Hi there! I am Susan Ryan Kalina, and I would love to document your family's story at this moment in time.
I am a former photojournalist who started photographing families and events eighteen years ago when I quit my job as a photo editor at The Chicago Tribune.
One of my very favorite kinds of sessions I do is documentary Family Sessions. I think I am so in love with this kind of photography because I truly believe I am providing a vital service to families, recording the beautiful connection between children and their parents by capturing candid moments.
My idea for Family Sessions came from having a wonderful childhood but not many photos to show for it. Sure, I have pictures of us standing next to each other in different locations. But I don't have the photos that show the little moments that make up my memories.
So I am on a mission to make sure other people don't have that same regret I have. I want the children in your life to have a book of photos to show THEIR children some day that tells the story of their family.
Want to see some examples of a Family Session? Click here, here and here.
I also love photographing grandparents and grandkids spending time together. I call those photo shoots Grandparent Sessions. Want to see a couple examples of a Grandparent Session? Check out these blog posts here and here.
Family Storytelling Photography
I photograph families in a "Family Storytelling Photography" style. What the heck is that? Well, I'm glad you asked. The most important distinction is that the focus is on capturing candid and non-posed moments.
I particularly love documenting the beauty in the everyday moments. Whether it's playing in the backyard, doing an activity together, having a meal together, or whatever your family likes to do, I am there to document your time together and provide you with your story in photos. If the children are little, reading books, mealtime, bath time, diaper changes and putting kids down for bed all make for great storytelling moments
My goal is to capture facial expressions, body language, laughter, and even sometimes the occasional tears that tell your complete story. Because right now, at this moment in time, your family has a story to tell. And that story will change very rapidly as the children in your life age.
This is not a "posed" photo session. But I am happy to pull everyone together for one posed shot if that is something you want. We only will spend about ten minutes on the posed shot. The rest of the time is for me to document the connection between the family members.
Most families love Family Storytelling Sessions. Basically, I am there to photograph the family doing what they love to do together. How can that not be a blast?
Q. But my kids are older, isn't this for little kids?
A. Nope. Photographing the relationship between family members is good for any age. I promise you, your teen or college aged kids (or older) will totally value having photos of you spending time together. Maybe the session is geared more toward a family meal, cooking together, or going to a Cubs game together, or whatever you enjoy doing. They will still cherish these images and be thrilled to be able to show them to their children many years from now.
Q. I hate how I look in photos. I just want photos of my kids. Isn't that good enough?
A: Yes, I know, many of us hate how we look in photos. We are our own worst critics. But guess what, do it for the kids. They don't see the extra 10 lbs. you think you are carrying or that your makeup or clothes aren't perfect, they will just see love when they look back at these photos. So, do this incredibly selfless act and do a Family Session for the children in your life. Imagine these children in 30 years showing these storytelling photos to their children!
Q: My house is messy and isn't decorated like a show house. It won't be a pretty backdrop for photos.
A: No worries! If we are photographing at your home, I am going to be focused on getting photos of your relationship. Yes, your house will be in the background, but that's ok. The point of this photo shoot is to capture your real life at this moment in time. Not capture the fake, idealized version of your house. If there are piles of laundry to fold in the background or toys strewn about, that's real life. And your real life is beautiful in all it's details. And the kids in your life will want to remember what their home looked like, not the Norman Rockwell version of it. Plus, if there is a certain room that really makes you crazy, just let me know and we can avoid it.
Q: But what the heck will we do while you take pictures of us?
A: Trust me, this won't be a problem. I will send you a questionnaire after we pick a date, you pay the retainer and sign the contract. I will ask you several questions that will get the ideas flowing of what kind of situations we want to photograph. Then we will do a phone consultation to further discuss how the photo session will go. I've done this many times and it always works out in a beautiful way unique to each family.
How to Schedule a Session
Like what you're hearing so far? Great. Let's talk. You can click here and go directly to my website and click on the "Inquire" page. You can shoot me an email at susanrkphoto@gmail.com. Or call me at 773 510 7105.
A Family Session is booked when you sign my contract and pay your session fee. Books, wall art, prints and/or digital images are not provided as part of the session fee.
Once these two things are done, I will send you a questionnaire that will get the ideas flowing regarding what your photo session will look like. We will talk it through and come up with a uniquely lovely time to capture together.
One to two weeks after our session (during the day on a weekday or Wednesday evening), I will come to you for an in-person ordering session. I will go through the images with you and help you decide on the best products for you. I will show you a pre-designed book on my laptop of the best storytelling photos from your session. All purchases are expected to be made at the ordering session.
If you live more than 20 miles from 60015, we can do a video conference for this ordering session
Products will be available for pickup at my Deerfield home 3-5 weeks after your ordering session. Products can also be sent directly to your home for a small delivery fee.
I offer three lengths of family sessions. The session fee is different depending on the duration of time I spend photographing your family. The session fee does not include any products. Those are purchases separately at the ordering session after the shoot.
My Family Mini Session is a 2 hour shoot. The session fee is $250. It produces approximately 40-50 images. This shoot is great if you are looking for a taste of storytelling photography. We can capture just a part of your day together or a couple activities at home.
My Family Half Day Session is a 4 hour shoot. The session fee is $400. It produces approximately 100 images. Half day sessions are great for having more variety of situations to photograph. How about taking the train downtown and playing tourist for the day? This is a perfect amount of time for that.
My Day in the Life Full Day Session is 8-10 hours long. The session fee is $700. It produces approximately 150 images. There is nothing quite like have an entire day photographed together. A day in the life shoot is a fantastic way to capture morning rituals, spending the day together, and all the in between moments thru bedtime.
The session fee pays for the time I spend photographing your family, as well as the hours I spend behind the computer carefully selecting the best images and hand editing each photo. The session fee also pays for the in-person consultation service I offer a couple of weeks after our shoot where I will go through all the images with you and discuss my recommendations for wall art, products and book design. My clients love the in-person ordering session because picking photos and products on their own is often very overwhelming. Books, wall art, prints and/or digital images are not provided as part of the session fee. They may be purchased at the ordering session.
Session fees may be paid for by cash, check, Chase Quickpay at Susanrkphoto@gmail.com or Venmo @Susan-Kalina .
Book and Digital Collections:
5 Digitals (You can select your favorite 20 from the session gallery) - $500
20 Digitals (You can select your favorite 20 from the session gallery) - $700
40 Page 8x12 lay flat Hard Cover Coffee Table Book - $600
Mini Family Session Digitals - $900
Half Day Session Digitals - $1200
Full Day Session Digitals - $1500
Mini Session Book/Digital Combo Package: 40 Digitals and 40 Page 8x12 lay flat Hard Cover Coffee Table Book - $1200
Half Day Session Book/Digital Combo Package: 60 Digitals and 40 Page 8x12 lay flat Hard Cover Coffee Table Book - $1500
Full Day Session Book/Digital Combo Package: 80 Digitals and 40 Page 8x12 lay flat Hard Cover Coffee Table Book - $1800
30 Page 8x12 Custom Fine Art Album (Heirloom Quality) - $949
Individual Digitals - $100 each
Sales tax is added to all tangible products purchased. Prices are subject to change, however once your contract is signed and the deposit is paid, your prices are locked in.
Prints
Gift Prints (anything 8x10 or smaller) are $67 each. If you purchase 5 or more (They don't have to be the same image.) the price drops to $50 each.
11x14 - $85
16x24 - $140
20x36 - $300
All prints are Lustre photographic prints. They are printed on Kodak Endura Professional paper, mounted on 3mm black Styrene. Additional print sizes are also available.
Gallery Wrapped Canvas
Most popular sizes:
11x14 - $240
16x24 - $340
20x30 - $488
30x40 - $600
Gallery Wrapped Canvases are printed on a satin-finished canvas and then hand sprayed with a UV coating. The canvas is then professionally wrapped around a solid wood 1.5 inch base. The canvas includes hanging hardware and a black mat board backing. More sizes are available for Gallery Wrapped Canvases.
Bonuses
3 or more canvases purchased receives 10 percent off the canvas pricing. When you purchase a canvas 16x24 or above, you also receive the digital for that image licensed for personal use.
I can't wait to hear from you! If you are ready to book, or would just like a free pre-consult, contact me here.
Credits:
Susan Ryan Kalina Photography