You may think your every day life is boring, but I won't.


At home and with the people we love is where we are our most authentic selves, so let’s document all of that now— yes, right now! not 10 lbs less or when your house is finally organized. I want to showcase your family’s special kind of crazy, cookie crumbs on the floor and all. 



How it works


01.


We chat


You fill out this form and we set a date. You reserve your date with a $100 deposit and signed contract. 




02.


We plan


2 weeks before your session date I will send you a detailed questionnaire so I can get to know you and your family. From there we will make a loosely structured plan on how best to spend our time together.


We can also schedule a call/facetime before the session date if we don’t personally know each other and you want your family to feel more comfortable with me! You can ask me questions or we can just chat about fun stuff and get to know one another, totally up to you.



03.


We hang out


As if I were an old friend, I show up at your house with camera in hand. You literally just live your life while I document it all. We may even have some coffee or a beer together. It’s as casual as casual gets!



04.


We swoon


3 weeks after our time together you will receive your full gallery of photographs as well as a slideshow put to music (it may or may not make you cry, just sayin’). 


You have 30 days to select which images and artwork products you’d like. I am a HUGE book nerd so a fine art photo album is the main thing I love suggesting and will design the whole thing for you. Also available for purchase are prints, canvases, and metal prints



Still have questions?


I thought you might.

FAQ

What is "documentary photography"?

Documentary photography is capturing your life candidly, honestly, and beautifully unscripted. It is documenting exactly what plays out naturally and effortlessly, not curating a darn thing.

Who are these sessions for?

Families that are down-to-earth, low-maintenance, and love to laugh/goof-off. For Moms and Dads who want to remember the laughs, the running, the tantrums, the tears, the pudgy baby’s legs wrapped around your hip, the smudges on the windows. For those who like to be a little different and don’t always want to fit the mold of what pictures “should” look like. For families who are honest, vulnerable, and so damn proud of the life they’ve created.

I would really like some “traditional” look-at-the-camera-and-smile photos. Are you able to do that?

Abso-freakin-lutely. I am a BIG fan of Christmas cards and also love printing more traditional photographs for my family, which is why 15-20 minutes of each session is dedicated to prompted lifestyle photos (more of the traditional look). So you will walk away from our time together with the best of both worlds.

Is bad weather going to affect anything?

If outside is where you and your family spend a lot of time and you are really banking on getting those outdoor moments captured, I am totally open to rescheduling. However, in-home sessions can take place in any type of weather (given that I can physically make it to your house).

Do we have to stay at home for the entire session?

If we have a shorter session between 1-3 hours, we will want to stay at your house and in the front/backyard or at a nearby park due to time restraints. If we have a longer session of 5+ hours, I actually encourage going on an outing. Some examples could be: the library, an ice cream shop, food or snowcone truck, etc. Whatever is a favorite for your family! Getting out and about just adds to the depth of our time together and showcases your unique family dynamic even more.

Do you take more traditional family photos where we can get dressed up and go to a pretty location?

As much as my heart sings for documentary photo sessions, I love a gorgeous field at sunset as much as the rest of us. I do 1-2 family lifestyle mini sessions each year. Stay tuned on my website and follow me on Facebook/Instagram for updates or reach out to me via email!
Facebook: Cody Laine Photography
Instagram: @codylainephoto

Do I need to deep clean my house for this?

Being home means being around things and often mess, and that is OK! Don’t do a “my-Pinterest-worthy-Mom-friend-is-coming-over-for-scones-and-lattes” clean, but more of a “the plumber-is-coming-over-and-needs-to-be-able-to-walk-through-the-house” type clean/pick up if that makes you breathe a little easier. Just remember–your home life is what we are capturing and our goal is to tell it like it is, whatever that means for you.

What should I wear?

Truly whatever you want! No need to be color coordinated or any of that jazz unless that is a typical thing in your household. I would suggest everyone to be comfortable and wear something that is true to you and worn often.

My kid(s) still takes a nap! How do we work around this?

If there is one thing I understand, it's the importance of sleep. If we have a 2-5 hour session we will do it either before or after nap. If we have a 6-12 hour session there will be no escaping the nap, and that is perfectly okay. I will photograph the prepping for nap and then find other things to photograph in the meantime while your little one snoozes. Mom and Dad–you have permission to nap during this time too if you want!

What if I need to cancel?

Life happens. Kids get sick, there’s a family emergency, etc. If we need to reschedule a session I just ask for 24 hours notice if at all possible.

What if my kids are crabby? What if they're weird around the camera?

I am really comfortable around kids and I know that they come with BIG emotions so trust me when I say I am SO used to it. Capturing the real stuff is why I’m there anyways. Kids get used to the camera surprisingly quick. If they’re shy, hyperfocused, or just want to make extra silly faces towards the camera I will simply just set it down for a few minutes and play/chat with them instead.