California Family Photographers
Documentary Family Photography for California, United States
Our California family photographers are also available to clients in: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego
Are you Ready to Schedule a Documentary Family Photo Session?
FAMILY COMES FIRST - Recently, some of our United States family photojournalists have communicated their readiness to work with families who are able to carry on with their normal life and who want it documented. Family Photojournalist Association professional members offer a distinct and natural style of unobtrusive photography that will capture genuine, candid moments of you, your children, and even extended family enjoying time together...everyone gets in the pictures and you will likely forget the photographer is even there.
The purpose of documentary family photography is to tell a story — your story. You will be able to feel the love that you have for one another in the images. You will see the beauty that results when you are not posed or directed by your photographer to sit in a contrived position and smile on command at the camera. The FPJA has an abundance of top-ranked, California family photographers who are available right now. Find yours today!
Map of FPJA Family Photographers Serving California
14 Available Documentary Family Photographers...

I am a Southern California natural light, documentary-style photographer, which just means I’m a storyteller, capturing your everyday life and times in images. For me, it is all about authentic imagery that represents who you are. I’ve always been one to document, but my love of photography really blossomed with the birth of our first child. I inherited my first DSLR camera, which I enjoyed, but it wasn’t until a friend taught me how to use the manual mode that I realized pointing and shooting play a very small role in creating a compelling image. So my quest began: to make images — creatively and expertly — that move the viewer. Soon after, I had life changing moments to document: our 2nd daughter’s cleft palate surgery and bringing our son home from the hospital for the first time. But I have realized what I enjoy most is capturing the little things: how she cocks her head when she pushes her palms into the play dough, or how he clambers up onto a bike that is way too big for him. For me, the joy of capturing a moment beautifully and memorably is the most exciting part of photography. I would love to share this gift with you, to come together for a time and create a collection of images that bring you just such joy.

Ever since I was a teenager, I have always enjoyed taking pictures with the camera my dad passed onto me, capturing the things, people and places around me. In 2007, I decided to turn this passion of mine into my career. Since then I have been shooting weddings, engagements, special events, family, kids and babies. I love telling stories with my camera, and my pictures demonstrated my characteristic style and unique perspective, simple yet elegant. I take great pride to apply my skills and talent to document the important and precious moments of life of my clients into lasting fine art pictures. It gives me great satisfaction to be able to capture these memories for my clients so they can cherish a lifetime.

You want to capture the real stuff. To make pictures that you will share with your grandchildren and say “This was us. This was our life." Meet your San Francisco family photographer. My name is David Enloe and I have been serving clients for over 10 years. What’s my superpower? I naturally mirror the energy of the kids around me. This empowers you to feel comfortable so that we can make pictures that feel true. I also believe that physical prints are timeless, so I guide you through the process of creating quality artwork from your photographs. I care so much that I build picture frames by hand. My family photography packages range from 1-hour lifestyle photo sessions to multi-day adventure documentary experiences. Let's do this!
Hi All! I am a photojournalist dedicated to telling the story of your family through genuine, moment-driven photographs that will stand the test of time and be enjoyed by your family for generations to come. I'm a San Francisco-based photographer who, for over a decade, has spent most of my time covering newsworthy events both big and small. Before San Francisco, I was based in China. I've always been drawn to defining moments and the light that surrounds them. I've worked for newspapers and magazines spanning 6 continents as well as leading global companies and NGOs. Some notables are The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Associated Press, The NBA, U.N.H.C.R., and The W.H.O. There is something inherently different about the way photojournalists see the world. I think bringing this unique view and moment-driven photography to families truly creates images that will last a lifetime.

Joyce studied fine art and photography at Syracuse University in New York, London, England and Florence, Italy. An artist. A photojournalist. An educator. A mentor. A dancer. A thought partner. A soulful person. A real-life storyteller capturing moments as memorable visual stories. Often it’s the small moments, the wordless reactions, which carry the most power. She captures natural moments that tell the story of your family in a playful and artistic slice of life photo session. The focus is on everyday moments and interactions including connections while engaging with one another. Sessions take place at home or at an outdoor location in the San Francisco Bay Area or Mendocino.

I studied Journalism in college and I once was an international journalist based in Seoul. Both my academic and professional backgrounds have influenced my documentary and photojournalistic family and wedding photos. And those timeless and priceless photos define who we are and nothing makes me more thrilled than documenting our lives as they are. Life is a series of moments, and those moments are fleeing away from us instantly; that is why photography is incredibly powerful and important to our lives, and I feel extremely honored to be part of every moment. I do what I do, coming from my heart, passion and love.

After growing up with drum sticks in my hands, I went to music school and earned a B.A. in jazz drumming. But in 2008 while studying abroad in Amsterdam, I discovered a love for photography. And in 2010 my focus completely shifted from music to image-making. I was originally drawn to photojournalism after seeing the New York Time's "One in 8 Million" project photographed by Todd Heisler. It's fascinating to me how a photographer can interact so closely with their subject and in doing so create a moving series of images about someone's life. Since then I knew I wanted to be a documentary photographer. After moving to the mountains of Colorado in 2011 I began freelancing for the Vail Daily newspaper in 2013. In 2014 they offered me a full time staff position. Photographing for the newspaper taught me how to visually tell a story, sometimes when you only have a few minutes. During my year at the paper my images were also published in other outlets including The New York Times and Food & Wine Magazine. In 2015 I moved to San Francisco and have been a freelancer here ever since. In recent years I've moved my client focus to documentary family photography because photographing candid, unposed moments is when I'm most comfortable behind the camera.

Grace Chen is a Southern California lifestyle photographer based in Los Angeles. She specializes in capturing genuine images of people engaging in everyday life. Grace's style is vivid and natural, and she has experience photographing models, weddings, kids' birthday parties, and high school senior pictures. Grace prides herself on her ability to capture authentic emotions and scenarios in her photographs.

I love photographing family energy... been doing it in the documentary feel for 17 years. Family sessions are one of the most cherished things for my camera. As proof, despite nearly two decades as a pro, and being published from music albums to museums, my most cherished honor in the medium is an image of my late Uncle Ron, on the front cover of his funeral program. It captures a wily smirk and was made at a large family gathering one sunny Summer day in New Hampshire. It meant the world to be surprised with that. The natural moments of connection of your family, through big open hearts, is what I'm after. It's a mix of documentary, lifestyle and fine art. It's real. It's slow and soft or loud and crazy... it's everything. The goal is to become one of your family photographers through life, one session at a time. Often we'll put something physical that you already share together as a family. Could be cooking. Could be basketball or surfing or soccer or skiing. You enjoy, and I'll document the magic. For more of my history and accolades, please head on over to my website. WEDDINGS: Since 2002, Doug has photographed almost 600 weddings, earning awards for his work. He specializes in tiny weddings and elopements and his style is a blend of documentary and lifestyle photography. Not only is Doug highly skilled, but he is also known for his calming presence and his ability to easily engage with family and guests at weddings.

Ron is a family photographer based out of the Northwest. He has been married to his wonderful friend, Neesie, for nearly the past 29 years and they have two amazing boys; Grant and Torey. 15 years ago, Ron Storer worked on a freelance basis with non-profit Organizations doing relief work around the globe. Now on occasion Ron still assists NPO's when possible and as his schedule allows. Prior to his photography career, Ron Storer raced on the US Cycling Team earning a Gold Medal in the Pan-Am Games and a Silver Medal in the Olympic Trials.

As a father of 3 I know how crazy parenthood is. I also know how fast time goes by and how important it is to record those fleeting moments that make up this wild thing we call 'life'. That is why I feel, more strongly then ever, that it is very crucial to be as unobtrusive as I can be when making photographs of families so that I do not interrupt those moments that make this whole thing worthwhile and precious. Documenting those moments is not just for you, the parent, but more so for your children - for them to have an honest record of how your life and family really were... in all it's chaotic glory!

Photography is my way of storytelling, and when I look at a photograph, I FEEL the moment, and my head and heart rejoice in the memory. With my lens, I capture the everyday details that make up my life, those moments that become my cherished memories. I am a witness most of all. This is what I do for my family, and what I hope to do for yours. I love capturing the most mundane of things, and showing you how beautiful those little moments are. Like cooking an epic pancake breakfast or reading books together in bed with a cup of coffee. I take great care to create a session that is unique to you, an experience that will translate into beautiful and timeless imagery of you and your family.

I'm a Seattle, Washington based family photographer specialized in lifestyle and documentary and studio light portrait. My husband and I have two wonderful kids. They are exploring new things everyday which brings me to take up camera to catch the precious moments of them and record the sparkling family time. Family photography is my love, every phase of life is so precious. I can't wait to know your family and use light and my artistical composition to capture your unique cherished moments.
California Family Photography
Documentary family photography is the perfect way to capture special moments and create lasting memories. With an outdoor or at-home session, your California family photographer can capture sincere candid moments of the entire family in a comfortable and laid back setting. Whether it's a small group or a larger extended family, your FPJA photographer will focus on the art of storytelling through beautiful photographs. From capturing the unique personalities of each family member to the normal routines, you can trust that a California family photographer of the FPJA will create unique and timeless family heirlooms.
California Day in the Life Picture Sessions - DITL
There is something alluring about the imperfections in an ordinary day. The best gift that you can give your family now and in the years to come is the investment in authentic photographs that showcase a real day in your life. These stress-free sessions, designed to capture the realness and honesty of an average day for your family, produce the most genuine images, and these are the ones that you will cherish for years to come.
California Birth Sessions at Home or Hospital
The birth of your child is an experience that is filled with both beauty and chaos. It’s a moment in time that you won’t want to forget, yet it’s an experience in which the details may fade away in the coming weeks, months and years. To capture the first moments in which you meet your baby and those first special hours together, you should enlist the help of a California documentary birth photographer. An experienced family photographer who specializes in documentary birth sessions will be able to capture your labor journey, the birth experience and the immediate reaction that you have when you see your baby’s face for the first time — all while respecting your space. The right photographer will be able to use discretion while focusing on the fleeting moments that you will want to remember from your birth experience. Whether you plan to give birth at home or at the hospital, you can book a documentary birth session with a professional reportage-style birth photographer.