Year in the Life Sessions: Your Top Questions Answered (Part 1)
There’s something magical about watching a family’s story unfold over time. The tiny changes in a child’s face, the way your routines shift with the seasons, the small rituals that mean everything in the moment but are so easy to forget later.
That’s why I began offering Year in the Life sessions - long-term, documentary-style photography that captures your family as you truly are, throughout an entire year. Below are the most common questions I’m asked about how it all works.
1. What exactly is a Year in the Life session?
A Year in the Life package includes a series of documentary photo sessions, either 4, 6, or 12 sessions, spread across one year. Each session is 90 minutes and focuses on your real, everyday life. Think: breakfast chaos, park afternoons, bedtime snuggles, rainy-day crafting, or weekend adventures. The goal is to document your family’s story in an honest, meaningful way.
2. How is a Year in the Life package different from booking individual photo sessions?
Booking a single session is wonderful, but it offers just a snapshot in time. A Year in the Life project shows the evolution, tiny milestones, growth spurts, shifting routines, and the beautiful mess of real life. It also creates a cohesive visual story instead of isolated moments.
3. Who are these sessions best suited for?
These sessions are ideal for families who value authenticity over perfection and want to remember the little things that often fade fastest. They’re especially loved by families with newborns, toddlers, or big life transitions, but truly, any family who cherishes their everyday moments is a good fit.
4. How often do the sessions happen, and how long is each one?
The frequency depends on the package you choose:
4 sessions: One per quarter of the year/season
6 sessions: Every other month
12 sessions: Monthly
Each session is 90 minutes, giving us time to settle in and let genuine moments unfold.
5. Can we choose the season, timing, and location for each session?
Absolutely. Each session is completely customizable. You can choose the month, the time of day, and the location - your home, your neighborhood, your favorite park, or a place that holds meaning to your family. Many families love mixing indoor and outdoor sessions to show the rhythm of their year.
6. What kinds of moments do you typically capture during a Year in the Life session?
Anything that feels true to your family. Some favorites include:
Making breakfast together
Walks to the local coffee shop
Bathtime routines
Park play and nature walks
Bedtime stories or slow weekend mornings
Family adventures around town
The everyday things are often the ones parents cherish most later.
7. Do we need to plan activities for each session, or can we just do our normal routine?
Most families do a mix of both. You don’t need anything elaborate, your normal routine is perfect. If you want guidance, I can help brainstorm simple, meaningful activities that fit your family’s personality. I also provide a booklet at the start of the year with monthly seasonal ideas.
8. What happens if we need to reschedule a session?
Life with kids is unpredictable, I get it. If you need to reschedule, we simply choose a new date. Flexibility is built into these packages so the project stays stress-free.
9. What’s included in the different package options (4, 6, or 12 sessions)?
All packages include:
Your chosen number of 90-minute sessions
A beautifully curated online gallery
High-resolution digital images
A final year-end family photo album with highlights from each session
Optional add-ons include prints, wall art, and extra books to gift extended family.
10. How do you deliver the photos after each session, and what do we get at the end of the year?
At the start of the year, after your first session your family’s year-long gallery will begin. After each session, you’ll receive an email and text alert when your most recently edited images have been added to your family’s gallery. At the end of the year, I create and design a final photo album that pulls together the best moments from your family’s year, preserved in a printed visual narrative you can revisit forever.