NOTE: I am not able to offer family sessions at the current time due to a heavy wedding season. Please email or contact through the contact form if you are interested in booking something when my shooting and editing season is quieter (usually throughout January – early March). Thank you

I am delighted to announce that Zoe Larkin Photography will now offering family photography sessions in the Bay Area for past wedding photography clients! Family lifestyle sessions will give you the chance to have beautiful, relaxed photos as your family grows.

You’ll have the benefit of working with someone whose style, presence and energy are already familiar to you. If you enjoyed the process of working with me as your wedding photographer, you’ll love what we will create for your new family.

It’s so fun for me to witness your family growing, after photographing your wedding! | Photography by Zoe Larkin Photography

Who is eligible?

I’m keeping my family photography sessions solely for past wedding clients. I am not currently looking to expand my business in the direction of family photography. Weddings remain my focus and area of expertise. Our team shoots 150 weddings per year during busy years, so don’t have a lot of shooting time available for other projects!

However, I’ve decided to extend my services to past wedding clients as more of you are starting a family! I’d love the opportunity to continue working together in the years ahead, having already built a solid working relationship.

Candid, documentary and lifestyle are words that come to mind | Photography by Zoe Larkin Photography

What else could we use this time for?

These sessions can be used for family sessions involving, for example, parents, grandparents, extended families. It could be used for a more extensive ‘just married’ session. These sessions are priced exactly the same as engagement sessions, but offer more flexibility so the focus doesn’t have to be exclusively on the two getting married. It doesn’t have to be exclusively a session with your children.

The only thing we can’t use this for is event photography, or anything that is tied to a specific day (for example, birthday party, family gathering, or the birth of a baby). This is because, in certain situations, it may be necessary to move the date. This may be for example due to inclement weather or illness. The arrangement allows for maximum flexibility, whether you (the client) need to change the date; or if I get a last-minute wedding booking that would clash with our session.

Style of photography

Just like my wedding photography, my family photography style is candid and documentary-style. Find out more here about the photojournalistic style of photography.

I love the idea of in-home lifestyle sessions. My favorite is capturing your family doing your normal day-to-day activities together. You’ll look back on these photos as the years advance and remember what life actually felt like when they were so little.

Think less: your baby inside of a boot or giant shell and more: parents snuggling up with baby on the bed, reading a book together, playing and when they’re old enough, running around together.

Snuggling with baby and enjoying this miraculous new stage of your lives is wonderful with new babies | Photography by Zoe Larkin Photography

In fact, I am as unobtrusive as possible during my family sessions. Sure, we’ll do some posed shots preferably outdoors (for older kids) where everyone looks at the camera and gives me a grin. But generally, I don’t favor contrived photos or making everyone look or act a certain way.

I love the ‘lifestyle photography’ label – it’s your life, styled! Gone are the days of studio family photography with blasting lights, forced cheesy smiles and everyone dressed up to the nines. Just be your cute, imperfect real selves.

Each session is different and tailored around each family. As I’m not a family photographer by trade, we can keep things unique and personalized. Happy to be led by you!

An example of the wide variety of photos we can do – this shoot was just one hour in duration | Photography by Zoe Larkin Photography

Where does the family session take place?

I’ll visit your home or a pretty outdoor location such as a beach or park – but ideally your home. It’s lovely to shoot somewhere meaningful to your family. Nowhere holds more memories than the private space you spend most of your time together.

Want to head to a nearby park if your home is out of commission? No problem! | Photography by Zoe Larkin Photography

How should we prepare for the shoot?

If we’re at home please give your home a spruce up in advance. Put your favorite bed linen on the bed and clean up toys. For bed linens and clothing, you can’t go wrong with white and light neutrals.

I always favor light colors for timeless images that works the best with my style of photography. Try to avoid any graphical prints and visible logos – the eye is drawn there. Fancy new outfits aren’t necessary, unless you are looking for that kind of vibe. Just wear something that you feel comfortable in!

Natural, unposed moments that are true to your family – that makes my heart sing | Photography by Zoe Larkin Photography

What’s included and long does it last?

You’ll receive at least 85 digital files, edited in my signature style which you can find out more about on the link below. This is about weddings, but it’s the same process as far as the editing and delivery go.

The sessions will last up to 1.5 hours so there’s plenty of time for snack & bathroom breaks plus any mini meltdowns. If it goes a little over, that’s fine.

I find the unrushed approach makes for better photos. Kids and even babies can be wary of a stranger’s presence, so there is definitely a warm-up period. I’ll be interacting with and observing them before they’ll feel comfortable in my presence. Relationship is everything in photography.

Relationship is everything – it takes subjects a while to warm up to the camera being there | Photography by Zoe Larkin Photography

What should we do during the shoot?

Anything you like! To get the best playful interactions, it helps to be doing an activity. If you’re at home, the possibilities are endless! You could play with pets, make cookies, change outfit, build something, play your favorite sport. I’ll give some direction whenever the situation calls for it.

If we’re in an outdoor location, feel free to bring a picnic blanket and some favorite toys. The kids will soon forget I’m there or include me in playtime!

This couple had a sweet baby girl instead of the big wedding! | Photography by Zoe Larkin Photography

How much does it cost for a session?

I offer a 1.5 hour shoot with at least 85 digital images (usually a lot more – basically all the good ones!) for the same rate as engagement sessions. The associate photographer option is open as well. Shoots are offered on weekdays only during wedding off-season and includes travel of up to ~30 miles from 94601 (Oakland). A little over is not a problem. Travel fees start at $100 for locations further afield. Extra time can be purchased at the current hourly rate if the standard shoot time is not enough for the activities you have in mind.

What isn’t offered?

Coverage of a particular event such as a birthday party, tied to a certain day. It’s possible there needs to be a little flexibility due to the nature of wedding bookings that are my livelihood, particularly for City Hall weddings that keep be busy Monday – Friday year-round. This is purely for family photography, not event photography.

I also do not do birth, Fresh 48 or newborn sessions as this is definitely a specialized skill – which requires 24/7 availability. I’d recommend hiring a professional who specializes in the specific type of photography. If you are looking for recommendations I would gladly give my professional opinion.

Also, sessions do not include any physical (tangible) prints or products.

Interested in booking your family shoot? Drop me an email! | Photography by Zoe Larkin Photography

Is Zoe even a family photographer?

Not by trade. However, I did start off my photography career by doing family photography – seriously! While I was waiting for opportunities to second-shoot weddings for other photographers, I scooped up some family photography gigs. Read more about that journey here:

Folks are much more willing to give a newbie a chance doing their family’s photos than their wedding pics! Family photography is much lower pressure than weddings so even now, I appreciate the opportunity for these kinds of bookings!

Having built both people-skills and photography skills shooting weddings over the course of several years, it’s easy to transfer this to the quiet environment of a home, or a quiet park, garden or beach. It’s even more awesome working with folks that already know, like and trust me!

Interested? If you are a past client get in touch via email and we’ll take it from there. Thanks for reading!

As your family grows, you’ll want regular family photo sessions! | Photography by Zoe Larkin Photography