‘Cuz Real Life Really is Grand…
…even when it’s not!
These really are the days…
Real life documentary family sessions are awesome because they show you the moments that get drowned out by the noise of daily life. I know that in parent life the hours sometimes seem to drag into days and the days into weeks. Moving through this unpredictable life means navigating a messy house with yesterday’s dinner dishes still in the sink and last week’s clean laundry waiting to be folded. The minute you try to take a break is when somebody needs you to kiss a hurt knee. In the midst of all this you keep getting those not-so-gentle reminders that it goes by fast and ‘don’t blink.’
That’s where I come in. I got you.
My real life family images do exactly this. They make you feel like you are enough, just as you are, and capture those moments that may go unnoticed in the hustle of the day.
Spoiler alert: This is not a sunset session with fancy clothes and bribes in exchange for good behavior.
⇢
Spoiler alert: This is not a sunset session with fancy clothes and bribes in exchange for good behavior. ⇢
What is a real life session?
Real life sessions document your family from a photojournalistic approach. These sessions feel more involved, but I think that’s largely because of the longer session duration. A short real life session is 3 hours and a long one is 6 hours. This may come as a shock if you’re not used to this style of family session. The longer duration is necessary to allow interactions amongst your family to unfold naturally and so that your final gallery includes a variety of images that hold a deeper meaning.
Just like we can’t rush a toddler through morning routines, we can’t rush art. Condensing a whole morning of activities into one hour for the sake of photos always creates more friction than allowing it to unfold naturally & it shows in the images. The longer session duration is an integral part of the process. It is what allows me to observe and create treasured imagery using your family life as a foundation.
What do we do during real life sessions?
We often start in your home and focus on your daily routines. Sometimes after that we head outside to play or take a field trip to some of your favorite places. This flow varies depending on the family lifestyle, the ages of your child or children and other factors. I have found that while many families tend to have some common pieces of their day-to-day life, we all have unique ways in which we shape our day.
As part of my booking process we have a phone chat to discuss your family and together we craft a personalized plan for the session.
FEATURED IN
FEATURED IN
Real Life Session Investment
All sessions include travel within 75 miles of New York, NY or Hudson, NY.
Newborn Sessions
⇢ 2 hours
⇢ Session Fee $450, includes slideshow set to music
Upgrades
⇢ Session Fee + $525, includes 10 edited digital files & $100 print credit
⇢ Session Fee + $875, includes 25 edited digital files, 8x8 soft cover album (20 pages) & $100 print credit
⇢ Session Fee + $1175, includes all the edited files (50+), 8x8 soft cover album (20 pages) & $200 print credit
Real Life Sessions
⇢ 3 hours
⇢ Session Fee $450, includes slideshow set to music
Upgrades
⇢ Session Fee + $525, includes 10 edited digital files & $100 print credit
⇢ Session Fee + $850, includes 25 edited digital files & $200 print credit
⇢ Session Fee + $1175, includes all the edited files (50+), 8x8 soft cover album (20 pages) & $200 print credit
A Day in the Life Session
⇢ 6 hours
⇢ Session & Creative Fee $850, includes slideshow set to music
Upgrades
⇢ Session Fee + $525, includes 10 edited digital files & $100 print credit
⇢ Session Fee + $850, includes 25 edited digital files & $200 print credit
⇢ Session Fee + $1175, includes all the edited files (50+), 8x8 soft cover album (20 pages) & $200 print credit
Client Review
“Like you are spending time with an old friend.”
“Kim has a calmness about her, allowing you to feel natural and like you are spending time with an old friend. The photos are a window into our real life, allowing us to capture all the small details that I will cherish forever.”
— Danielle B.
Real feels with these reels…
What to Expect
-
Before The Session ⇢
Let’s have a quick chat so you can share about your family and get to know me. We can discuss how to plan (or not plan if that’s more your speed) the session and I’ll answer any questions you might have.
We wrap it up by discussing potential dates for the session & afterward I will email you the booking information to make it official.
-
Session Day ⇢
I’ll show up at our designated start time and spend the first little bit meeting your family.
Once that initial excitement is over I’ll start photographing. I’m chatty at times and I joke with the kids. I move around a lot. I try to be present without interfering with your flow.
-
After the Session ⇢
Once we say our goodbyes, then I’m off to pick the best of the best images for your final gallery so that I can hand edit them for you.
I’ll deliver your final gallery via an online site where you can download the images and order professional prints and boutique products.
This all sounds great, but you’re wondering….
-
The kids will at some point resist, lose it, probably hide and you know what!? I’m cool with it. Your spouse can admit that this isn’t the way they’d prefer to spend their morning and still participate, that’s ok. A lot of times one partner is more reluctant before the session and after the session that person usually says this was the best photo session ever. I’ll remind your partner that they’re giving their whole family an awesome gift just by spending time with them. It's gonna be great! I am a judgment-free zone and none of these things phase me because they’re totally normal.
-
I won’t notice the mess in your house - ‘cuz mine is messier (promise). You can clean as little or as much as you want, whatever makes you feel good. Regardless, I’ll crawl around with your kids making silly faces and animal noises until they laugh.
-
Day to day life is mundane for all of us. I promise you that your life does look like these images, maybe you have just never experienced it in this way. This is one of the biggest reasons I love real life family sessions - they give us the opportunity to see ourselves care for and love our people from an outsider’s perspective.
Client Review
“The whole time we felt very relaxed.”
“We’re not into ‘posed’ pictures & Kim totally got the mood we were looking to achieve. The whole session felt a lot like hanging out with someone you’ve known forever- she’s got a really relaxed vibe, and basically had my daughter explore (we had the session at NYBG during the cherry blossom peak) while Kim caught candid moments. The whole time we felt very relaxed, and the session flew by.”
— Shawna M.
