The photos your kids will actually ask for someday
Documentary Family Photography sessions for families who want to remember real life.
The photos your children treasure probably won't be the perfectly coordinated posed ones.
They'll be the ones with their childhood dog. The blanket fort that somehow lived in the living room for a week. The favorite stuffed bunny. The ones with MOM in the photo with them.
Little things feel ordinary while you're living this chapter together, but one day it inevitably all grows and changes.
My job is to document that for you before it does.
observation, not orchestration
This is not a mini session
Your kids don't need proof that they smiled in matching outfits while dad was stressed out.
In a world of increasingly AI-generated, fabricated images, authenticity is becoming a luxury. These collections of photographs seek to tell the true story about your family during this time living together. Evidence of this beautiful, exhausting, joyful season of parenting.
"The whole session felt effortless and fun for all of us, even my husband made a comment that it was his fave experience with a photo shoot yet!"
Noelle, mom
"But I already have thousands of photos on my phone"
We all do. All the quick snapshots that prove what we did or where we were, but picking up the "real cameras" is when I can show what it really felt like. With over 15+ years of professional photography experience, and more than a decade as an award-winning family photojournalist, I've been focused intently on this craft.
By spending a few hours together, the pressure to perform is lifted. There's no need to apologize for a meltdown or bribe the kids. Mom, you get in the frame too and it doesn't look like iPhone snaps.
What you receive
This experience is for North Idaho families who value documenting their connection with their kids.
And yes, we also quickly get everyone to pose for a "smile at the camera" shot for grandma once everyone is relaxed, but that's not the focus of the session. The focus is to tell the story of your family.
2 or 3 hours of a relaxed in-home DOCUMENTARY style photo session
a private online gallery with full-size images
$650
you might be wondering...
"But, my house is messy"
Good. That's where life happens. Your kids want to remember their favorite toys on the floor and the way their rooms looked, but we can also go out for an activity that your family enjoys too.
"Will I still get a Holiday Card photo?"
Yes, absolutely. Once everyone is relaxed and having fun in front of the camera, I can pose your family for a more traditional portrait too if you'd like. It's just not to main focus of the session.
"THE CREATIVITY OF SAM BLOWS ME AWAY EVERY TIME. SHE PUTS US ALL AT EASE DURING OUR FAMILY PORTRAITS AND SOMEHOW STILL MANAGES TO GET TONS OF GREAT SHOTS OF BOTH OUR LITTLE BOYS”
Lauren, mom
Let's document this chapter.
I'm Sam, a Sandpoint mom and award-winning wedding and family photojournalist.
My husband Matt and I have four kids of our own, toddler through teen, & a dog called Biscuits from the Walmart parking lot. We love summers at City Beach, camping with paddle boards, mountain biking at Pine Street Woods, ski season on Schweitzer, and I teach dance fitness (for grown-ups) at Studio 1 for funsies.
Invite me over, I'd love to photograph your family just being your family.
Follow me on Instagram
@Somanymoments
