The Alcock Family, New Jersey

Remote Family Session

I woke before dawn to connect with this lovely family during their morning routine on the East Coast—Jersey, to be exact. Maggie, the mom, and I first met in college when we shared the same dorm. We weren’t close back then, but I think we both admired each other’s kind spirits. Looking back, I wish we had spent more time together during those fun and tumultuous early adult years.

The kids having a blast in the living room, showing off their energy and joy.

Three children and a dog lying on a green carpet, with two sofas nearby, children playing and cuddling, one girl with a red bow in her hair, a boy with blonde hair, and a girl with brown hair, the dog is black and white.
A woman is holding a young girl in a living room, both smiling and touching noses. A young girl in red pajamas is kneeling on the green carpet holding a balloon, and a black and white dog is sitting nearby. Balloons are scattered around the room.
A woman with three children and a dog in a living room with green carpet, a green sectional sofa, colorful pillows, and balloons. The children are playing, and the woman is smiling and looking at a boy lying on the floor.
A woman lying on a green carpet with two young children and a puppy, surrounded by a green sofa, a balloon, and playing cards.

The next time I saw her was nearly nine years ago at her wedding, the first one I ever photographed. I still blush a little when I remember how much time I spent on the dance floor that night. So, when she reached out a month ago to book a remote family session before her fourth (!) child arrived, I was thrilled. She said she doesn’t have a creative bone in her body, but I beg to differ—her home was filled with color, light, and joy.

The bedroom scene—full of cuddles, laughter, and jumping.

A family of five playing and laughing on a bed in a bedroom with patterned wallpaper, with two women and three children.
A family of four sitting on a bed, with a mother, father, and two young girls, sharing a tender and playful moment together.
A woman and four children sitting on a couch, engaging with each other and holding stuffed animals, in a room with sunlight coming through the window, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles poster on the wall, and shelves with books.
A woman hugging a young girl with a lollipop, with children and books in the background.
A woman with four young children sitting together on a couch in a sunlit room, enjoying snacks and each other's company.

The final, and possibly my favorite, scene was in the bathtub. The textures, the movement, the bubbles, the laughter—it was pure joy. Her four-year-old son, Bear, ended the session by saying, “This was fun!” I blushed again.

A week later, she texted me to say that her husband, who served as my honorary camera technician during the shoot, couldn’t stop talking about how much he enjoyed it, despite being usually camera shy. Best compliment ever.

The grand finale—bubbles and laughter in the bathtub.

Woman in underwear standing against wooden closet door with Australian Shepherd puppy sitting on the floor nearby.
A person with a leopard print top taking a bath, with their hands resting on their stomach amid soap suds and bubbles.
A young girl in red pajamas with a blue cherry print making a funny face and sticking her fingers in her mouth, sitting on the floor in front of a man in black and pink shorts who is sitting on a green sofa. There are colorful balloons on the sofa and a small dog partially visible under the girl's legs. The room appears cozy with yellow walls, wooden blinds, and decorative pillows.
Kids playing in a living room with a man sitting on a green sectional couch, holding a red and a black balloon, children on the floor and sitting on the couch, with dog nearby, sunlight through windows with bamboo blinds, and a vase of sunflowers on a side table.
Four family members, three children and one adult, on a bed wearing novelty glasses and an eye mask, smiling and posing for a photo in a warmly decorated bedroom.
A woman and four children on a bed with a brown and orange color scheme, engaging in playful activities. The woman is holding a small child, while another child is lying on their back with legs raised, and the third child is sitting on the bed facing the woman. There are decorative elements like a flower vase, framed photos, and other small items on the nightstands visible in the background.
A family of four sitting on a bed, smiling and playing together. The father is sitting at the back, the mother is in the middle, a young girl is cuddling with her mother, and another young girl is lying on the bed with her head resting on her mother's lap.

She trusted me to help shape the session, and I like to think of these remote portrait shoots as unfolding in multiple scenes. For instance, we started in the “living room scene,” where the kids could do cartwheels, show off their muscles, bounce around, and relax on that grassy-looking carpet. Their only job was to have fun.

The second scene took place in their gorgeous bedroom—more of the same with lots of cuddling and jumping. The third scene was all about chasing the light as it spilled into their son’s bedroom. We kept the kids engaged with a little bribery: lollipops.

Chasing the perfect light in the son’s bedroom.

A woman with red hair sitting on a cushioned seat surrounded by four children. The woman is cuddling and comforting one of the children. The children are reading books and playing with toys, with more books on a wall shelf in a cozy room filled with stuffed animals and children’s books.
A happy family bathes together in a clawfoot tub by a window, with children playing and a woman smiling.
A woman and three children enjoying a bubble bath together in a white bathtub.
A woman with two children taking a bath together in a bathtub, all smiling and enjoying bath time.

Why Remote Family Sessions Work

I’ve found that remote sessions can be just as personal and engaging as in-person shoots. By guiding families through a series of scenes, we can capture authentic moments of joy and connection in their own spaces. Whether it’s a living room full of energy or a quiet moment in the bedroom, these sessions create lasting memories.

Book Your Own Session

What’s not to love about capturing these beautiful moments? If you’re curious about booking your own remote session or are a commercial business wanting to photograph clients around the world, don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s create something special together.