Frequently Asked Questions

I'm based in San Bruno, CA but I travel for sessions throughout the Bay Area.

The most simple and honest answer is that I am so incredibly passionate about what I do and why I do it -- I capture precious, beautiful moments of the ones you love. You will receive enjoyment each time you look at your photos, but the true value of what we've created won't be realized for at least 30 years. You have stopped a moment in time and provided a priceless gift for the future generations.

When shooting outdoors, I’m a natural light, lifestyle photographer.  What this means is that you won't see me carrying heavy lighting equipment around the park with us. Instead I find the best location with the most flattering light and that's where I'll photograph you. I aim to capture the genuine love, emotion and connection between you and your family. I'll capture both the perfectly posed photos and the candid natural photos as well in a fun, enjoyable, relaxed way. 

When shooting indoors, I only have the best professional lighting for our needs.

Expect to have fun with your family! Expect to laugh, cuddle, kiss, play with one another! There's not a lot of stress during the session. I might guide you into different positions, ask you to stand in certain spots where the light is the best, and then offer suggestions on what to do, how to interact, where to look, etc. As long as you trust me, your final images will take your breath away.

For indoor sessions, the time is pretty flexible. I always like to suggest a morning time (around 10am) as babies/young kids are usually a bit more relaxed and happy in the mornings. 

Outdoor sessions take place during golden hour, which is the time of day just after sunrise or just before sunset - where the light is beautiful, flattering and, well, just generally pretty magical!  The sunset times changes quite a lot depending on the season, and in summer, this can make the start times either really early in the morning or much later in the evening. If you have really little kids I totally understand how off-putting that sounds! As much as I hate messing with kids' sleep schedules, I promise you, for this one day, it is totally worth the small disruption and will make your photos extra special! 

Being in the Bay Area, the possibilities are endless. We're so lucky to live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world – there's so much to explore! The first thing I would suggest doing is thinking of somewhere that is meaningful to you as a family. Do you live for summer beach days? Do you love going on walks together at a favorite park? Do you have a favorite hiking or biking path? Do you love spending your days cuddling on the couch and playing in your cozy family home? If you have some ideas, but want to talk more about a specific location – I’m more than happy to chat more and make some suggestions! Let's make it personal to you and you will love the result even more! 

I absolutely love in-home sessions! Portraits are so much more special when your family is in your own cozy space.

For Family Sessions in your home -- When I arrive, I’ll have a quick walk through your house to find the rooms with the best natural light we’ll generally use 2-3 rooms; often the master bedroom, living room and sometimes a kid’s bedroom – but this really is dependent on where the light is. Please don’t feel like you need to spend days cleaning and preparing your home – it is helpful if you can do a bit of de-cluttering in the rooms mentioned as we don’t want anything too distracting in the images, but your house doesn’t need to look like a show home. Once we decide where we'll photograph, it's easy to just set aside anything that we don't want in the background.

For Newborn Session in your home -- I do all newborn posing using your dining or kitchen table. I'll bring everything I need to capture beautiful portraits of your little one -- lighting, backdrops, props, baby outfits, and more. All you have to do is sit back and relax. Most parents use this time to answer emails, catch up on work, or even take a much-needed power nap!

Absolutely. As your kids get older, their most cherished photos will be the ones that include parents. They will love seeing their family and how you have changed through the years. I especially love when grandparents join and we're able to get really special portraits with them too! 

For Maternity and/or Newborn Sessions, the best time to book is in your second trimester. There's a lot of planning and preparation that goes on so it's best to book early. Don't put it off until the end of your pregnancy. You'll be too busy with baby shower prep and nesting, and you'll be feeling tired and uncomfortable. Reserve your session today!

For Family Sessions, the best time to book is now. You'll never regret having your family photos taken. You'll only regret if you don't take them. 

Check availability here and reserve your session today.

The ultimate goal is that you FEEL amazing in whatever you wear, which means you also need to be comfortable. But, without a doubt there are choices you can make about what to wear that will make your session that little bit extra special to look back on.

Some tips:

• Neutrals are timeless!
• Flowy skirts / maxi dresses or simple, classic basics matched with textured overlays (scarfs, kimonos, cardigans) photograph really beautifully.
• Pretty please don't wear shirts with big graphics, logos, lettering - or mixing too many different patterns.
• It’s always nice if your family can wear complimentary colors - but not matchy-matchy.  Moms, it’s great if you can pick your outfit first (take this opportunity to go out and buy yourself something you love and feel AMAZING in!) and coordinate the rest of the family around YOU.
• Try to avoid blacks and really dark colors if you're having an in-home family or newborn session OR if you’re having a maternity session (as black can hide your beautiful bump!)
• For newborns, keep it simple – a plain white onesie  (which doesn’t cover their tiny little fingers and toes) paired with a beautiful swaddle or blanket. Oh, and for newborn sessions, always safe to have a couple of back up outfits – for you and bubs – just incase…
• Consider the location where you will be having your photo session when choosing your outfit - eg. shoes and socks for a session at the beach is not going to be practical.
• If you’re feeing completely uninspired by your current wardrobe but can’t afford to purchase something you really love, you can also consider renting a dress! Mama Bump Rentals has an absolutely STUNNING collection of dresses, suitable for maternity, newborn or family sessions. I highly recommend checking them out!

Still stuck? You're always welcome to send me pics and let me help you decide ;) 

While it's not always in my bag all at the same time, this is the gear I shoot with:

• Canon EOS R
• Canon 5Dmiii
• Canon EF 24-105 f/4
• Canon EF 70–200 f/2.8
• Canon EF 50 f/1.2
• Canon EF 85 f/1.2
• Canon EF 35 f/1.4

For publications and media: If you're seeking images or content for a publication or story, I have a private collection of images you may browse through. Image licenses are Rights-Managed and only available with explicit permission from my clients.

I do! If you want to learn about newborn photography, please check out the information here.

You certainly can, but I don't recommend it. Digital files are the least archival of all the products I sell. Prints last 100+ years and will be heirlooms loved by generations. Digital archivists are already seeing digital rot and corruption. We don’t know their longevity and the ability to open them in the future. Please invest in stunning products that bring a smile to your face each time you look at them.

High-resolution digital images with print release are available for purchase. Also, with every print you buy, a social media sized digital image with my logo accompanies the print. Perfect to share on Facebook, Instagram, etc.