Wrightwood Family Photography: What You Need to Know Before Hiring Someone
“We need family photos … Does anyone know a good photographer?!??!”
If you’ve ever asked this, you’re not alone! Heck, spend 30 minutes on social media, and you’ll see a comment like this.
Choosing the right family photographer is a huge deal—you want someone who can capture everyone’s personalities, make it fun (instead of stressful or boring), and create photos you’ll actually want to display in your home..
The good news is finding the perfect family photographer doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Whether you’re booking your first session or looking for a new photographer, I break down everything you need to know.
You’ll feel confident in your choice and get that magical family photo you want and deserve.
Me, hanging out with my vintage cameras.
Q: What should I look for when hiring a family photographer?
In the sea of photographers, there are tons of choices!
Not all photographers are the same, and family sessions require a special skill set!
When searching for a photographer, consider these key factors:
Style: Do you prefer light & airy, dark & moody, or true-to-color? Please take a look through photographer portfolios to find a style you love. You might surprise yourself.
Experience with Children: If you have little and big ones, choose a photographer who knows what makes sessions fun and natural (not boring and awkward).
Location Options: Do they photograph outdoors, will they come to your home, or do they have a studio? Decide what works best for your family. Some photographers do two of these or even all three!!
Personality: If your dream photographer can make you feel comfortable, it will show in the photos. Find someone who feels like a good fit! They should almost feel like a friend. If the vibes are off, move on.
My own photography style is true to color. I don’t love light and airy — think about wedding photos. I’m more on the dark and moody team — think eerie Halloween if I had to choose between those two.
I have kids and love taking pictures of families and children. I’ve photographed little ones, middle ones, and teens. The key is to include them and make it fun. After all, the photos are all about them. It can be challenging to photograph little ones sometimes, but I accept the challenge.
As far as locations go, I love indoors, and outdoors, and can even set up a faux studio in your home. I’m in the works of getting a studio to do more creative style sessions — and I cannot wait!
If you’re newer around here, I’m a laughaholic! I love to laugh and don’t take things too seriously. I love creative photo sessions. I’m all about making a memorable experience while capturing your big laughs and little giggles. I often let kids play and I love to photograph them in their moment.
Q: What should you expect during a family photo session?
A perfect family session should feel fun, relaxed, and natural—not like an awkward school portrait.
Here’s how a session typically goes:
Before the Session – We’ll plan a location, time, and outfit ideas so you feel totally prepared. No scary surprises!
During the Session – Expect movement, laughter, and some silly prompts to get those authentic smiles! Don’t worry about making kids “pose”—I’ll guide them as well.
After the Session – I’ll lightly edit your images and deliver them within 2-3 weeks (life happens and this gives me a window of time). Here's where I’m different from most photographers: You’ll view them in an online gallery and pick your favorites! You invest in only what you want – wall art, albums, small gift prints, etc. I hand deliver your photos and items in 3-4 weeks. You receive a digital copy of each purchased image, to use for social media.
I did an extended family session with aunts, uncles, kids, and grandparents. The men folk in particular don’t love photo sessions. I try to make it as quick and painless as possible. I start with the grandparents – then place kids around them, then parents, uncles, etc. Grandparents are less easy to move, so I like this method. I then capture individual families with their own children. And, go down the line. The grandpa came up afterward and said he could tell I’d been doing this for a while and I knew what I was doing.
That! Was the greatest compliment ever.
Q: What should we wear for our family session?
The #1 question I get asked: "What do we wear?!"
Here are some great tips:
Start with Mom’s outfit. Pick something you feel confident in, and build everyone else’s outfits around it.
Choose a color palette, not matching outfits. Think 3-4 coordinating colors instead of everyone wearing the exact same thing.
Avoid logos & neon colors. These can be distracting and take attention away from your beautiful faces.
Need more outfit ideas? Check out my High Desert Family Photo Style Guide.
Kids will be kids.
Q: How do I prepare my kids for the session?
Parents always worry about their kids not cooperating—but I promise, we’ll make it awesome!
The key is to set the tone before the session even starts. Talk to them ahead of time and let them know it’ll be fun, not a boring "stand-still-and-smile" kind of thing. If they think of it as an adventure instead of a chore, they’ll be much more excited.
Make sure they’ve had a snack beforehand—nothing derails a happy mood faster than being hungry.
If they need a little extra motivation, bringing a small reward for after the session can be a game-changer.
And don’t stress if they want to run, jump, or explore. Some of the best photos happen when kids are just being themselves!
A recent family session I did, had older kids, a college kid, and a little one with autism. We did jumping photos, running, and playing follow the leader. Parents tickling kids is a favorite. I try to make it a fun experience rather than just “getting your picture taken”.
In today’s world, we can be creative with photo sessions and families don't have to fit in a box.
Q: When will we get our photos?
After your session, I’ll lightly edit your images to bring out the colors, lighting, facial expressions, and fun details. You can expect your final gallery within 2-3 weeks, where you’ll pick out your favorites. You only invest in images you love and decide which ones you want printed — Choose from albums, wall art, canvas, metal and acrylic prints, and much more! You will receive a digital file for each purchased image.
Surrealism Family Photos.
Q: How much does family photography cost?
Family photography is an investment in your memories. We’re creating history and making art for you to pass down through generations. Pricing varies based on experience, session type, and what’s included.
Most professional family photographers charge between $300–$1,500, depending on the package.
My sessions start with a $150 session fee – This is for my time and materials. I don’t offer packages. I want you to only invest in wall art that you actually want.
I don’t limit session time – sometimes I can grab priceless images in 15 minutes, sometimes, it takes 2 hours. I send you a styling guide, you can bring extra outfits, props, and accessories – Your session will be an experience.
I give a digital file of each purchased image.
Example: if you purchase 3 -8x10s, you’ll receive those 3 digital files, to use for social media, holiday cards, etc. If you purchase an album with 20+ images – You receive all of those digitals.
I’m passionate about giving you photos you can hold in your hand, so I differ from other photographers who only give you digitals.
If you’d like full pricing details and more information, Contact Me here! Let’s hop on a call and we can chat.
I offer payment plans – If you want to pay me over 6 months, I can do that. I just want you to have family photos in your home.
Family photos aren’t just about smiling at the camera—they’re about capturing love, real connections, and the stage of life you’re in right now.
Whether your kids are tiny or growing fast, these moments deserve to be documented in a way that feels natural and timeless.
I hope reading Wrightwood Family Photography: What You Need to Know Before Hiring Someone has given you some much-needed advice! If you’re still looking for a Wrightwood Whimsical Photographer, click here to see my portfolio of creative images.
With pizzazz,
Annette
Want to learn more about booking a Wrightwood family session? Click Here for More Information!
Family hands, big and small.
