Family Photographers in Cary, NC
We’re Amelia and Matt Photo, a husband-and-wife photography team based in Cary, NC, photographing families across Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the rest of the Triangle. Our photography style is lifestyle-based, so instead of stiff poses and forced smiles, we photograph real moments as your family naturally interacts, which means the photos actually look like your family, rather than a performance of it, even if no one considers themselves photogenic. Kids grow up fast, and a family session lets you capture this moment together, as a whole family.
Lifestyle Family Photography
Our approach is relaxed and fully guided, so you don’t need to know how to pose or worry about getting everyone to smile at the same time. We like to keep people moving during a session, walking, playing, chasing each other around, since it naturally pulls out more candid moments and lets real emotion show instead of a stiff, direct-to-camera smile. Our style is lifestyle-based, so instead of a session built around one or two poses, you walk away with a lot more variety: full family shots, playful moments, and everything that happens in between.
We’ll still get you those classic posed shots too, everyone looking at the camera, smiling together, so grandma gets her frame-worthy print, but your gallery won’t stop there. As a family photographer, we focus on the real moments, sibling giggles, a toddler mid-meltdown-turned-laugh, the way your family actually acts when no one’s forcing a smile. Those are the photos you’ll still love in twenty years.
Let's get your family in the frame together.
Whether it's your first family session or your fifth, we'll help you create photos that feel honest, playful, and full of love.
To get started, complete our quick intake form so we can understand your family and confirm availability for a session that feels relaxed from start to finish.
Check Availability
What to Expect at Your Family Session
Your family session is designed to be relaxed, flexible, and centered around how your family actually spends time together. We build in room for kids to warm up, for breaks when someone needs one, and for a little bit of chaos, because that’s usually where the best photos happen. If you’ve been wondering what a family session with us actually looks like, our goal is simple: help everyone feel comfortable enough to just be themselves.
Here’s what to expect:
- We follow your family’s pace. Every family moves differently, and your session will flow in a way that feels natural, not rushed.
- We guide with a light touch. From where to stand to how to interact, we offer just enough direction while keeping things loose and unposed.
- We capture what’s real. The in-between moments, the inside jokes, the way your kids actually act together, that’s the story we’re here to tell.
Where We Photograph Families
We photograph families both in-home and on location, whichever fits what you’re picturing for your session. In-home sessions capture the everyday warmth of real life: Saturday morning cartoons, a favorite reading nook, the happy chaos of getting everyone out the door. If you’d rather be outdoors, we’ve got favorite spots around the Triangle we’re happy to suggest, from shaded park trails to golden hour fields.
Not sure yet where you want to be photographed? That’s completely normal, and it’s not something you need to figure out on your own. We’ll walk through the options with you and help you land on a location that fits your family and the season of life you’re in. Session pricing includes photography anywhere in the Triangle. If you have your heart set on a location outside that area, just reach out, we’re happy to make it work and can talk through any additional travel fees.
In-Home & Neighborhood Sessions
Some of our favorite family sessions happen right where you live, your living room, backyard, or a walk around your own neighborhood. Whether that’s your front porch in Preston, your driveway in Amberly, or just by your pool out back, we bring the equipment and adapt to your space.
Locations Around the Triangle
Prefer to get out of the house? We love shooting at spots like Downtown Cary, the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh, and Duke University’s Campus in Durham, each offering a different feel depending on whether you want something walkable and urban or open and natural.
Working With Kids of Every Age
Every family is different, and every kid shows up differently in front of a camera. We’ve photographed newborns who slept through the whole session and toddlers who refused to sit still for a single frame, and both turned out beautifully. We don’t need everyone posed and smiling on command. We work around wiggly toddlers, camera-shy tweens, and reluctant teenagers, and some of our favorite images come from the moments that weren’t planned at all.
Your family, exactly as you are right now.
his season won't look the same next year. Let's capture it while it's still exactly like this.
To get started, complete our quick intake form so we can understand your family and confirm availability for a session that feels relaxed from start to finish.
Check AvailabilityWhat is Included in a Family Photography Session
Family sessions start at $350 for a 60-minute session tailored to your family and style, and can take place in your home or on location anywhere in the Triangle, including Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the surrounding suburbs. Every family member is included at no extra charge, and you’ll never pay per photo. You’ll receive your full gallery of beautifully edited images in both color and black and white, delivered to your own private online gallery with a full print release, typically within 1 to 2 weeks.
If you’d like a little more flexibility, optional upgrades include Priority Editing for a 2-3 day turnaround, or an Extended Session for more time, additional locations, or a more relaxed pace.
See everything that’s included, along with all available upgrades, on our Investment page.
What to Wear for Your Family Session
Comfortable always photographs better than perfectly matched. We generally recommend outfits that complement each other rather than match exactly, landing in a similar color palette or feel is usually enough to look cohesive as a group. Solid colors and simple textures tend to work best, while busy patterns like bold plaids or large florals can get visually noisy once you’ve got a whole family in frame.
Not sure where to start? We’re happy to help you plan outfits so everyone feels good and the photos come together naturally.
A Look at Our Family Sessions
A look at a recent family session at the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh.
Let's Photograph Your Family As You Really Are
No forced smiles, no perfect poses, just your family together, exactly as this season looks and feels right now. Tell us a bit about your family and we'll take it from there.
Check AvailabilityFrequently Asked Questions
Is there a "right" time to get family photos done?
There’s no single right moment, but a lot of families book around a change: a new baby, a move, a milestone birthday, holiday cards, or just realizing it’s been a couple years since the last set of real photos. If it’s been on your mind, that’s usually reason enough.
What if our family isn't "photogenic" or my kids won't sit still?
Our lifestyle approach is built for exactly this, instead of posed shots where everyone has to hold still and smile on cue, we focus on capturing you while you’re actually interacting with each other. That takes the pressure off if you or your kids don’t feel photogenic or comfortable in front of a camera. The goal is for the session to feel like you’re just spending time together, playing, talking, being yourselves, while we capture the real, authentic moments that happen along the way.
Can we include our pets?
Absolutely, pets are family too. You’re always welcome to bring them along for your session. Just let us know ahead of time so we can plan for it, and we’ll do our best to include them as much as we can depending on their level of cooperation that day.
What happens if it rains or someone's sick on session day?
Life happens, and we plan for it. If unsafe weather, illness, or an emergency comes up on your session day, we’ll work with you to find an alternative date within your booking window at no extra cost. If you need to reschedule for another reason, just give us as much notice as you can, generally at least a week, so we can find a date that works for everyone.
How far in advance should we book, and how long until we get our photos back?
Booking in advance helps make sure we’re available around your target date, since spring through fall tend to fill up quickly. Reaching out early gives you the best shot at the date and time that works for your family. After your session, you’ll have your fully edited gallery in hand within 1 to 2 weeks, plenty of time if you’re working toward something like holiday cards or invitations.
Do you travel outside of Cary for family sessions?
Yes. While we’re based in Cary, we regularly photograph families throughout Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the surrounding Triangle suburbs at no extra travel cost. If you have an idea for a family portrait session outside of the triangle, contact us for additional pricing.
This Season Won't Wait
Our family sessions are relaxed, candid, and completely led by how your family actually moves together. We guide just enough to help everyone feel comfortable, but we always leave room for the real moments, the laughter, the wiggles, and the quiet in-between.
Whether you're marking a milestone or just want a real, honest set of photos of your family right now, this is your chance to slow down and document it.
Check AvailabilityFrom Newborn to Family Sessions
Many of our family clients start with us during the newborn stage and come back year after year as their family grows. If you’re expecting or recently welcomed a new baby, take a look at our in-home newborn photography sessions.
