What to Expect at a Dallas Family Photo Session
Most people who email me about family photos have the same worry, and it is rarely about the photos. It is about the hour: will the kids melt down, will everyone look stiff, and will I end up with one decent picture after all that effort?
So here is what a family session with me actually looks like, start to finish. I photograph families across Dallas–Fort Worth, and the honest answer to that worry is that the meltdowns are usually where the best frames come from.
Before the session: a short plan
Every session starts with a styling and location conversation. We pick a place that means something to your family (a park you already walk, your backyard, or your living room floor), and I help with what to wear so you are not guessing. Soft neutrals and clothes that feel like you work almost every time.
If you want ideas for places, my guide to Dallas portrait locations covers the spots I shoot most, including Lakeside Park, Prather Park and White Rock Lake.
During: about 90 minutes at golden hour
The full Portrait Experience runs about 90 minutes, and we shoot at golden hour, when the light is soft and forgiving. I get a few frames of everyone together early, while the kids are still fresh. After that I mostly get out of the way.
The photo at the top is the kind of moment I mean. Nobody was told to say anything. A big brother did something silly, his little sister leaned in, and it was over in about two seconds. I am not trying to direct that. I am trying to be ready for it.
What if my kids will not sit still?
Good. I do not want them to. My approach is documentary, so we walk, explore, pick each other up and play, and I catch the real moments in between. There is no pressure for perfect behavior, and you do not have to know what to do with your hands. I give gentle direction throughout, and your only job is to love on your people.
Even the quiet, serious looks are worth keeping. This little one had no interest in smiling for the camera, her parents loved her anyway, and that is the whole picture.
What it costs, and what you get
The Portrait Experience begins at $750. It includes the styling and location consultation, golden hour at a curated DFW location, gentle direction, and a full high-resolution gallery with printing rights, delivered within two weeks.
In the fall I also offer 30-minute mini sessions at $375, with 10 hand-edited images. Those fill quickly, especially weekends.
Booking
A signed agreement and a 50% reservation fee hold your date, and the balance is due before the session. See family session details, or send me a note about your family and I will tell you what is open. I answer every inquiry personally.
Looking for a Dallas family photographer? See how a session works, browse family portrait locations, or read about Highland Park, Bluffview, Preston Hollow, Lakewood, Oak Cliff, and the suburbs: Plano, Frisco, Fort Worth, Southlake.