Documentary-style family photography in Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, CA & the surrounding desert cities.
Real life. Real Connection.
No performing for the camera.
Joshua Tree Family Photographer
If the idea of matching outfits, forced smiles, and spending an hour reminding your kids to “behave” sounds exhausting, you’re in the right place.
These sessions aren’t about getting everyone to cooperate on command. They’re about documenting how your family actually connects — the movement, the laughter, the clinging, the wandering, the quiet moments, and the chaos in between.
This is about capturing who you are in this season of life, not managing it.
This isn't about
GETTING EVERYONE TO LOOK AT THE CAMERA AND SMILE.
You don’t need perfect behavior for meaningful photos.
You just need to show up together.
FOR PHOTOS THAT FEEL LIKE MEMORIES
I work in a documentary style, which means I follow what’s already happening instead of trying to manufacture it. Kids are allowed to be kids. Parents are allowed to relax. Moments are allowed to unfold.
That’s where the good stuff lives.
Sessions are guided gently, not choreographed; activities are based on what your family enjoys. Movement, noise, feelings, and pauses are all welcome. You area always allowed to be human. The focus of our session is connection.
BEING
TOGETHER
These sessions aren’t built around a shot list or a set of instructions. They’re built around your family — how you naturally move, interact, and exist together.
You don’t need to direct your kids. You don’t need to manage every moment. And you definitely don’t need to worry about doing things “right.”
not performing
This is about
Your session is shaped around how your family naturally spends time together — the rhythms you already have, the ways you already connect. Some families move a lot. Some stay close. Some are loud and silly. Some are quiet and observant. All of it is welcome.
In Joshua Tree & Palm Springs, sessions are most often photographed at your Airbnb or home, using both indoor and outdoor spaces so the experience feels natural and unhurried. For families who love to explore, Joshua Tree National Park offers open skies, massive boulders, funky trees, and wide desert views.
Whether you want to wander, climb, sit, or simply take it all in, I’ll document your crew as they are — relaxed, curious, and fully present.
What a joshua tree Family Session Can Look Like
There isn’t one “right” way to do this.
I’ve been photographing people for over two decades, and one thing has always been true: the moments that matter most are never the ones that were planned.
Real connection disappears quickly when people feel watched, managed, or evaluated. The more pressure there is to “get it right,” the harder it becomes to actually be together. That’s why my role isn’t to control what happens — it’s to create space for it.
I’ll guide gently when it’s helpful, but most of the time I’m observing, anticipating, and documenting what’s already unfolding. If I’m quiet, it’s usually because something meaningful is happening and I don’t want to interrupt it.
This approach allows families to relax into themselves. Kids don’t need to perform. Parents don’t need to manage every moment. What’s left is honesty — and that’s what holds up years from now.
Why my approach
looks the way it does
Because you won’t just remember how it looked — you’ll remember how it felt.
These sessions are about preserving a season of your life, not creating something polished for other people. The value tends to show up later, when the photos bring you back to being there together.
How do I know this will be worth it?
No — wear what feels like you. Comfort matters more than coordination. I encourage families to wear clothes they actually live in, not outfits chosen just for photos. When you feel like yourselves, the photos reflect that — and they age much better.
Do we need to dress a certain way?
This is fear nearly everyone has! You don’t need to know what to do. There’s no posing knowledge or plan required. I’ll gently guide when it’s helpful, but most families relax quickly once they realize they don’t have to perform. Awkwardness usually fades within the first few minutes.
What if I don’t know what to do or we're awkward?
That’s completely normal.
Kids don’t need to perform for this to work. Wandering, big feelings, bursts of energy, and quiet moments are all part of the story. I work with what’s happening, not against it — and the moments parents worry about most are often the ones they end up loving.
What if my kids don’t cooperate?
That’s more than okay — it’s welcome here.
These photos aren’t for comparison or judgment; they’re for you. I work with families of all kinds, including marginalized families, families in larger bodies, and families with neurodivergent or differently abled kids. You don’t need to fit anyone else’s idea of “normal.” My job isn’t to judge — it’s to tell your story as it is, honestly and respectfully.
What if our family doesn’t look like everyone else’s?
You’re supported the entire time.
There’s intention and structure, without micromanaging. I’ll help guide timing, setting, and flow so things feel easy — but I leave room for real moments to unfold naturally.
Is this still guided, or are we just left on our own?
It usually feels calmer than you expect.
Without pressure to “get it right,” families tend to relax. I’ll guide gently when it’s helpful and step back when things are flowing. You don’t need to manage every moment — that’s not your job here.
I’m worried it’s going to feel chaotic.
Yes — absolutely.
We’ll get a handful of images where everyone is looking at the camera and smiling. Those matter for holiday cards, grandparents, and frames on the wall. The rest of the session focuses on documenting who you are as a family — the connection and personality that tend to matter most years later.
But will we get at least one photo where everyone is looking?
A few things you might be wondering
I’m a St. Louis native who now calls Joshua Tree, California home. I’ve been photographing people for over two decades, but becoming a parent changed everything about how I approach family photos.
Being a parent is simultaneously the best and hardest thing ever. Childhood is fleeting, especially in those early years when everything feels exhausting and precious at the same time. I’m not interested in photographing a polished version of that season. I want to document who your kids are—their mannerisms, habits, personalities, and the small details that shift before you realize they’re gone.
Missing teeth, scraped knees, bruises, temporary tattoos that last three weeks—those aren’t distractions from the story. They are the story. Real life is allowed to exist in photos.
That’s the philosophy behind my work. I photograph families the way I photograph my own life: honestly, with care, and without trying to smooth out what makes it real.
MEET
JAIMIE
Ready to document
this season of life?
Thank you!
i will be in touch soon.
in the meantime, check out my
family session guide
for more info on working with,
and what to expect during a
family portrait session.
If you have any questions, please ask me here.
I respond to all inquiries via email within 48 hours; check your spam folder if you don't see a reply from me within a few hours.
