What is a documentary session?

It's the story of a couple of hours of your life, told in pictures that reveal what you really did and how you really felt while we were together. Pure and simple, that's it.

There is something aesthetically pleasing about the unvarnished truth of your family life. So 'authenticity' is my photographic target during these sessions.  

I'm with you in your home and following you and your family around town in order to record what you do with no expectation of posing or of intervention in your day. The final output can only be a window into the reality of your lives during the time I'm documenting you if my influence on your behavior and psyche and activities is indetectable in the final pictures.

That doesn't mean we won't interact. One of my favorite things about being a portrait artist is getting to know my clients. It doesn't mean that I won't ask you if I can open a curtain to let in more light or sometimes request that you pause while I change a lens or run ahead of you to make an angle. It does mean that in every truly meaningful way, during our session you'll be doing exactly and only what comes naturally to you while I unobtrusively observe and record the goings-on.

How do you approach day in the life sessions with children?

We'll communicate before your session to discuss my arrival time and review activities and locations you have in mind. Some logistical heads-up is important for me in preparing for our session. 

Many of my families with babies and toddlers like to start very early in the morning, and I encourage this with children up to about 5-years-old. If you're child still likes to craw into your bed in the morning, let me know because these pictures are delightful.

I've started as early as 6am and I'm happy to come to your home as early as you'd like. You're up because the kids are up, and there's something magical and raw about families snuggling in bed, romping around in pajamas, preparing and having breakfast together. Mornings are usually pretty optimistic times, and these pictures are a lot of fun.

Even if we don't start very early, I feel it's important to start sessions in your home. Your home reflects your family's personality and frames your lived experience together more than any other place we'll be, so it's an essential part of the documentary session.

Outside of the home, I've joined families at parks, playgrounds, parades, picnics, museums, under highways, at swimming lessons, and in zoos. I've traveled with familes via cabs, ferries, ubers, and subways. Here in NYC, there are so many fantastic options, it's hard to go wrong.

Whenever there is a cost associated with where we go, I request that families cover my expenses. It helps me stay focused on capturing the moments that are unfolding.     

Parents should demonstrate no camera-awareness during our session, but children are completely allowed to look towards the camera and generally to express their curiosity about me. As the session goes on, they will be more likely to tune me out if all of the adults have consistently conveyed absolutely no care whatsoever regarding their response to me and the camera.

What if my child has a meltdown or takes a long time to leave the house?

It's all your life, and it's all kind of wonderful when you think about it. 

If it takes 20 minutes to get shoes on your child's feet, that's life. I mean, obviously it's no parents' source of pride and joy that their child makes getting out of the house feel like torture. That said, it's also kind of an amazing aspect of parenting life during a very specific stage of human development and it can be delightful and hilarious.

If a diaper change is called for after your child is completely dressed, or if your child has a meltdown, or if you guys crack up over something incredibly silly, the pictures will reflect that. And the pictures taken over the course of our session will also reveal affection and joy to balance out the frustration, to put everything in perspective.

What happens if my children are all over the place?

We do not need your children to be on their best behavior during our session. We just want them to be themselves. And if your parenting instinct is to try and calm them down, that's fine. But you should not use my presence as an attempt to get them to behave themselves, because then they'll rebel against me, and that's no good for anyone involved.

Which brings us to a very important point— you should not feel the need to direct your child to interact with me. You're definitely off the hook about asking them to smile. I'd much rather you just talk to them, read to them, invite them to help you cook, tickle them, pick'em up and hurl them into the sky. Be together, really present for each other, and everything will fall into place with the pictures.

If your child runs off, that is perfectly fine. He/she will come back and pictures of kids running can be cool, too.

What do you do if an older child expresses a desire not to be photographed?

Our time together is all about love, reciprocity, respect, and accepting your child on his/her terms. If he or she doesn't consent to be photographed, I put my camera down. If a child glares at me while I'm taking a picture, I simply stop and ask them if it would be okay to show them a picture on the back of my camera. Once they understand what I'm doing, children who initially were resistant to my presence tend to let their guard down.  

I have a young son, and it's very important to me that children feel respected. Small people with big emotions appreciate it when we respect their feelings and wishes. In my experience, conveying this respect is usually enough to really win them over. I've had children who wanted me to stop at some point, completely change their minds. But honestly, more often than not, there are really no issues in the first place.

Should we sign up for a 3 or 6 hour session?

The three-hour-session is ideal for children 4 and under. The stamina of this group doesn't merit a longer session, especially if they start napping. It's worth documenting what it's like to stroll a sleeping child around NYC, but not for too long. 

The more stamina your child has (and I find around age 5, there's definitely more get-up-and-stay-up-and-go), the more likely it is that you'll be interested in a six-hour-session. You can be more ambitious about your approach to the day, and as a result there will be plenty of variety in the final pictures. 

That said, there is no age cut-off for these sessions. Sign up for the session that makes the most sense for your family! 

What should we wear?

Don't deviate from your personal style. Always wear clothes that you like and reflect who you are. And while it's not necessary to be perfectly matched, everyone should either be all casual or all formal, staying in the same color palette.     

What kind of albums do you offer?

We offer coffee table books that your family will cherish looking at. Coffee table books are printed on press paper and bound on thick pages meant for little fingers to enjoy without being able to tear through. Our albums are printed on archival quality photo paper and thick pages. Both offer a beautiful variety of cover fabrics and personal touches to make this album unique to your family. We custom design our albums and both are printed and hand bound in the U.S.

Do you offer specials on day in the life or slice of life sessions?

Yes, I do! Typically between late October and early April this is more feasible for me, but it always makes sense to touch base with me via email or phone about my current specials. Also, if you follow my Facebook page, you can stay notified about upcoming promotional and seasonal offers.