The Value of Family Portraits
Time moves too quickly. One day your children are taking their first steps, and before you know it, they're heading off to college or starting families of their own. As parents, we feel this passing of time most acutely—wishing we could somehow hold onto these fleeting moments with our children. While we can't stop time, you can preserve these precious chapters of your family's story through thoughtfully crafted portraits.
As your photographer, I'll help you capture not just how your family looks, but how it feels to be together in this moment—the connections, the personalities, the love that defines you. The result? Images that become more treasured with each passing year, providing tangible memories that your children (and someday their children) will hold dear for generations. Unlike so many things we acquire, family photographs uniquely increase in value over time, becoming irreplaceable heirlooms that tell your family's story long after the moments themselves have passed.
Taking the First Step
We know that creating meaningful family portraits involves more than just showing up for a session. You want to know what the experience includes, what investment to expect, and how soon your family can be photographed.
Getting everyone together for portraits can be challenging—coordinating schedules, planning outfits, and ensuring everyone looks their best. That's why when you choose us, we guide you through every step of the process. Our clients don't just leave with digital files that rarely get enjoyed; they receive beautifully framed artwork, ready to hang, that becomes a cherished focal point in their home.
Ready to learn more? Enter your information below to access our portrait guide and receive expert tips on how to get the most out of your family portrait experience. From choosing the perfect time of year to coordinating outfits and preparing your family, we'll share everything you need to create portraits worth treasuring.
Family Portrait Experience
Creating meaningful family portraits involves more than just taking pictures—it's about capturing authentic moments and connections that tell your family's unique story. My approach is carefully designed to make the entire process enjoyable and stress-free, resulting in images you'll treasure for generations.
In the sections below, you'll discover how we prepare for your session during our consultation, create a relaxed and natural atmosphere during your photoshoot, and apply expert editing and retouching afterward. This thoughtful process ensures that every detail contributes to portraits that become more valuable with each passing year.
Before Your Session
We'll begin with a consultation to understand your vision for your family portraits. During this time, we'll discuss clothing coordination, explore location options based on the season, and provide personalized preparation tips. Every season in Colorado offers unique opportunities for family portraits—from spring blossoms and summer greenery to autumn's rich colors and winter's intimate indoor settings or crisp snow scenes. Together, we'll select the perfect timing and backdrop to complement your family's style and story.
During Your Session
Creating a comfortable experience for every family member
Sessions are relaxed and enjoyable, with clear direction so everyone feels confident. Parents appreciate that I know how to connect with children of all ages—keeping their attention and capturing genuine expressions. You can change outfits and visit different locations based on your package.
Personalized sessions that capture your family's unique dynamic
Your family's personality and relationships shape the entire experience. Together we'll choose locations that complement your style—whether it's urban settings, natural landscapes, or your own home. Your session will reflect the authentic connections that make your family special.
After Your Session
Professional quality from capture to print
The technical skills developed over decades make a meaningful difference in your final images. We use thoughtful lighting techniques that flatter without looking artificial. Our retouching is natural and subtle, preserving authentic expressions while ensuring everyone looks their best. This attention to detail ensures your portraits stand out with a polished, professional quality.
Gallery delivery
Within two weeks of your session, you'll receive access to your personalized online gallery showcasing your 50-100 professionally retouched family portraits. All images have been enhanced with our signature natural retouching technique.
Print ordering
Along with your gallery, you'll receive your print credit and access to our online professional lab portal, where you can browse our curated collection of premium print products. The intuitive ordering system allows you to visualize different sizes and products for your home. After placing your order, your beautifully finished prints will arrive at your doorstep two to three weeks later, providing tangible memories to display and enjoy for generations.
Family Portrait Locations
- Urban Settings
- Downtown streets, colorful murals, and architectural elements provide a contemporary backdrop for more editorial-style family portraits.
- Natural Locations
- Open fields, trails, and parks offer beautiful settings for classic outdoor family portraits with Colorado's natural beauty.
- Mountain Spots
- For dramatic outdoor scenery, locations in Poudre Canyon or Big Thompson Canyon create unforgettable backdrops. Destination locations like Rocky Mountain National Park are also available.
- Your Home
- One of our most popular options is to photograph your family at your home, creating personal portraits in your yard, garden, or inside your home where everyone is most comfortable and relaxed.
- Your Special Place
- Have a location that's meaningful to your family? A favorite hiking trail, vacation spot, or someplace unique to your family story? Let's discuss incorporating it into your session.
Family Portrait Pricing
Our family portrait pricing includes your personalized consultation, photography session, 50-100 professionally retouched images, online gallery, and a generous portrait print credit.
As full-service portrait photographers, we create tangible memories meant to last. Your portrait print credit provides access to elegantly framed wall portraits, artisan albums, contemporary display pieces, and more. We provide an intuitive online ordering system, and we're available to offer help if you need assistance selecting the perfect art pieces for your home.
With our longer session packages, we have more time together. This means we can visit multiple locations and you'll have more time for outfit changes if desired. The additional time significantly increases the variety of images to choose from and creates a more diverse portrait collection that truly captures your family's unique story.
$1000 Classic Package
Perfect for a wall portrait plus some additional images
- $500 portrait print credit
- 25 professionally retouched high resolution images
- 30-minute photography session
- Single location
- Online gallery
$1500 Keepsake Package
More images and print credit to capture your family's personality
- $1000 portrait print credit
- 50 professionally retouched high resolution images
- 1 hour photography session
- Multiple locations
- Online gallery
$2000 Heirloom Package
Extended session with more variety and larger printing options
- $1500 portrait print credit
- 75 professionally retouched high resolution images
- 1.5 hour photography session
- Multiple locations
- Online gallery
$2500 Masterpiece Package
Complete family portrait experience with maximum images and flexibility
- $2000 portrait print credit
- 100 professionally retouched high resolution images
- 2 hour photography session
- Multiple locations
- Online gallery
Family Portrait Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Why invest in professional family portraits?
Family portraits capture connections and relationships that change over time. Unlike candid snapshots, these images:
- Celebrate your family at this specific moment in your journey together
- Provide polished images for holiday cards, home decor, and gifts for extended family
- Create lasting memories that become more valuable with each passing year
- Document your family's growth and evolution over time
Professional portraits capture genuine interactions and expressions—not stiff, awkward poses. With proper lighting, direction, and editing, your family will look natural and at ease in images worth displaying and preserving.
Can you accommodate extended family groups?
Yes! While our standard packages are designed for immediate families, we can create custom sessions for extended family groups of any size. Extended family portraits are wonderful opportunities to capture relationships across generations—grandparents with grandchildren, cousins, siblings, and the entire family together.
Since "extended family" can mean different things to different people (from 8 to 80 people!), we create customized packages based on your specific needs, group size, and desired outcomes. Contact us to discuss your extended family portrait vision, and we'll design a session perfectly tailored to capture those important connections. deadlines.
When is the best time for family portraits?
Spring (April-June) and summer (July-August) offer ideal lighting and comfortable conditions for outdoor family portraits in Northern Colorado. Fall (September-October) provides stunning colors but books extremely quickly. For families with young children, scheduling around nap times and when children are typically at their best ensures a more enjoyable experience.
When should I book our session?
For the best selection of dates, book 2-3 months in advance. Our spring and summer sessions book quickly, especially weekend dates.
What's included in the session fee?
The session fee includes the initial consultation, photo session, editing, retouching, digital files, and online gallery. Session fees also include a gift card in the amount of your print credit that you can use to purchase prints and other products through our online professional photo lab portal.
When do I pay the session fee?
A 50% deposit is due when you book your appointment. The remaining balance is due one week before your session. Please note that session fees are non-refundable.
What if we need to reschedule our session?
We monitor weather closely and will contact you if conditions look problematic. We can reschedule your outdoor portrait session to a time that works for both of us. Your session fee transfers to the new date in case of weather cancellations or other unforeseen events.
What defines a "location" in our portrait session?
A location is any distinct setting that requires transportation between sites. Places we can explore on foot count as a single location, even if we visit multiple spots—like downtown Windsor's Main Street, Boardwalk Park, and alleyways, or various spots across a neighborhood park.
When we need to drive between settings, each new destination counts as an additional location. This approach allows us to maximize your actual photography time within your session by focusing on walkable areas with diverse backdrops.
What should we wear?
Coordinating (not matching) outfits work best for family portraits. Choose a cohesive color palette with 2-3 complementary colors and avoid large logos or distracting patterns. Solid colors and simple patterns photograph beautifully. During your consultation, we'll discuss specific clothing recommendations based on your chosen location and the season.
How should we prepare for our session?
What to wear:
- Coordinated outfits that complement each other without perfectly matching
- Clothing everyone feels comfortable and confident in
- Layered options for versatility in your portraits
- Shoes that match the location (consider bringing a second pair if needed)
Before your session:
- Schedule haircuts 1-2 weeks ahead (not the day before)
- For young children, plan around nap times and meals
- Make sure everyone gets enough rest the night before
- Don't stress about temporary skin issues—professional editing handles those
What to bring:
- All outfits on hangers
- Water and snacks, especially for longer sessions with children
- Small, non-messy rewards for young children
- Comfort items for babies and toddlers
How do you handle sessions with young children?
I have extensive experience photographing families with children of all ages. Sessions with young children are kept engaging and playful, with frequent transitions and gentle guidance. I understand that kids need breaks, snacks, and sometimes a little extra patience—and I build that flexibility into our time together. My goal is to capture genuine expressions and interactions, which means allowing children to be themselves within a structured framework.
Do I get digital files with my package?
Yes! All packages include professionally edited digital images perfect for sharing online.
What can I expect to get with the print credit for my session?
Each photoshoot session includes a print credit. For example, our Keepsake package includes a $900 print credit. This order could include…
- A Gallery Frame with non glare glass: A beautiful statement piece for your living room or hallway.
- A Signature Photo Album: Each book includes multiple pages and serves as a wonderful keepsake.
- 8x10 and 5x7 Prints: Ideal for desks, side tables, or smaller wall spaces. Also great for gifting to grandparents.
While this is just an example of what you can get for $900, slight variations in pricing can occur. During our initial phone consultation, we'll share our complete product price list so you can review all pricing details ahead of time.
What if we go over our scheduled time?
The last thing I want to do is cut a session short when we're getting great photos. You can add additional time to your session on the spot if needed. Additional time is $100 per 1/2 hour, which includes both the extra photography time and the preparation of those images for your review.
How soon will we see our pictures?
Within two weeks of your session, you'll receive access to your personalized online gallery showcasing your family portraits. From the comfort of your home, browse through your images and select your favorites for professional retouching.
How soon can we expect our finished portrait prints?
Once you place your order, please allow about 2 weeks for your portraits to be printed and delivered to your door.
When is payment required for our order?
Full payment is required when you checkout through our online professional photo lab portal. Please note that all orders are custom-made and non-refundable.
Do you save our files?
Yes, we save your files—but only those you've ordered. All images ordered from your session are archived for up to one year. Please note that any images not ordered during your purchasing appointment will not be saved.
Now Booking Family Sessions!
The best dates fill quickly, especially weekends. Please send us an email by filling out the form below. We'll get right back to you to set up a time for us to talk. If you'd like to get started now, feel free to call us at (970) 744-3611.