I like a good portrait. But when I look through a family gallery, I also want to see where they were, what they were doing, and the smaller things happening around them.
A photo of everyone looking at the camera can be lovely. It just doesn’t have to carry the whole session.
Scenes, connections, and details
I try to think about these three things while I’m photographing. A wider frame gives you the place. A closer one shows how people interact. A detail might be a child’s curls, a little hand on your face, or something they’ve carried around all afternoon.
Putting those photos together matters to me. They can say much more as a sequence than they do on their own. That’s the storytelling part of my approach.
What documentary family photography means to me
I’m interested in what’s already there. How your child comes over to you, how you hold your baby, what your family likes doing together. I might suggest exploring the yard or sitting with a book, but I don’t need every moment to turn into a pose.
I’ll still help with direction. I know it can feel strange to have someone following you with a camera. The goal is to give you enough guidance to relax, without taking over what’s happening.
A Vermont family session doesn’t need a big activity
Living in Fairfax, I’m lucky to photograph around Northern Vermont. There are plenty of beautiful places, but a session doesn’t have to depend on a dramatic view or perfect autumn leaves.
Your backyard can be enough. So can a familiar walk or an afternoon at home. I like including the environment because it’s part of the story—not because every photo needs an impressive backdrop.
The things you might forget
Sometimes a small detail seems unimportant when I take it. But children change so quickly. The way they fit against your shoulder or the curls at the back of their head won’t always look the same.
I want to leave room for those photos too.
If this sounds like the kind of family photographs you’d like, you can look at my sessions or get in touch. I photograph families and couples at home and outdoors in Northern Vermont.
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