Family breakfast scene with father and toddler at wooden table, orange juice and pancakes, family session welcome guide cover.


Investing in photographs of this season is not something most people do without thinking twice. That's okay. This guide is here to walk you through everything; what a session looks like, what it costs, and what you'll have when it's over. My hope is that by the end, it feels less like a decision and more like a yes.

A smiling woman in a colorful cardigan stands in a hallway decorated with children's artwork and a paper chain garland.

Welcome! I'm so glad you're here.


Most of us have plenty of quick snapshots. A phone passed back and forth. A rushed smile before heading out the door. But this season holds more than that.


The way your days feel. The pace of them. The small interactions that might seem ordinary now and won’t always be.


Having someone step in to document it thoughtfully means you get to be in it fully.


This chapter of your life deserves to be remembered.

 

 

 

 

My Approach


My work is rooted in slowing down enough to notice it.

The way they reach for you without thinking.

The chaos of everyone "helping" with dinner.

The ordinary moments that somehow carry everything.


This is not about creating something picture perfect. It's about documenting what's actually happening - the texture of your everyday life, the dynamic that makes your family yours and nobody else's.


We'll stay in places that hold your story. Your kitchen in the morning light. The yard, the living room floor, the couch you all collapse onto at the end of the day.


These are not staged memories. They're honest ones.

The kind you'll reach for years from now and feel in your chest.





Here's something I want to be upfront about: I don't work from currated Pinterest boards. When I've tried in the past, I spend the whole session chasing someone else's image instead of finding yours. The art suffers for it. What you're getting when you book me is my perspective -- and that only works if you let me use it.

Two parents feeding their baby at a dining table near bright windows in a cozy home setting.

Process


Before your session, I'll send a short questionnaire to get to know your family, what this season feels like and what is most important to document.


On the day, I arrive and let things settle naturally. Kids warm up at their own pace - I keep things light, never forcing a single moment. I might nudge you toward better light, suggest diving into a favorite activity, or let the kids pull me into their world entirely. It usually unfolds on its own from there. I keep soft music on in the background so nobody's stuck sitting in awkward silence between moments.


The goal is to keep you doing something together - bath time, gardening, a slow morning on the couch. When your family is moving through something real, that's when the best moments happen. That's what I'm there to catch.


Your full gallery is delivered within 45 days, high resolution and ready to download, share, and print.

Black and white photo of a family with two children on shoulders, smiling outdoors on a cloudy day.
Two people sitting on a rug playing with a green T-Rex toy dinosaur, with a Pictionary board game in the background.
A joyful mother laughs as her young son plays with her long hair while a toddler watches nearby indoors.

 

Collections

 

The Family Session

Family of four embracing at golden hour in a sunny field, backlit by warm sunset light.

Two hours that are just for you and whoever you're bringing into the frame. Unhurried, real, and completely yours.


• Two-hour session

• Up to two locations

• Outfit change included

• Welcome guide with styling support

• 125 high-resolution images delivered

• Add eight same-day Polaroid images to take home for $80


 

$ 1200

 

Seasons Together

Baby sitting on shower floor with colorful toys while adult stands nearby during bath time.

This is for the parents who wants a fuller picture of this time - not just one afternoon, but a whole year of it. All four sessions are valued at $3,200 -  saving you $300.


• Four seperate one-hour sessions

• One location per session

• One outfit per session

• Welcome guide with styling support

• 60 high-resolution images per session

• Add eight same-day Polaroid images to take home for $80



 

$ 2900

 

The Short Story

Family walking together through golden sandy dunes on a sunny day, viewed from behind.

A little slice of right now - for the family that's ready to just show up and be.


• One-hour session

• One location

• One outfit

• Welcome guide with styling support

• 60 high-resolution images delivered

• Add eight same-day Polaroid images to take home for $80

 

$ 800

 

Travel Fees


• 31–35 miles from Mills River: $150

• 36–60 miles from Mills River: $250


I do not book sessions beyond 60 miles so I can balance work and family with intention. Thank you for understanding.


Two children playing with colorful toys on a rug, viewed from above with dramatic shadows crossing the floor.
Woman helping young toddler girl stand on a bed in a bright bedroom with white walls and natural light.
Black and white overhead photo of a toddler in a high chair at a white table with plates of food.

 

Trusted by families for the past nine years;

 




“Every single photo feels so true to us and who we are as a family. Her work is purposeful yet organic."




“Her talent for capturing candid moments is matched by her professionalism, kindness, and work ethic. Every photo is a joy to see.”




"Not only is she an incredibly talented photographer, but she is wonderful at making everyone feel incredibly comfortable."




"Shannen captured such organic, real and loving photos of our family that we cant wait to cherish for years to come."




"Shannen was the best, don’t think twice just hire her! She gave me a new appreciation for my home and captured moments I will cherish for a lifetime."






More Reviews


Three people relaxing on autumn grass covered with fallen leaves in a park, viewed from above.
Happy family with a smiling toddler enjoying a cozy moment together in a bright living room.

 

 

Ready to move forward?


Choose your package & get started

 

 

STEP 01

 

Date & Location

We'll find a day that works for your family and talk through where feels most like you - your home, your neighborhood, somewhere that holds your everyday.

STEP 02

 

Contract & Retainer

A signed contract and 30% retainer locks in your date and makes it official.

STEP 03

 

Questionnaire

Before we meet, I'll send over a few questions to get to know you and what this season feels like. This helps me show up to your session with intention.

STEP 04

 

Session & Delivery

With everything taken care of ahead of time, your session day will feel easy and unhurried. Within 45 days, your full gallery will be delivered and ready to download, share, and print.

Woman with two young girls in blue dresses near a wooden fence on a farm with a red tractor in background.
Adult hands on warm sunlit hardwood floor next to a crawling baby in a diaper indoors.
Group of young friends relaxing together on green grass outdoors on a sunny day.

It means a lot that you’d consider me to document this part of your life.

Being there with you, in a real and honest way, is something I value deeply.

I’m looking forward to creating images you will hold onto for years.


x

Shan