Experience
Family photos can feel like a big task to take on, and you’re likely overseeing the planning for your family on your own. There’s a lot of prep that goes into choosing outfits and getting everyone ready. I know that stress very well. I’ve had many photoshoots with my family and it always creates butterflies for me.
I’ve approached sessions for my family a bunch of ways.
There was a session that I prepped extensively for, bought myself the beautiful long, flowing dress from Free People and color complimented everyone else’s outfits, had my makeup and hair professionally done, even fake eyelashes glued on, the works! And guess what? I LOVED the photos. I still do. They are dreamy and ethereal, and some are in frames and will stay there forever. I felt beautiful and confident and I could see that reflected in the photos.
Life hack: If Mom feels confident and calm, the rest of the team usually does too.
But that’s not a full representation of who I feel we are as a family. I didn’t want every time we took photos to have the same look, so the next time we scheduled a session, we stayed very casual. We were on the beach, so just shorts and t-shirts, barefoot. I did my own makeup and hair, picked a flower off a hibiscus shrub and put it behind my ear. Again, LOVED the photos, have some of the gems of that session framed as well.
But let me tell you about the most recent photoshoot my family had.
IT WAS THE HARDEST SO FAR.
I have a tween and a teen and a husband who is not a morning person. The reason it was early morning was to avoid crowds and heat. Everyone was aware of the time of day we had scheduled, but when the morning came my husband, not my kids, protested. I had been in tears of frustration just before we arrived. (You can totally show up to a photo session with me in this state. I will never judge you.)
In my disheartened state I ended up letting everyone choose what they wanted to wear. I even said “anyone who doesn’t want to come doesn’t have to” and I meant it. The bug-eyed looks flew at me. “Are you sure?” Yes. I was done.
The session was too long for my kids (105 minutes), so they fell out of politeness eventually. The faces they made during pictures of the two of them together were of annoyance (even with me behind the photographer trying to make them laugh, then begging them for just. one. smile.
Luckily, After the session, (before we even get the pictures back), my husband hugged me and said, “I’m so sorry. I’m really glad we did this. Thank you for putting this together. This is important.”. We got the photos back and in some I saw what I feared, puffy morning just cried face, frizzy, untamed hair, and forced smiles.
You may think I’m crazy
but I LOVED these photos too
i LOVE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE SUCH A REAL REPRESENTATION OF EACH ONE OF US IN THAT TIME-PERIOD IN OUR LIVES.
Brad and I ARE tired. No mistaking it. We’ve been at the full-time parenting thing for over 15 years now. We argue sometimes and our bad moods fall upon inopportune times, as do our kids’.
There were as many gems in this shoot as there were in any other session we’d had, which goes to show that no matter how a session is approached, we will come away with at least a handful of outstandingly beautiful images.
I really value the unique authenticity of all the different kinds of families and the stages they are in. We are telling a small part of the story of you and your family when we have a session. Looking back you want to remember and smile at how you remember that part of your son daughter, husband.
Full Session $1050
~includes all edited high resolution downloads from your gallery
Newborn Session $1150
~includes all edited high resolution downloads from your gallery
Mini Session $750
~includes all edited high resolution downloads from your gallery
Each package includes
-Classic film, or film style edits of your entire family portrait collection
-Travel Within the San Francisco Bay Area
-Delivery of your high-resolution family portrait images
-A personal reproduction release for making prints & albums
–Online viewing gallery to order prints, and share your images with family & friends
More on Family portrait sessions:
Family photography sessions can take place at your home or location of choice and include up to 5 people. For each additional person past 5 there is a $25 additional cost. Family sessions can take place any time of day. It’s encouraged to schedule your session around the best time for your family. (Take naps and meal times into consideration.) Family photography sessions document your family as they naturally are in the comfort of your home or in an outdoor area. After the session, images are processed and uploaded to an online gallery where you can purchase prints or products from the gallery. Family sessions are offered year-round . Process and development takes 2-3 weeks. Standard travel fee applies outside of the Bay Area .
“Thank you for such an amazing session at our home last weekend. I was so anxious about having a newborn session – unsure how the baby would be, unsure how I’d be feeling. I am beyond happy we did it and it would not have been nearly as amazing without you. You brought such a calming and happy energy to the session. “
-Grace P.
GOT SOME
Questions?
LET’s talk
On the pressure we can put on our kids:
If you’re like me, you want your kid to be happy simply because they are being themselves. Before self consciousness hits is one of my favorite aged subject to photograph because we don’t (yet) put those expectations on kids to perform for us.
It’s in the not performing where the magic is, I promise.
I have learned that no matter the phase or mood of the moment, pictures that you love will be a product of the session we have together.
It’s as likely as seeing a rainbow that you’ll have a session and love every single photo you get back. What we learn as photographers just starting out is if you get ONE good photo from a roll of film, you’re doing great. Now that we have digital cameras it’s easier to get more than one, but there is only really a handful of photos from a session that you will really love and want to frame. The rest are just a documentation of the life stage your family is in, which is beautiful because that moment in time is fleeting and I want to remember how it was. How it REALLY was.
So, I don’t tell you what to wear BUT what you wear will affect how you feel about the final result, so think about what you envision the final product to be. I will, however, help you if you should request. I have Pinterest boards of outfits that I love and I’m happy to search a brand you love and suggest things from that point. No extra cost. I do that with many of my clients.
Time of day matters. I always ask the mom or dad I’m working with to take naps and meals into consideration. When the kids are little their moods depend on those schedules. Don’t push yourself to have the session at sunset because you think the light is best then. There is no best light. Just a different look to the light throughout the day. Mood matters more than light in getting great family photos. It all depends on your kid(s). Mine could have never survived a late afternoon sunset session when they were little, but I’ve worked with many whose kids can.
Once you’ve arrived and see me, remind yourself to let go.
Let me do the work of interacting with the kids and getting them to smiling. Remember crazy energy comes from being excited. Being excited is part of being a kid. Just let them be who they are and the session will be smooth. Some kids are silly. I encourage you to let them be.
Are you ready to reserve your session?
To reserve your session, a $200 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your spot, along with any applicable taxes or travel fees.
*Cassie Green Photography reserves the right to use any picture in any form, such as, but not limited to the use in advertising, reproduction, and copyright. Prices are subject to change at anytime, however, prices are locked in at the time of your booking.