
Most packages range from $300-500. I also offer seasonal mini sessions and special deals a few times a year. The best way to stay in the loop about these opportunities is to join my email list.
“Our family really enjoyed working with Michaela. She arrived on time, maintained a friendly demeanor, and made us feel at ease throughout the session. She is attentive to details and creative! I really love the candid photos she took of our family!”
What location should we choose for our family photo session?
The best way for you to get started with planning this aspect of your photo session is to browse through my location guide, which includes helpful details about all of my favorite photoshoot locations near Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon.
What should we wear for our family photos?
The brief answer is that you should aim for neutral, earthy tones, comfortable textures, and patterns should be kept minimal to none. For more detailed advice, check out my styling guide! I’ll also be giving you personalized styling advice leading up to your session.
“I’m so happy I chose to do our family photos with Michaela. She had a magic bringing the natural smiles out of my kids. My 5-year-old son who always thinks it’s annoying whenever I take his photos actually said post session that the photo session with Michaela was so much fun, as if going to the playground!”
What if we need to raincheck or cancel?
If a session needs to be postponed due to weather, sickness, etc., your deposit can be applied to one reschedule without a fee. Any additional reschedules are $30 for more than 24 notice or $60 for less than 24 hour notice. If you choose to cancel your session entirely, your deposit is nonrefundable.
How far do you travel for photo shoots?
I don’t really have a limit as long as it works with my schedule, but there are travel fees for locations more than 30 miles from where I’m based (area code 98663). Travel fees for additional miles are calculated based on the federal mileage reimbursement rate of $0.65/mile.
“Michaela took our very first family portraits this summer and she was a wizard at getting the kids to engage and have fun. Extremely professional and charming, and her pictures are everything I’d hoped for and more. I can’t wait to see these pictures on my walls.”
How are the photos delivered?
Your final images will be delivered through an online gallery where you’ll be able to download them in high resolution for prints and/or web size for social media. You will also be able to share this link with others and order prints directly through the site.
Do you provide the RAW photos?
My images are intended to reflect my skill and style not only as a photographer, but also as a photo editor. Because my unedited RAW images don’t fully reflect the quality of my work, I don’t offer them to my clients.
Can you edit out my acne, double chin, wrinkles, etc.?
I typically only make minor adjustments to your appearance such as teeth whitening, skin smoothening, and eye brightening. No matter your age, color, size, etc., you are beautiful and worthy of being photographed exactly as you are!