Amy is a seasoned family photographer with two decades of experience dedicated to creating stress-free and unforgettable portrait sessions. Family moments are precious and irreplaceable. Our commitment is to capture the essence of your unique bonds in both on-location and studio settings, ensuring you'll never regret investing in these cherished memories.  Our goal is to provide you with a seamless & personalized portrait session that will result in portraits that transcend time and become cherished memories for generations to come.

family portraits

SERVICES BY SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA family PHOTOGRAPHER AT AMY DRAKE PHOTOGRAPHY

Love, love, love!! Thank you for these most amazing photographs that will be with our family for generations - you have captured Stella's spirit to a 'T' and we are so grateful!

-Jessica

Our family portrait packages start at $1390.  Please inquire for detailed information on the packages and products that we offer.  Our packages are thoughtfully curated, offering keepsake prints and digital images based on exactly what most clients find themselves wanting. 

investment

Ordered images are retouched with absolute detail and care.  Every purchased image is delivered as both a matted print and as a matching digital file.  I am so excited for you to receive images that you and generations to come will cherish forever.

your finished portraits

It's show time!  We will schedule a reveal session so you can see your beautiful images and choose which of our products will make up your final order, whether that's one of our stunning portrait boxes or a creative wall display.  My goal is for you to want them all, but you only buy what you absolutely love! 

ordering session

Once you're done with hair and makeup, we begin the photoshoot. We will create the most beautiful images that you have ever seen of yourself.  Not a model?  No worries!  I guide you through expressions and poses that allow your true personality to shine through.  This is my favorite part - making people feel relaxed and natural in front of the camera!  

Photoshoot

On shoot day, you simply show up and one of my hair and makeup artists will take it from there! We can go for a natural look with light makeup or go full glam like you're walking the red carpet. The choice is entirely up to you - we just ensure you are photo ready!

hair and makeup

You will receive tips for wardrobe & styling to make sure that your vision becomes a reality. I love to explore your personal colors and style so your portraits reflect an authentic version of you. I am always available to my clients via text or email so they are confident with their look on shoot day!

planning

My goal is to create a relaxed, stress-free photo shoot experience!  To do so, the first step is that I will come to you for an in-home consultation.  We will discuss your vision for the shoot, clothing, and location details.   We cover all of the details to ensure you have a flawless session!

in home Consultation

The Process

FAQ

how far in advance should i schedule my session?  

WHEN DO YOU SCHEDULE YOUR family PORTRAIT SHOOTS? 

I schedule my family portrait sessions on Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons. Your session will usually begin about three hours before sunset and hair and makeup about an hour and a half prior to that! I do offer very limited weekend sessions at our premium session fee.  

where will my shoot take place?  do you have a studio? 

That is totally up to you! I have a full service studio that offers a wide variety of stylish backdrops and modern settings. I also shoot in fields, at the beach and downtown! We can discuss the location that works best for your family!

what is a typical session like? 

So much fun! Based on our conversations prior, Amy plans out a shoot schedule that fits your style and personality. We start out with professional hair and make up to bring out your best features. If we are on location, plan to bring some comfortable shoes (in addition to the shoes you bring for each look) as we often walk from a central location to several creative shoot spots - variety is key! Don’t know how to pose? No problem! Amy has years and years of experience in posing her clients into comfortable, natural poses. A typical session lasts about two hours if you have several outfit changes or a bit less if you prefer to keep things short and sweet! The end result is an amazing set of images that you’ll be proud to share with friends and family.

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR MY SESSION? WILL WE PLAN THE LOOK OF THE SHOOT TOGETHER?

Yes! I’ve got you covered! Once you book, we will schedule a time for Amy to come to your home for a consultation. During this consultation we will create a plan for your session. We will discuss style & clothing, hair and make-up, and other ideas you might have for your session, and develop a shoot list for the session. After this meeting you will know everything you need to know to get ready!  

what should i wear for my photoshoot?

We will definitely go over this during your in-home consultation, but here are a few tips to get you thinking.  One simple rule: wear what makes you feel great and you will look great! Wear the colors that make you and your family glow!  Think about choosing clothes that repeat your eye color, especially a long sleeve shirt or sweater. We often recommend clothing that has texture, such as knitting, embroidery, denim, buttons, & ruffles. This type of clothing tends to photograph well and adds a lot of visual interest. If you have a great prom or other formal dress, consider it! Shorter dresses and mini skirts limit our poses, so try to think of fuller, longer skirts and dresses you might have stashed away. Then add your favorite pair of jeans, tee and pretty hat. For men, henley shirts and knit sweaters always photograph well. Maybe bring a suit if that is your style! You get the idea! Feel free to send us images of your clothing prior to your session and we’ll help you choose!

IS HAIR AND MAKEUP INCLUDED? CAN I SAVE MONEY IF I DO MY OWN?

Professional makeup and hair styling for one person is included in the session fee. This is a complimentary service so if you choose to do it yourself, the price is still the same.  You may add hair and/or makeup for additional family members for an additional fee.

I DON’T USUALLY WEAR MAKEUP. DO I REALLY NEED IT?

Our goal with makeup is not to make you look like you are wearing makeup. Our professional make-up artists listen to you carefully and can create any look you want, including a natural face. My makeup artist once told me that the best compliment you can receive when she is finished is “your skin looks amazing!” not “your makeup looks amazing”. When I selected the makeup artists with whom I work, I chose them based on their skills of creating natural-looking makeup as that is true talent! We can discuss your comfort level with makeup during your consultation. 

how long before i see my images?

We will schedule an image reveal appointment 1-2 weeks after your session. Orders will take place in person at the studio (highly recommended!) or via Zoom. We can discuss crops, retouching, and other details that we find easier to move through in person. At the ordering appointment, we will sit down and view a slideshow of your images set to music. We will then revisit your favorite images and see how each would appear in various crops, layouts, etc. and how they might work in various products you might want!  

can i have digital files of all of my images?

Yes, our packages are all inclusive - with each image sold, you will receive a print AND the matching digital image file. If you don’t want the print, that’s your choice, but the price per image is the same whether you receive the print and digital file, just the print, or just the digital. As a professional, I believe you should have both! The digital file you receive will print up to an 8x10. They are also perfect if you choose to use them in graduation cards.

WHAT PRINTED PRODUCTS DO YOU OFFER?

We offer beautiful handcrafted leather portfolio boxes that hold gorgeous matted prints. We also have several album options if that’s your thing! Our wall portraits are absolutely amazing. Choose from framed canvas, traditional prints or stunning metal! All of these options are on display at our studio and you can see them in the Product Guide we show you during your Intro call.  

HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST ME?

Senior sessions are $1390 and include a $1000 credit towards your order. My goal is to create images you love and will want to purchase! Most of my clients spend between $3,000 and $10,000 depending on what they choose to order!


WILL YOU BE PUBLISHING MY IMAGES ONLINE?

Only with your permission! I love to share my work and show off my beautiful clients, however I will always honor your requests for privacy and only share images that you approve.

do you have a shorter "mini session" offering for senior portraits?

Yes, on certain days of the month, we hold a “Headshot Marathon” in studio. You are welcome to sign up for one of these slots and the session will be short and sweet (1/2 hour max). Please note these sessions are in studio and only on select days (contact studio for more info). 

WE JUST NEED A BLACK DRAPE / CAP AND GOWN SHOT. DO YOU OFFER THAT?

Our sessions are setup to go beyond the cap and gown shot. In the SF Bay Area, most schools have contracted with a volume photographer that handles these type of sessions and is outfitted with various sizes of tuxes and black drapes. I can certainly take a portrait of you in your cap and gown, but this image is usually one of the looks that we pull together as part of your full custom session!

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