documentary family photographY
Washington DC & New York City
THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO KNOW IS THAT YOU WILL NEVER FIND ME PHOTOSHOPPING A UNICORN INTO A PICTURE.
(Between you and me, I don’t even know how to use Photoshop. Don’t tell! They might take away my vest with all the pockets!)
I also won’t edit photographs to make you look skinnier or airbrush out your laugh lines because 1, in this moment, right now, you are gorgeous; and 2, I don’t make photographs of what you look like.
I MAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF WHO YOU ARE.
SO NO TO UNICORNS AND YES TO LAUGH LINES. STILL WITH ME?
I am a storyteller.
As a journalist, I spent years telling stories to an audience of approximately 32 million people every night. Big stories— like the aftermath of 9/11. The economy. The global warming crisis. But also small stories about regular people leading ordinary lives, that, upon further examination, were actually quite extraordinary. Those were the stories I liked the best.
Today I am an award-winning documentary photographer and writer. I focus my lens on the same kinds of small stories I loved when I worked in news.
I believe with every atom of my being that there is nothing more interesting or lovely than real life.
awards & accolades
day in the life sessions
To tell your family’s story, I will come spend an entire day with you, from breakfast to past-your-bedtime. Sometimes I even sleep over at client’s houses so I don’t miss those early morning, just-rolled-out-of-bed-and-where’s-the-coffee moments.
It sounds bananas but very quickly you will forget I’m there and your kids will grow tired of showing off for the camera. Trust me—this ain’t my first rodeo.
And then you just do you. Making pancakes, brushing teeth, running errands, playing games, burning off energy at the playground, making dinner, bath time, brushing teeth again and putting the kids to bed. There will be tantrums and tears and lots of laughter, and, an occasional potty accident or trip to the ER.
You know.
Just your average, ordinary, exhausting day.
“I've loved having Susan photograph our family. She makes us feel comfortable and consistently captures the heart of our spirited family.”
— ERIN LOU —
Then a few weeks later— and this is the best bit— I will deliver to you the story of your family and you will cry. (Like I said, I’ve done this before.)
You will cry because you will have been seen. And because you will be able to see that you are hitting this mom thing out of the park.
And you will say things like, “I can’t believe how well you captured who we really are!” and “You were right— I AM gorgeous!”
AND YOU WILL BE CORRECT.
portfolio of work
A Year in your Life: a monthly Photography subscription
A Year in Your Life is a new way to document your family through photographs. Not the fake smiles and matching chambray shirts kind of photos- we’re talking about real moments here. The belly laughs. The tears. The family jokes. The itty-bitty toes that seem to get bigger every day and the holes where teeth used to be. And what if you got to be in some of the pictures this year, instead of always taking them? It’s like having your own family photographer.
A Year in Your Life is a 12-month documentary photography project. Each month, you’ll choose what you would like to do with your hour— a trip to a favorite park, baking cookies together or celebrating a birthday. You choose the time and date, and I will be there to do what I do best- make magical photographs. Each month you will receive a web-resolution gallery of your session that you can share, and at the end of our year together, you’ll receive a short video slide show of the highlights AND a gorgeous hardback year book with all of your family’s moments from 2021.
The price is just $225 per month, and you can purchase extra hours at a discounted rate for those months when there’s a lot going on. You’ll receive an access code to schedule your sessions and a workbook to help you get the most out of your year. A Year in Your Life is a wonderful gift and come with a printable gift certificate, just in time for the holidays.
Because my time is limited, I only have 5 a Year in Your Life spaces available, and will only be offering them through the end of January to make sure each client gets a full year. Get yours before they’re gone!
Click here purchase A Year in Your Life and get started.
Available only to residents of the great Washington D.C., NoVA, MD area. Oh, and no weddings. :)
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