Portrait Sessions
A mix of the candid, dynamic, natural, timeless portraits I always deliver, taken from a safe distance, outdoors only. Includes portraits, family, headshots, etc.
Sessions start at $750
Up to 6 people
$100 per additional hour
Groups of 7-10 people are an additional $100
Groups of 11-20 people are an additional $250
You receive approximately 40-50 edited digital files in a personal web gallery where you can download them directly
Sessions typically last between 45-60 minutes
~2 week turnaround time to deliver the edited photos
For indoor locations, my partner Chris and I will be masked the entire time.
Your photos will be edited and made available within 2 weeks in your own private web gallery where you can download them directly and order prints.
2023 updates:
Outdoor sessions are encouraged and prioritized; this could be your front or back yard, or a public outdoor space selected from my list of pre-approved locations, ideally at a time that will allow us to get the best light and to avoid crowds. Early morning or late afternoon/evenings are generally best.
Because of logistical limitations, I will no longer be doing “traditional” newborn sessions.
What does the booking process look like?
Submit a request for a session at the bottom of this page
We will respond to your request via email within two weeks (timing depends on the time of year/my workload but Chris and I try our best to get back to you asap)
Via email, we will work out a date, time, and location and you will be sent a private link to book your session directly (all scheduling and payments are done through this platform; there is a 20% deposit due at the time of booking)
We meet for your session!
You will get an automated reminder via email after your session to pay the remainder of your balance and within 2 weeks of your session date your photos will be delivered in a private gallery for you to view, download, and/or order prints directly
Some post-2020 updates we put in place in order to create as much of a safe and respectful environment as possible for us all:
Outdoor sessions are preferred. Backyards, etc. at your home, or an uncrowded public outdoor location are best.
I will be wearing a mask the entire time for indoor sessions
Extra consideration must be taken in deciding on locations and time of day. If not at your home, the location must be chosen from a list of places I have researched and pre-approved (this is available to clients only, contact me if you are curious about it.) We will avoid crowded locations and times of day.
Looking for more photos? Scroll down to the bottom of this page!
Note: Depending on the time of year and my workload, it may take up to 1-2 weeks for me to respond.
My calendar is currently not open to the public for appointments due to the unpredictability of COVID-19, but you can request one at any time; I will be accepting a limited number of outdoor-only sessions in 2023 and 2024.
You can ask me general questions without submitting a session request here.
Please keep in mind:
I am only doing sessions at your home or at one of the pre-vetted outdoor locations from a list I will share with you. I do not do sessions with access restrictions on photography - see more info in the faq section above.
Session times are typically around sunrise or sunset. This could be as early as 7am and as late as 6pm depending on the time of year.
FYI
I am fully vaccinated and will have my mask on when indoors. In general, I err on the side of caution when it comes to COVID health/safety in my daily life.
If you have recently tested positive for COVID-19, have symptoms but have not been tested, or have had a recent suspected exposure, please contact me to reschedule. I appreciate your respect and consideration in doing so. There is no penalty for rescheduling.
I do not do photo sessions at places that require permits or that have other restrictions on photography or access.
I take all rules and laws seriously, including staying on trails where required, restrictions against dogs, etc. so please do not ask me to bend the rules :)
FAQ
Where should we have our session?
Your home! I also have a location guide of places all around the Bay Area that I have hand-picked and vetted (considering accessibility, aesthetics, parking, dog-friendliness, and whether permits are required.) My guide with selected locations is available to clients only - it is the result of years and years of scouting and trying locations and includes many lesser-known hidden gems.
I do not do sessions at the following locations:
No to: most popular gardens - Japanese Friendship Garden, Hakone Estate & Gardens, Filoli, San Jose Rose Garden, Berkeley Rose Garden, etc. - nice to visit, but all require commercial photography permits (~$100-$300) and usually require photography reservations weeks or months in advance.
No to: state parks - they require difficult-/impossible-to-get and expensive permits and have many restrictions. Rangers regularly issue fines in the hundreds-of-dollars for breaking the stringent rules in these locations. Regional parks are more varied, but many have the same restrictions.
No to: fountains/plazas - bridges fall into this category as well - nice to visit and look at but generally not great for portraits.
No to: most city parks, though the bigger the park (and the more trees), the better it may work - I do have a few exceptions included in my location guide. Another factor to keep in mind is that parks with playgrounds tend to be distracting for small children.
What COVID-related precautions are you taking?
I monitor the ever-changing health and safety regulations for all relevant Bay Area cities, as well as the concentration of COVID in nearby counties. My partner Chris and I are both fully vaccinated, test as needed, and will be masked for the entirety of indoor sessions. We both keep our masks on when we go into the office for our day jobs.
What if we test positive for COVID or are in contact with someone that tests positive for COVID?
All sessions require a deposit to book but if we have to reschedule due to weather or covid, it is fully refundable, minus a 2-3% processing fee.
What should we wear?
For the most part, I recommend wearing whatever you are most comfortable in and to consider layers and footwear depending on the location and time of year.
If I had to choose, I love photographing: bright/vivid solid colors over neutrals and barefoot whenever possible! If you’re concerned about patterns, I’ve found large patterns tend to photograph better than small patterns and if there is more than one person in the portrait, having most people in solids and one or two others in patterns is a good mix.
The sample images on this page show a good mix of casual/dressy, bright/neutral colors etc for you to compare and see what you’re most drawn to.
Can a friend/family member come along to help make my kid smile?
You know your child better than I do but I have found, from numerous past experiences, that this can be more distracting than helpful and that it’s easier for me to engage with kids when we can interact one on one. This also depends on the personality of your child so basically: it’s your call!
