I’ve had so many occasions when a former client was sad that they couldn’t use me anymore because they moved from Portland, or they were going on vacation and wanted to hire a photographer to take family photos during their trip and couldn’t afford to fly me out. Or maybe it’s just someone that fell in love with my work across the world and wanted to work together. Remote or Virtual sessions is a way we can still work together despite the distance.  This session with the Stone family we shot with an app that allows me to remotely control their cell phone and shoot in high-resolution RAW files that will allow me to make adjustments to the photos. Phone technology is so good these days that we were able to make a 20×30 print from an image, and I could probably have gone even larger. For remote sessions we usually have a friend or family member hold the phone and take direction, but in this case we just used a small travel tripod. There is something about the restrictions of not physically being there, that can really generate creative ideas for me. If this sounds like a fun idea weather you’re across the states or across the world, it’s a very low risk session fee to start, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

(this last frame I took when their kid decided to hold the phone and take over the shoot 😉 )

20×30 Wall Art

“Reveal Box” with (10) 5×7 prints in an 8×10 mat and display box

(more artwork in their home, a total of 5 wall art pieces)

From the client:

We did our family photo shoot completely remotely while we were on spring break in Hawaii, and honestly it still feels a little magical to me. Kelly used an app that let her take live photos through my phone in real time, guiding us through poses and moments from thousands of miles away — and somehow it never felt awkward or technical, just personal, like she was right there with us.

What really set the experience apart, though, was everything that came after. Kelly had a remote reveal session to share all of the shots and we got to choose our printed products, which included framed wall art, an album, a sweet reveal box that allows us to swap out the prints on display, as well as small prints for sharing. Everything was customized for our home and it was even hand delivered.

The wall art itself has genuinely changed the feel of parts of our house. The prints have this clean-lined, Scandi-chic quality that elevated the whole space — they don’t look like “family photos,” they look like art. I’ve always had digital photos sitting in folders I never looked at, but having these physical pieces up on our walls hits completely differently. I get why Kelly’s so passionate about printing — there’s a real, lasting impact that a screen just can’t give you.

If you’re considering booking with her, even remotely, do it. The whole experience — from the live shoot to the custom framing to the final reveal — was thoughtful, personal, and worth every bit.

-Kelly S.