What Actually Happens When You Book a Family Session With Me (From First Hello to Final Print)
If you've ever wondered what booking a professional family photographer actually looks like from start to finish, you are in good company. Most people have no idea what to expect, and that uncertainty is one of the biggest reasons families put off booking a session year after year. You want the photos. You know you'll love them. You just aren't sure what you're signing up for. This post is here to change that. I'm walking you through my entire process, from the first time you reach out to the moment your prints arrive, so you know exactly what to expect at every step.
Why I Think the Process Matters as Much as the Photos
Professional family photos are a real investment, and not just financially. You're investing your time, your energy, and truly, a fair amount of trust. You're letting someone into the middle of your family's real life, on a day when you're hoping the kids cooperate and everyone looks good and nobody has a meltdown in the parking lot.
My whole approach is built around making that experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible. The vast majority of my clients walk away relieved by how easy it was. Lauren and Nate put it well: "She thought of every detail, and walked me through the process. Literally everything from setting a date, choosing a location, choosing outfits."
I've spent years thinking through every detail of this experience, because when you're relaxed and enjoying yourselves, it shows in the images — and it's what keeps so many families coming back.
Step One: We Actually Talk
No booking forms that disappear into the void. When you reach out, we get on the phone together for a short call - really, about 15 minutes.
During that call, I'll share my process and offerings, and we'll find a date that works for everyone (which, yes, includes coordinating around jobs, soccer practice, and whatever else is on your family's calendar). We'll also talk through location and the general vibe you're going for.
A few things to keep in mind when we're picking a date: Spring and fall are my busiest seasons around Washington DC. If you have your heart set on those gorgeous golden leaves or cherry blossoms, reach out early. Time of day matters. For babies and young children, early morning light is beautiful and kids are usually at their best. If mornings aren't realistic, late afternoon - about 1.5 hours before sunset - also gives us wonderful light. Rain happens. I monitor the forecast closely (WeatherBug is my go-to) and I'll make a call the night before or morning of if we need to reschedule. Keep the faith with me on this one.
Once we confirm the details, booking is fully online and takes just a few minutes. A signed contract and session fee of $250 lock in your spot.
Step Two: Getting Ready (This Is Where It Gets Fun)
Once you're officially booked, you'll receive access to my custom Prep and Style Guide. This thing took years to build and refine, and it covers just about everything: outfit ideas, how to coordinate colors across your whole family, what to expect on session day, and how to think about your final print products.
I'll also send you a short questionnaire so I can customize our session before we ever meet. Some of my favorite questions in there:
- Tell me about each child and their personality.
- What's your favorite feature of each of them - their eyelashes, freckles, chunky baby legs?
- Tell me about your spouse or partner.
- How long have you been together and how did you meet?
- What do you want to remember most about this stage of life?
These details help me show up knowing your family, not just your names. It means I know which kid might need some extra time to warm up, and I know to look for that quiet moment between you and your partner.
And beyond the guide, I'm available to you directly. Send me links to outfits you're considering, photos of what you're trying to decide between - I'll give you my honest expert opinion on what photographs well.
On posing: don't worry about it. I hear this concern all the time. Most people assume "natural-looking" photos just happen. They don't, really. I'll guide you through every placement - arms, legs, hands, where to look, how to stand. The goal is for you to feel relaxed and directed without feeling stiff. Amanda and Ryan said it perfectly: "You put us at ease and even got Grant to relax and smile."
Step Three: The Session Itself
A few days before we meet, I'll send a reminder email with a final checklist and the exact meeting location. No guessing where to park or where to find me.
On session day, I'll show up with everything I need - including toys and a repertoire of tricks for getting genuine smiles out of kids who have decided today is not the day for photos.
Here's how a typical session flows: We ease in. There's no rush. I keep two hours open for every session, which gives us room to breathe. Sometimes we wrap up early because we've gotten everything we need. Sometimes we use the full time. Either way, nobody feels rushed. We take breaks. While the kids get some room to run around and decompress, I'll often use that time to capture some couples photos - which, for a lot of my clients, are the first real photos of just the two of them since their wedding. I also use this time for individual kid shots and sibling combinations, which gives you great variety in your final gallery. I watch for the good stuff. Some of my favorite images (and my clients' favorites) happen in the in-between moments. The silly face, the real laugh, the way your youngest always grabs your hand. I stay close and I pay attention.
I also take care of permit fees and paperwork. (Yes, many locations around Washington DC require permits for professional photography. I've got it handled.)
Step Four: After We Say Goodbye
Once your session wraps, here's what happens next:
- Sneak peek within the week. Just a little something to tide you over! Plus some info on my gallery system
- Full gallery in about 30 days. I'll send it to you as a beautiful slideshow, with music. My honest recommendation: pour yourself a glass of wine, light a candle, and make it an experience. You've earned it.
- One day to watch and share the slideshow, then you'll choose your Collection - some images with print credit, all images with more print credit, or somewhere in between. I typically deliver around 50+ images per session.
- A full month after that to select your specific digital files and print products. Zero pressure. I'll be right here if you have questions.
About those prints: Every collection includes print credit because I think your photos deserve to live somewhere other than a hard drive. If you're not sure where to start with printing, I wrote a whole post about that.
Prints, albums, linen boxes, canvas - all produced by an archival-quality lab I've personally tested, so what you see on your screen is what you'll hold in your hands.
My linen albums are a personal favorite. They're handcrafted with smooth matte paper and lay-flat spreads, built to be passed down through generations. These are the kind of keepsakes that end up on coffee tables and bookshelves, the ones your grandchildren will one day flip through.
This Is What It's All Meant to Be
Here's what I keep coming back to: I don't just take photos for you. I take them for your grandchildren and your great-grandchildren. These images are proof of the love and laughter that filled your days during this exact, specific, beautiful and chaotic season of life.
The process I've built exists to protect that. I want you to show up on session day feeling prepared, not stressed. I want you to walk away with a gallery that actually looks like your family, not some polished version of it. And I want you to hold something in your hands at the end that will still matter decades from now.
Most of my clients leave surprised by how easy it was. I'd love that to be your experience too.
Ready to See How This Works for Your Family?
If this sounds like the kind of experience you've been looking for, I'd love to chat. We'll hop on a quick 15-minute call, talk through your family, your vision, and figure out the right date and location together.
Get in touch here and let's get something on the calendar before the best dates fill up - especially if you're hoping for spring or fall.
Your family's story is worth capturing. Let's make it something you can hold onto.
