When you want professional family photos or are looking for a family portrait photography package, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by how different photographers break down their family photoshoot packages and prices. As a Seattle family photographer, I’ve documented families all over the country with varying needs. This blog post shares my best advice for picking the perfect family photography package for you.

A family runs down a path at Ebey's Landing during a session with a Seattle family photographer.

The Art of Storytelling with Mixed Media

My goal as a family photographer is always to document people at their most comfortable and authentic. Photography isn’t about perfect poses or creating the illusion of prim and proper children. It’s about creating art that reflects life as you remember it. I’m talking belly laughs and cartwheels, sprinkler splashes and ice cream cones. Photography freezes those perfectly imperfect moments for you to hold onto always.

So ask yourself: What do you want to remember? And what’s the best way to document that?

A father and son walk along a Seattle beach holding hands.

A boy and girl run through a field in a black and white family photo.

I’m always a stan for multimedia storytelling. For me, that means a mix of film and digital photography and Super 8. Here’s how each contributes to telling a more complete story for your family.

A little girl stands beside her mother and smiles at a Seattle family photographer during a session in a field.

A mother and daughter run through a field holding hands.

Film Photography

Analog film is instant nostalgia (like, literally instant when it comes to Polaroids). It’s incredible because it captures moments that can’t be replicated exactly as they are. It’s raw and breathtaking. Even the “imperfections” make you feel in a way that’s so unique. Film photos give you that sense of looking through old family albums and reliving the moments in each image..

A father and son hold hands and smile in a field outside Seattle during a session with a family photographer.

Two children gather around their mother and father at the edge of a field during a family photography session with a Seattle photographer.

Digital Photography

Digital photography allows for more clicks and more chances to catch those unexpected moments. After your session, I take some time to edit photos. My goal is never to change moments but to enhance them to tell your story better. If you want clean, crisp images and a fast-paced session, digital photography is a good tool for our toolkit.

A little girl stands beside her father who holds her brother on a sunny Seattle day during a session with a family photographer.

A little girl lays on a rocky shore laughing in a Seattle family photo.

Super 8 Video

Honestly, I don’t know if a family photography package is ever fully complete without Super 8. This video form gives you that golden combination of movement, nostalgia, and art. It’s just dreamy. You’ll want to watch it over and over again.

You can see the Super 8 video from this family session at Ebey’s Landing here.

The Perfect Family Photography Package

Now, your brain’s probably turning with all kinds of considerations. I have three family photography packages to help you turn your family’s story into art.

A little boy splashes at the water's edge during a Seattle family photography session.

Mixed Media Session with Super 8

During this session, I use a roll of Super 8 film for 2 minutes of analog video footage. For photos, I use three rolls of film, one pack of Instant Polaroid film, and digital cameras to document your family’s real life magic moments. This package really captures every side of an afternoon in your life.

Cost: $1500

Two children walk across a stony beach with their father in a Polaroid photo taken by a Seattle photographer.

A little boy picks up a piece of driftwood from a pile on a Seattle beach.

Film Photo Session

In this session, we take a fully analog approach to creating still images. You’ll want to start an old school album with nostalgic photos, and your family will thank you for it.

Cost: $750

A mother and father sit on a bench with a child in a Polaroid photo as part of a film family photography package.

A child leans against her father on a park bench and smiles at a Seattle family photographer.

Digital Photo Session

If you opt for a fully digital session, I focus on the candid, in-between moments. Those are the ones that are the most honest, connection-filled images after all.

Cost: $500

A husband and wife stand on a Seattle beach while a Seattle photographer photographs them.

A Seattle family poses for a digital photo beside a dune as part of a family photography package.

Would you like me to photograph your family? I’m a Seattle film photographer ready to travel! Inquire with me here.

Picking the Perfect Family Photography Package