Because family is everything.
"A family photography experience like no other"
for your family.
families
If you want artwork of your family that truly makes a statement and an amazing customized experience from start to finish...
...then you've come to the right place because that is what James Thomas Long Photography is all about!
"Choosing the right family photographer can make all the difference."
I'm James and I have over 13 years of experience photographing families. Plus, I'm a father myself. I know how important your family is to you and how much these photographs mean. Kids grow up so incredibly fast and our lives are constantly changing. None of us know exactly how many tomorrows we have left, so it so very important that we capture the here and now. That is why I take each and every family session very seriously, spending the time with you to ensure the images we capture are worthy of being cherished for a lifetime and making sure you and your family have an amazing experience in the process.
Contact me to get started!
Scroll down for some great tips to ensure your next family session is a smashing success!
As a father myself, I have been photographing families, children, and babies full-time for over 13 yearsnow! I've photographed kids of all ages and personalities and have learned a lot from my experiences working with families over the years. I encourage you to peruse my portfolio and journal, where I post highlights from every single session that I photograph. I work very hard to consistently create gorgeous images for every single family I work with. Rest assured, you are in good hands!
over 10 years of experience photographing families!
Your family photography session will include:
Help finding the perfect, gorgeous location where you and your kids can have fun together in an authentic and natural way here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Help selecting outfits to ensure everyone is comfortable and looks their best, keeping in mind the kinds of colors and tones we'll encounter at our location. You are all going to look amazing!
TWO HOUR SESSIONS! I can't stress enough how much better this is than a mini-session! Two hours gives us time to explore some different areas at our location, time for little ones (and adults too) to get comfortable in front of the camera, time for kids to play and be themselves, time for outfit changes, time to avoid having to rush... I could go on and on!
A photographer who is patient with kids and babies, incorporates games and fun props to get everyone happy and relaxed, and is totally down for being as goofy as needed to get those laughs, smiles, and kids being themselves. It is going to be SUPER fun!!!
Your own customized ordering appointment where you'll get to see all of the beautiful, edited images from your session on a big screen.
Beautiful custom artwork for your home. During your ordering appointment, I'll help you narrow down the images to your absolute favorites, help you select the right products and sizes for your home, and make sure everything is properly edited and retouched before sending it to the print lab. I do this to ensure that you have beautiful custom artwork that is ready to display and be enjoyed in your home!
get ready for a family session experience like no other!
If you want the best for your next family photography session...
1. Book your Session. You can fill out the contact form here. I recommend booking as far in advance as possible, particularly if it will be the busy season (late summer through fall).
HOW MY SESSIONS WORK
They grow up way too fast!!!
2. You'll get a welcome email with guides to help you start planning for your session, including outfit ideas, location considerations, and more about how my sessions flow.
3. During your pre-session consultation (about 3-4 weeks before your session, we'll talk about outfits, colors, locations, your goals and preferences, and I'll get some info from you as well about your amazing family and how I can engage the kiddos and make the session fun for your whole family.
4. We'll have an amazing 2-hour session at a beautiful location! I'll capture beautiful images of your family and you will get to have a fun experience together in the process!
5. You'll get to see an awesome slideshow video of the beautiful images I've curated and edited for you and I'll help you go through them and narrow it down to your favorites. What an amazing way to celebrate the HS senior in your life!
Scroll down to check out my family session guide!
WHEN YOU BOOK JAMES THOMAS LONG PHOTOGRAPHY
- Through your pre-session consultation and guides you'll receive, I'll help you decide which location is best for your family, the bet time of day, and help you with what to wear so that everyone is comfortable and looking their best!
- And I'm here for you whenever you need help! My clients can always reach out any time!
WHAT YOU'LL GET
So Much More than Just a Family Session!
- We'll choose a location anywhere around and make it as adventurous as you like!
- Two hours gives us time for everyone to get comfortable in front of the camera, time for outfit changes or breaks for little ones, time to explore different areas, time for you to play and laugh together, and time to make it an amazing and fun experience for your whole family. Longer sessions eliminate the stress of shorter sessions like mini-sessions.
- I am there just for you (I never do mini-sessions!). I limit sessions to only one session on a given day to ensure that your family gets the best light and the location that you want! There will never be another family waiting to go right after you or finishing up right before you!
A Custom 2-Hour Family Session Just for You!
You're family is wonderfully unique...
Let's make your family session show what an amazing family you are!
A Pre-Session Consultation and Guides to Help You Prepare for Your Family Session!
Absoluely Gorgeous images!
- If you've seen my work, then you know! I create beautiful images not just for some families, but for ALL families that I photograph! Every. Single. One. No matter what the age of your kids or how many you'll be bringing along, we're going to have an awesome time and create amazing images for you!
- All images I show you are beautifully edited in my unique style!
- We'll go through your beautiful images together and I'll help you narrow down and select your favorite images. And I'll help you find the best products to decorate your home too. Whether it's a wall gallery, an album, or anything else - I'll help you with sizes and frame choices to match your decor.
Help Choosing the Perfect Products and Images for Your Home!
It's all about family...
You've worked tirelessly on the job and at home for them, clothed them, fed them, driven them to countless school and extra-curricular functions, laughed with them, cried with them, probably even gotten some gray hairs because of them, and through it all, loved them more than anything. You do it all for them because they are worth it. And you deserve a photographer who will capture the love, the connections, the personalities, and the beauty that is your family, because your family is worth it.
...because family is everything.
Hi, I'm James and I'm a husband to an incredible wife and dad to an amazing daughter who lights up our world!
With over 13 years of experience photographing families, I have been blessed with so many long-standing clients - clients who come back year after year because they want the best for their family and have come to trust that I will capture that for them. They know they are in good hands.
Meet your photographer
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OUR PHILOSOPHY
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Studio Manager, second shooter
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MEET our team
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What clients are saying
"We booked James for a family portrait session and we couldn't be happier with the entire experience. Having your photo taken can often feel awkward but James helped us let our guard down and feel comfortable. James was great with our almost 2-year old son, as well. He was incredibly patient with him and did a great job making my son laugh and look at the camera. My wife and I were really impressed. Not only did the photo shoot go better than expected, but our photos were absolutely stunning! After sharing many of them online I had so many people tell me how much they liked them. Months later, I still have people telling me they saw my family photos and were blown away by them. My wife and I couldn't agree more."
-Jon H.
"We are incredibly grateful to have found James Thomas Long photography! James is so good at what he does. He has photographed our family since we had our first child, and now our third. He uses outdoor lighting and landscape to bring nature's beauty into our family photos. We have found this to be a lasting and positive investment, as we have photography and beautiful wall canvases to cherish for years to come. We recommend him wholeheartedly."
-Kristin P.
"James has been photographing our family every year for the last 5 years and we can’t imagine hiring anyone else. Our sessions with James have become something we all look forward to each and every year. He is patient, so great with the kids, and always truly amazes us with what he is able to capture. Every year, our images are absolutely stunning! We are so very glad we found him to create these beautiful memories for our family. From planning the session all the way through receiving our images and prints, I always know we are in good hands. It is absolutely wonderful to actually see my kids grow in the beautiful canvases James created for us that we now have displayed in our home. I’m so glad that we do this every year and look forward to our next session later this summer!"
-Susan G.
"Couldn't be happier!"
"can't imagine hiring anyone ese!"
"incredibly grateful to have found james!"
FAQS
1. Will you help me choose a location?
YES! I know so many amazing locations in the Puget Sound! We'll find the perfect spot for your family! And if you want to head up to the mountains, I'm all for it! And I love exploring new places too!
2. What is the best time of year for family photographs?
Any time of year is a great time for family photographs! All of the seasons have something beautiful to offer, whether it's the green bloom of spring, the warmth of summer, the beautiful colors of fall, or the moodiness of winter. If your family loves the snow, snow sessions can be a lot of fun too! Please keep in mind when booking that late summer and fall are the most busy, so spaces tend to fill up months in advance for July-October.
4. What is the best time of day for family photographs?
Sunset!!! And the hour just before sunset (called golden hour). This is the reason that I photograph just one family session on a given day - to ensure your family has the best light possible! I schedule all sessions to start about 2 hour before sunset (depending a little on location) so that we finish at sunset!
5. What if it rains?
I love photographing moody lighting and dramatic skies. And rainy days offer some of the best moody PNW lighting there is! But, we don't want to get drenched out there either, so we'll keep an eye on the forecast and if necessary, we'll reschedule your session. I want you and your family to have an amazing time, so I'm happy to be flexible!
6. Can we bring pets to the session?
Absolutely! Family pets are certainly welcome and are a great way to add some playful fun to the session!
7. Do you offer digital files?
YES! You'll get a file sized for social media of every print you purchase. With a purchase of $1000 or more, you'll get the whole set of images that I've edited for you in that size and with a purchase of $1500 or more, you'll get the whole set in a higher resolution that you can also print on your own. And if you'd like the highest resolution possible, those are available too!
8. Do you know how to engage kids and get them to smile?
Absolutely! My goofy personality is usually enough to get kids to laugh, but I also bring along some fun toys and things to get their attention (these often work on parents too!). Plus, I'm also a dad myself, so I've been there - I know!