Authentic family portraits at your own home

outdoor portraits of kids by old vintage truck walnut creek ca gretchen adams photographyYou're probably pretty familiar with the traditionally posed family portrait. You may have even tried variations on poses to make the picture appear more fun, and to convey the personality of you and your family. After all, you want this to be something you can share with other. You want them to get a sense of how vibrant your family is from those images. But when you attempt to take these portraits yourself, do you ever feel rigid while posing? Are you the one responsible for the auto-timer, which leaves you having to rush back into position before the timer runs down? You have to admit that these shots are probably not the best representation of you and your family. Even studio portraits can be less than ideal, since this involves packing your family up and bringing them to an unfamiliar environment. Whether you're keeping these images to chronicle the growth of your children over the years, or sending pictures as gifts to your loved ones who aren’t nearby, you really want to be able to capture the essence of your family life. The ideal family portrait, then, should project a natural comfort that truly shows the joy and bonds of all the members in your household.

You know how lively, comedic and loving your family is. You want others to know that too.

a place of inspiration

At Gretchen Adams Photography, we like to step away from the classic studio image for family portraits. We realize that they don’t always capture the real interaction between family members, and even in a still shot, the dynamic that you all share is what really makes the portrait shine. You’ll find that you can get a more satisfying result when we're able to come to your home for a series of shots in a space that's natural for your family. We can take pictures indoors, in your backyard, or even at an outdoor location that your whole family loves and adores. Taking pictures in a space where you feel comfortable will let everyone’s personality and exuberance show.

We also understand that a studio can be difficult if you have younger children. When we bring all the equipment to you, it lets you be at ease. This makes the whole photography session a good experience for everyone in the family.

the art of not putting on airs

Stress is an emotion that isn’t easily hidden in pictures. Your self-portraits of the family and studio outings can generate a lot of what we like to call "performance tension." While we at Gretchen Adams photography pride ourselves for having an eye for balance within the image, we also do our best to coach you and put you at ease. Our ability to guide and comfort you and your family is part of what allows us to capture a memorable and honest shot. Basically, we're not only balancing the physical composition of your family portrait, but also balancing your personalities within the portrait.

four-legged family members

You may also have loved pets who are seen as members of your family. Studio portraits totally exclude your pups and kitty friends from the picture. When you contact Gretchen Adams Photography, you’ll find that we have extensive experience in making sure that everyone in the household, four-legged or otherwise, gets their time in the spotlight.

If you want your next family portrait to be a fun experience with stunning results, contact us today for an in-home photography session. We can help you not only capture the essence of your family, but also the fullness of the love that you share.