The saying, “The days are long, but the years are short,” couldn’t be more accurate to a parent. An excellent way to capture these moments is through taking photos. Many of us take pictures on our phones daily for social media. These memories are usually considered safe for long-term storage, but there’s something so special and tangible about doing a professional family photo shoot. Luckily, here in Oregon, we have a plethora of local family photographers to consider. Here are a few highly recommended options.
Fritz has been active for over twenty years and is literally an award-winning business. One of their biggest claims to fame is that Fritz Photography has had photos featured in publications such as “National Geographic” and “New York Times.” The pictures on the website are stunning, and the talent of the photographers speaks for itself in the gallery. No minimum orders are required, and some packages include a discount. Fritz is happy to travel to a park or a home or hold the session at their studio.
Lion and Oak offers both family and newborn photography services. The pictures on the website are SO adorable and have so much depth. The family photographer, Amy, is a mom of three and is very passionate about capturing beautiful family moments. L&O is happy to travel within Oregon and Washington, from the Gorge to the Oregon Coast, to find the perfect location for your family shoot. The website also has a blog that relays fun Portland recommendations. Bonus: they also offer a free guide, “How to have a successful family photo session with wild kids!” You just provide your email address, and they’ll send it over!
Boasting 115 perfect “5-star” reviews, it’s safe to say that June Lion comes highly recommended by the people of Portland. One of the things I like the most about this company is the variety of products they offer. Beyond basic physical photos, they offer framed prints, canvases, different-sized/style photo albums, cards and announcements, folio and print boxes, and retouched prints. The website provides a newsletter that shares exclusive offers and occasional discounts.
This studio is known for its unique space/s. The studio offers an outdoor “portrait garden” equipped with commercial restaurant heaters, a kitchen for guests to use, private “screening” waiting rooms, and multimedia/photo studio space. For family pictures, they offer “original,” which means in-studio, or “vignette,” which means visual tales of home and family at your home or your favorite Portland location. Another unique offering is that Fritz encourages and welcomes pets at family photo sessions.
Becca Jean refers to herself as a “Family and couples adventure photographer” on the website. The business prides itself on its willingness to travel to beautiful PNW locations for photo shoots. Becca Jean is a mom and a former preschool and elementary school educator, giving her valuable experience working with young kiddos. Something unique I found about this company’s offerings is that there is a client closet for customers to peruse! She welcomes clients to borrow anything from the closet for their shoot. Also, for those interested, an “education” section of the website provides options for purchasing photography courses.
This company offers a journalistic/documentary/lifestyle style of family photography. They aim to create “storytelling photos”. The photos on the website are stunning and definitely do tell a story within each frame. The website has a link to a journal with great articles like “Why I Like to Shoot a Family Photo Session in the Morning Light.” Another great thing about Light by Iris is the option to make payments in installments rather than all upfront.
If the price of a session seems too unreasonable for your family, I totally understand. On average, a one-hour family photoshoot in Portland costs around $387, with a four-hour shoot costing around $1,085. Some of these costs are as high as an average monthly rent! Some companies will create customized payment plans for their clients. Many websites I looked at referred to a family photo session as an “investment,” and I couldn’t agree more. Best of luck in capturing some beautiful family moments through photography.
Stephanie McCoy was born and raised in Portland, Oregon-where she still lives. She recently graduated with a Master’s in Education degree from Concordia University. In her free time: she likes to read and write, get outdoors, embrace her kiddos and husband, and watch travel documentaries.