Let’s talk about family photography

What are you looking for in a family photographer?

You’re in a season of life that you know you always want to remember — maybe it’s a big milestone, or maybe it’s just the beauty of the everyday.

Sure, you want pictures that will look beautiful and artistic, but more than that you want pictures that will feel like your family — the big silly laughter and the small hands reaching for yours, the in-between moments and all the emotions.

Maybe you’re part of the LGBTQ+ world, and you know it’s necessary to find an affirming photographer who has extensive experience with the queer community.

Overall, you need a photographer who will avoid cheesy awkward poses, and instead will get to know your life and values as a family, and capture intentionally that in photographs you’ll keep forever.

Who is ‘family photography’ for?

I use the term Family Photography because that’s how most of my clients describe what they’re looking for — but sometimes that term can make people think they’re only “allowed” to do a family session if their family looks like it came out of a 1950s sitcom. And that couldn’t be farther from the truth!

Family photography is a way to document whoever makes up your family/life/home! That includes:

Solo folks with their beloved pet
A couple celebrating their life together
Single parents with their little ones
Parents with their new baby (or their fourth babe and a pile of siblings)
LGBTQ+ families and straight families alike :)
The chosen family crew you have over every Sunday for dinner
Multi-generational families or chosen families or blended families (it’s ok to include grandparents, your BFF, your kid’s favorite auntie, your surrogate, your baby’s biological parent, or anyone you want in your pictures).

You’re probably getting the theme here: Family Photography doesn’t have anything to do with anyone else’s definition of family - only yours. It’s all about capturing whoever make up your family/life/home, whatever that means to you <3

“Alyssa’s attention to detail and true collaborative, inclusive approach with her clients results in both incredible photos and an exceptional experience.

We've done multiple sessions with her and we plan on hiring her for years to come!”

- Emily & Phil

Hi - I’m Alyssa!

I’m an optimist, feminist, and a Minnesota family photographer — and I’m super glad that you’re here!! I live in a historic house in South Minneapolis with my partner Tyler and our rescue pup Luna.

I’m also a very proud auntie to my two favorite kiddos in the world, Theo and Signe! They’re silly and sweet and playful, and I love every minute with them.

Three things to know about me:

1) I’m a big ole extrovert and love intentional community

2) I have a deep connection to nature — I equally love a casual neighborhood walk and an epic national park hike

3) I have a lot of experience with babies and kids from earlier chapters in my career. I’ve been a nanny and a preschool teacher, during college I took child development classes and volunteered in a children’s hospital, and I maintain certifications for infant CPR and first aid. The bottom line: when I’m working with your little ones (and especially for newborns), I know how to keep them safe, I’m extremely at ease with them, and there’s nothing they might do that will startle me.

If we’re meeting for the first time

here’s what you should know about my family photography:

My style: emotional storytelling

My family photography is an intentional mix of storytelling candids brimming with emotion, alongside low-pressure portraits that feel authentic to you.

What sets me apart: Printed art

I’m deeply passionate about creating tangible, printed art with your family portraits, and I include a printed album in all of my packages.

My Approach: Inclusive + affirming

I’m a body-positive feminist, and work to create a safe celebratory space for every person, couple, and family I work with. I’m also part of the LGBTQ+ community and love photographing queer families!

See my Family portfolio

I make a promise to every person I work with:

I want you (and your family) to feel not only welcomed by me, but to feel seen and affirmed and deeply celebrated.

This means that I’m not going to force you into gendered poses for portraits, and I’m not going to assume you want one-size-fit-all traditional photos of your family. But I will get to know you (super well!) as individuals and as a collective. I will ask about the pronouns and accessibility concerns for every person in your family. If little ones will be involved in you pictures, we’ll plan the session to keep it low-pressure and comfy for them, so they can be themselves.

Overall, I’ll show up for your portrait session, ready to center your experience and capture the magic and story and emotions that reflect this chapter of your life.

elegant and natural Minneapolis family lifestyle photography-29.jpg

How do we take family photos without it feeling cheesy?

My approach family photography is an intentional mix of storytelling candids brimming with emotion, alongside low-pressure portraits that feel authentic to you. What this means: most sessions have two parts:

part of your session will have portraits that feel a little more directed (I promise, no awkward or stiff poses — but I’ll guide you through some relaxed, easygoing portraits to capture everyone looking great)
part of your session to be structured around an activity or two, so that we can capture some images that feel storytelling and candid-feeling. We’ll plan these activities out ahead of time, but I always encourage choosing activities that you like to do in everyday life — that allows the photos to become a time capsule for this season

What kinds of activities should we do during our session?

Here’s a few ideas from recent Twin Cities family photoshoots:

Activities with a newborn: read to your baby, feed them with a bottle or nursing, or give them their first bath in the sink.
Activities with kiddos: bake cookies, go swimming and make sandcastles at a beach, do a craft (painting, coloring, or playing with clay), plant some seeds or re-pot some seedlings, have a picnic at your favorite park.
Activities with pets: go hiking in a nearby state park, play in the backyard (with their favorite toy and a pocketful of treats), snuggle with them in their favorite chair, give them a brushing and play with them on your living room floor.
Activities with couples: cook a favorite meal or assemble a picnic and then eat al fresco, tend your backyard garden and harvest some fresh produce, go out for a beer at your favorite brewery, play your favorite record and slow dance in your living room, take a walk around your neighborhood.

“Alyssa’s presence is so calming, warm and balanced. Everything she touches is transformed into a stunning piece of artwork, with an intentional narrative. ”

- Sari + John

Family photography process: how it works

If you resonate with my work, you can download my family photography info & pricing guide to learn more about my approach and explore some pricing information. If that aligns with what you’re looking for, please reach out!

You can use my contact form or email me directly at info@alyssalundphotography.com. Please include the season/month when you’re hoping to do a session, and I always love it if you can share a little bit about your family, what your want to remember about this season of life, or what you’re looking for in a photographer.
I’ll send along some information and some date options for your session, and if it all feels like a good fit, we can move forward and get you officially booked!
I’ll email along some booking paperwork - you’ll fill out a quick questionnaire to share info about who will be in the pictures, you’ll pay your booking package (I can always set up a payment plan if you like as well - just ask!), and you’ll sign a contract.
Once that paperwork is taken care of, we’re officially booked!
We’ll also schedule a session-planning phone call for sometime before your photoshoot (it’s always an option to do this planning call before booking if you’d like to talk first, though!)
We’ll have a conversation to plan out some details for your session (sometimes this happens via a phone call, but often we meet up in person. If we’ll be doing your photoshoot at your home, I often will come over to your place for this meeting so we can walk through the space!)
During this conversation, we’ll talk about your family and what you want to remember about this chapter of life. We’ll plan out your session together — finalizing the location/setting, thinking through what kinds of activities you may want to incorporate into your pictures, and the mood/energy that you want your images to have.

We can also talk about logistical details like what to wear, and if there are little ones involved we’ll consider how their age and developmental stage will impact the session — and how we can set them up for success by planning a session that feels low-pressure, comfy, and fun.
Yay, it’s here!! I’ll arrive, we’ll begin by chatting and reviewing our plans, and then we’ll dive into taking pictures as planned.

I’ll guide and direct you through some intentional, relaxed portraits and we’ll balance that out with some storytelling, candid-feeling pictures structured around real activities.

We’ll have plenty of time, so no need to stress if you need a bathroom break or if you kiddo needs a few minutes to regroup. (In fact, I always encourage parents to not stress about whether your kid is on their best behavior; you just stay present and I’ll be the one in charge of calmly guiding you all through the experience!)
We’ll meet up back at my studio (or on zoom) for the reveal of your portraits – and it’s so exciting!! You can sip some tea or champagne, and I’ll show you a slideshow with all of your final pictures (there’s usually 60-70 from an average session). It’s always so exciting and emotional to get to relive your photoshoot and see your family <3

We’ll also plan out your printed album together – I’ll come to our meeting with a design prepared for you, and together we’ll make any tweaks you’d like so we can finalize everything.

If you decide you’d like to add on some wall art or any other art pieces, we can plan that out while we are together, and then you’ll be able to leave with your digital images in hand!
Your printed album will arrive a month or two after your portrair eveal, and it is the culmination of our intentional process together - you’ll be able to open the pages and relive the moments and details and emotions from this chapter of life with your family.

Sending your album home with you is truly one of the most amazing parts of my job.

There are so many family photographers in Minnesota, so what might make me right for you?

Your family is built on inclusive values and you want a feminist, body-positive photographer that’s 100% on-board with challenging gender roles and standing for equal rights!

You’re maybe a little nervous about being photographed and you’d like a photographer that’s really great at helping you feel natural and relaxed in front of the camera.

You’d love someone to be really helpful with planning ahead for your family session. Everything from what to wear for your session (which can be especially tricky for birthing parents thinking ahead to their newborn session!), to what activities you want to incorporate into your pictures, to planning your session that will center your children (so they won’t feel stressed, overstimulated, or forced — and they can relax and let our their real personalities).